Guillermo Sauce - reflection on presentations

   Reflection on Class Presentations: Intercultural Communication & Communicating in Groups

By Guillermo Sauce

          Watching both group presentations during class gave me a chance to learn from different perspectives. Each group covered a different chapter, but both tied into how people interact and communicate. I think both presentations helped me understand how culture, background, and group dynamics shape the way we talk to each other and work together. I’m proud of the work my group did on Intercultural Communication, and I also learned a lot from the other group’s chapter on Communicating in Groups.

         Starting with the Chapter 9 presentation, I really liked how they explained the different stages groups go through. Instead of just listing them like “forming” or “storming,” they described them in a way that was easier to follow. Like, how groups first get to know each other, then hit a phase where people might not agree on everything, and later they figure out how to work better together. It really made sense, and I could definitely relate it to past group projects I’ve done especially the awkward beginning stage and the stressful disagreement part. But once everyone got comfortable and knew what they were doing, things always flowed better. That connection made this part of the presentation really stick with me.

        They also explained how healthy groups work. They talked about trust, shared goals, teamwork, and accountability. I liked how they gave real life examples that showed how those things make a group stronger. One point that stood out was how being too “tight” as a group isn’t always good. Sometimes people go along with things just to avoid problems, even if they don’t agree. I’ve actually seen that happen before, and I never thought about it as a bad thing until they brought it up. It reminded me that open communication in a group is just as important as being friendly. Another part I thought was really important was about conflict. They made it clear that conflict doesn’t have to be negative  it depends on how people deal with it. I liked that they said staying calm, listening, and trying to understand where others are coming from can actually make a group stronger. That’s something I want to get better at. I’ve definitely had moments where I took things personally in group work instead of stepping back and talking things out. It was cool that the presenters didn’t just say what conflict is, but also gave ideas on how to manage it better.

           The virtual group section was also super relevant. Since we all work in online classes sometimes, I could relate to the problems they described like people not responding or misreading a message. They suggested things like using clear tools, setting expectations early, and checking in regularly. That made a lot of sense to me. I’ve been in group chats where nothing gets done because no one takes the lead or follows through. The tips they gave could really help prevent that in the future.

        Now talking about my group’s presentation on Intercultural Communication, I think we did a good job showing how culture influences how we talk and act. One of the first things we showed was how hand gestures mean different things in different cultures. That part was fun, and it caught people’s attention right away. I never realized how something as simple as a “thumbs up” or “peace sign” could be seen as rude or offensive somewhere else. It made me think twice about how easily miscommunication can happen without even speaking. Another part I liked was how we explained dominant cultures and co cultures. It helped me understand how people form different values, beliefs, and behaviors based on the group they grow up in. Our presentation showed that culture is more than just where you’re from  it’s also about your religion, gender, age, language, and even if you have a disability. Those things all affect how we see the world and how we communicate with others. I thought the visuals on religion and race helped explain it better and gave the audience something to connect with.

         The part I presented was on socioeconomic status (SES), and I really liked researching and talking about it. SES is basically about where someone stands in terms of money, education, and job opportunities. What stood out to me the most is how it impacts communication like how confident someone feels, how they speak, or how they’re treated by others. I think people don’t always notice how much SES affects things like communication style or access to resources, but it really does.

One interesting thing I mentioned in my part was how most Americans think of themselves as middle class, even if they don’t really fit that category based on income. That shows how SES isn’t just about facts it’s also about how people feel and see themselves. Presenting that made me more aware of how someone’s background influences how they act, even if they don’t say it out loud. I also liked sharing the graph that showed how the middle class has changed from 1970 to now. It made the info more real and easy to understand.

   Our group also talked about power distance, which I found interesting. Some cultures accept that certain people will always have more power, while others believe that everyone should be more equal. The pictures we showed comparing low and high power distance societies helped make the difference clearer. It helped me understand why people in some cultures are more comfortable questioning authority, while in others, they’re expected to just follow along.

      I also thought the section on gender roles was really important. It showed how different cultures expect different behaviors from men and women. Some places still expect traditional roles, while others are more open. That part reminded me how culture can shape how we see each other and what’s “normal” in communication. Overall, I think both presentations helped me see how communication is more than just words it’s about the people involved, their backgrounds, and the group environment. The Chapter 9 group helped me understand how group dynamics work and how to be a better teammate. My group showed how things like culture, SES, religion, and power distance all affect the way people connect and express themselves.

I feel like I walked away from class with a better understanding of how to talk and work with different types of people. I also liked being part of a team where we all shared different parts of the topic. Even though I only presented the SES section, I learned a lot from what my group members said too. Everyone’s topic connected in a way that made the whole presentation feel complete. In the end, both presentations taught me that to be a better communicator, you have to be aware of more than just the words you’re using  you have to understand who you’re talking to, where they’re coming from, and how to work together respectfully and effectively. That’s something I’ll take with me not just for school, but for life.