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Hello Friends.
This weekend the American Pro Football Season ends with the Superbowl. This famous playoff gives way to the biggest season for us in Indiana: BASKETBALL leading to March Madness (the playoffs between college teams).
This week we were treated to the opening of the Winter Olympics in Italy. Did you have a chance to see the ceremonies? The Italians did a beautiful job showcasing their country and culture. Italians are famous for speaking with their hands. Comedienne Brenda Lodigiani delighted the crowd with some of the famous Italian hand gestures while subtitles further explained them. You can watch this clip and catch up with the highlights from the evening. The Olympics have a special place in the hearts of Americans where athletes have the opportunity to compete on the world stage. Armchair athletes have the chance to dream of gold: there is an event for everyone to follow and athletes from everywhere to root for.
Communicating Without Words
Increase communications by 60% with hand gestures. A study of leaders (via TED Talk analysis showed that the most popular and understood speakers used over 400 gestures to the least popular that used just over 200).
- People are born to speak with their hands and children that use hand gestures have greater language abilities later.
- People listen to people who use hand gestures: they even help people pay attention to "the acoustics of speech" and that they are a fundamental part of speaking.
- People can not help but use hand gestures. People who are blind use them even when they are speaking to other blind people.
- Gestures help you access memories and make you more fluent.
- Gestures help others understand what you are saying.
Flailing your arms around is not effective.
Keep your hands within the shoulder and waist area to not distract and detract. And, be careful. Hand gestures in one language or culture can be offensive in another culture.
Safe bets to help people follow your gist include:
Show size: use open arms or a thumb and forefinger, level a flat hand above the floor to show height,
Show numbers: if you are talking about two things, hold up two fingers. In the United States we generally count as shown.
Show honesty: Hands out with your palms facing up either shows openness or honest but if fingers spread out it means you need something.
Stop: one hand out straight showing your palm. But if you shake your hand, it is a friendly "hi". Two hands shows excitement and super happiness.
Ask: raise one hand and maybe wave it back and forth to get attention or ask a question.
Adjusting you clothing, hair, etc. all show that you want to look nice and impress someone.
Show approval: thumbs up, ok with thumb and index finger (but in Brazil or to a Brazilian this is rude).
Point your finger: normally this is rude, but a pointed finger can make a point or serves to recognize others.
There are many more to take advantage of in the article from Science of People 60 Hand Gestures You Should Be Using and Their Meaning. For us Zoomers, we sit in a limited square. That doesn't mean that we don't get to use hand gestures.
Winter Blues
The days are getting longer, but we are still shut in with the weather and cold. Some people are feeling the effects of the lack of sunshine and social exposure. Finding friends, activities, enjoying food, enjoying the beauty of the season. All of these things can help combat winter blues. Social media may or may not help.
International Friends Meeting Notes
International Bible Study: Monday, 8-9:00 PM, Zoom
In Exodus 33. the aftermath of the episode where the Israelites built and worshiped an idol is detailed. God tells Moses, "...But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way (vs 3)." This reminded us of any family trip where tensions run high because the people on the trip want to insist on their selfish wants rather than follow a leader (even when that leader is their Creator). This separation from the presence of God distresses the Israelites. In this same chapter, Moses is treated to the sight of God. Hod continues to provide Moses with support and guidance and a good relationship.
February 2: Read through Exodus 34-40 to see how the people follow the detailed plans to fulfil and build the temple
American English Language and Culture: Thursday, 9:00AM- 11:00 AM, Zoom
Communication and Context: As we discussed various print texts and media messaging, we observed that each example represented a circle of communication--a sender communicating some message to a receiver or audience for some purpose. We all engage in that same cycle of encoding and decoding messages every day in whatever language we use to communicate. Think about these variables as you strive to "Say what you mean and mean what you say."
- Who is your audience? What is their frame of reference? Do they perceive you as an equal, an expert, an enemy?
- What do you want to communicate to them? What is the content of your message?
- What is the purpose or motivation for your message? To inform or teach, amuse or entertain, move to emotion, persuade to action?
- How can you tailor your message to a particular audience? What is your rhetorical technique and delivery style?
- How do you expect the audience to respond? Will you welcome feedback? Will you ask for action to be taken?
The audience is often the most challenging variable. We must make some assumptions about an audience without overgeneralizing or stereotyping. Your audience may show intellectual curiosity, or they may come with preconceived notions of their own. Establishing a common context and shared sense of community builds rapport and receptivity. Messaging and understanding can then flow with confidence, passion, compassion, and motivation. The Power of Voice: A Guide to Making Yourself Heard by Denise Woods comes highly recommended as guide for refining oral messaging in particular. This I Believe (www.thisibelieve.org) essays and recordings demonstrate all manner of personal storytelling about how core values guide daily lives.
Vocabulary and idioms we explored this week:
- Allegiance
- Purview
- Above my pay grade
- Not in my wheel house
- Come play in my sandbox
- In the sweet spot
Some final thoughts: We circled back around to our talk of "women's issues" which brings us to Melanie Sanders and the "We Do Not Care Club" on Instagram. If you have not seen this comedienne, check out her schtick. She gets material from the comments, but it is her delivery and use of the media that touches her audience.
Enjoy this meeting of the We Do Not Care Club about on-line hooks and pitfalls.
How does Melanie relate to her audience? How do they resonate?
February 13: We are continuing to read. Our reads for the week:
Enjoy the journey!
American English for Kids: Thursday, 6:00-6:30 PM, private Zoom
We spent our time drilling on prepositions in both English and in our home language.
