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Courses >
Personal Enrichment > Interpersonal Communication
 Communicating successfully depends on effective use of communication strategies and behaviors.
Words, facial and body movements, tone of voice, even clothing and situation, all form an intricate symbol system that must be quickly translated by those who want to communicate.
It has been said that there is no communication unless a mutual sharing of meaning takes place. It has also been said that one cannot NOT communicate. These two ideas seem to oppose one another, but they are two sides of the same coin. A smile can have many meanings. And so can silence.
This course will show you how to manage the conscious and unconscious codes of meaning we send to each other and to respond with appropriate codes in turn.
This course explains and explores concepts of verbal and nonverbal expression including personal style, listening, relationship dynamics, self-esteem, conflict management, and cultural and gender communication differences.
Examples, graphics, and theoretical models help clarify communication topics and simplify the process for effective communication in family, personal, and professional situations.
Communicating is necessary. Knowing how to do it well is personally satisfying and professionally wise.
This course includes a knowledgeable and caring instructor who will guide you through your lessons, facilitate discussions, and answer your questions. The instructor for this course will be Laurel Bragstad.
 Laurel Bragstad combines her understanding of communication theory and practical experience in shaping courses that appeal to students of all ages. With a Master of Arts degree in interpersonal communication and rhetoric, she enjoys teaching undergraduate courses in interpersonal communication, public speaking, journalism, public speaking, persuasion, and theory and research. She also helped design and taught a course in instructional design for graduate students. Her real-life examples help students of all ages grasp any course content and feel confident about using what they have learned. Laurel has written several articles for "ETC: The Journal for the International Society of General Semantics" and had one of those reprinted in "Classroom Exercises for General Semantics," a book published by the Society. She has designed summer seminars in interpersonal, gender and intercultural communication including a study trip to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. She's managed the writing and production of a college magazine and newspaper, and has just begun assembling the memoirs of her elderly cousin.
To purchase this course, click the Enroll Now button below:
Requirements:
Internet access, e-mail, and the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser.
Syllabus:
All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have to be present when the lesson is released, but you must complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.
A new section of each course starts on the second or third Wednesday of each month. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.
| Week One |
| Wednesday - Lesson 01 |
In this lesson, we'll explore two detailed models that explain the complex nature of communication. You'll learn how words, the situation, what's going on in the heads of those communicating, and even environment are all connected—and that they all change from one communication event to the next. I'll explain a way to think about and use language that will help you more effectively avoid misunderstandings.
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| Friday - Lesson 02 |
Have you ever been in a situation where you don't know whether to say less, say more, or say nothing? In this lesson, you'll learn seven premises of communication that will help you through those times. Have you ever felt shy, apprehensive, or reluctant about communicating? This lesson will help you understand that reluctance and offer you two strategies for improving communication competence.
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| Week Two |
| Wednesday - Lesson 03 |
In this lesson, you'll learn how our individual emotions, beliefs, attitudes, and values as well as self-esteem and group belonging influence how we communicate. You'll also explore how we all seek gratification of specific human needs through the unique and complicated communication process.
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| Friday - Lesson 04 |
In this lesson, I'll show you how language affects reasoning abilities. You'll learn about constructing useful word maps that benefit your decision making as well as strategies you can use to avoid mental traps that can clog your thinking process. You'll also learn that language has limits, often making it difficult to separate fact from fiction.
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| Week Three |
| Wednesday - Lesson 05 |
Can you say something without uttering a word? In addition to voice, facial expression, and body movement, today we'll talk about other ways people send messages without making a sound. You'll also learn that men and women develop and use very different nonverbal communication behaviors—sending messages of either inclusion or exclusion.
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| Friday - Lesson 06 |
In this lesson, we'll look at cultural identity and how it molds habits of communication no matter what the language of the culture is. You'll learn how cultures of the world are divided into two main categories. You'll examine how individuals and groups generalize and stereotype others and the psychological reasons for doing that.
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| Week Four |
| Wednesday - Lesson 07 |
In this lesson, we'll explore types of listening as well as the discipline listening requires. We'll go over the barriers to effective listening, and strategies you can use to improve your listening habits. We'll compare poor listening to empathic listening, and then evaluate the effects each has on personal and professional communication success.
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| Friday - Lesson 08 |
In this lesson, you're invited to examine gender differences from the inside out. You'll learn how brain structure as well as physical structure helps determine how men and women communicate. You'll learn about the ways humans learn to act as either masculine or feminine and who teaches them. We'll explore how differences in masculine and feminine behavior manifest themselves in personal and business relationships.
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| Week Five |
| Wednesday - Lesson 09 |
In today's lesson, you'll learn the three main characteristics that make up any relationship as well as the stages that all relationships go through. I'll show you how to identify relationship stages in order to evaluate relationships you have. You'll explore how self-disclosure and psychological balance affects relationships and discover the role lying plays in relationships.
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| Friday - Lesson 10 |
Today we'll examine several communication theories that will be useful in analyzing and understanding communication behaviors of yourself and others. You'll learn three rules for effective communication behavior that will help you know when and how to adjust your communication behavior. You'll also learn how you can influence the behavior of others in the communication situation.
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| Week Six |
| Wednesday - Lesson 11 |
In this lesson, you'll learn how people can change the direction of a conversation to advance a personal agenda. We'll go over strategies of persuasion, characteristics of credibility, and how to achieve a sense of control in a communication situation. We'll also explore the nature of communication cohesiveness within small groups and where individuality fits in group membership.
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| Friday - Lesson 12 |
In our last lesson, you'll learn how to identify various types of interpersonal conflicts and then we'll discuss some myths about conflict. We'll explore ways in which men and women handle conflict differently, and how different cultural groups approach and resolve conflict. You'll learn how to dissect a conflict and apply four steps to successful conflict resolution at work, within the family, or among friends.
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To purchase this course, click the Enroll Now button below:
Student Reviews:
"I found the course very valuable for everyday life. The examples given were clear and transferable to other situations. The theories presented helped me to get a good basic understanding of interpersonal communication and I am looking forward to learning more by myself as well as in another course offered by this instructor."
"I found the materials to be very insightful, and educational. Very much enjoyed learning techniques and strategies I can apply in my personal life and career!"
"I found this course to be very helpful since I was not fully aware of the components or the importance of communications."
"I have enjoyed this course immensely. This course should be a "must" for everyone."
"I liked the instructor's use of examples. Quite good and quite helpful for putting the lesson material in perspective."
"I thought that this course was organized and presented in a very efficient manner. I thought the writing style of the lessons were great. I loved the conversational style that they were presented in. It felt like the instructor was actually speaking to us and not reading out of a text book."
"The things I learned in your course have already made a positive impact on my relationships and my life. I appreciate all the work you did putting this course together. I wish my family and the people I work with would take this course too. Thanks for a wonderful 6 weeks."
"This course has opened my eyes to habits that I may have and how they effect my communication with others."
"This course has taught me how valuable it is to have good communication skills and become a more effective listener. I also learned the best way to maintain a personal and professional relationship, and how to negotiate when in a conflict. I highly recommend this course to people working in medical fields or even just for personal use. Thank you."
"Working through this course has helped me recognize many aspects of communication. I found it very informative and have already applied some of the techniques to my daily communications. I especially benefited from the lessons on effective listening and conflict resolution, however, each lesson was of value to me. I truly enjoyed your course."
To purchase this course, click the Enroll Now button below:
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