PART 1: 15 MIN NO SPOKEN LANGUAGE
AFTER I PICKED UP MY SON FROM SCHOOL I JUST SMILED AT HIM AS HER RAN UP TO ME AS USUAL AND HUGGED MY LEGS. HE SAID MOMMY I'M SLEEPY AND LIFTED HIS ARMS I JUST NODDED MY HEAD AND PICKED HIM UP AND CARRIED HIS HEAVY BUTT TO THE CAR. WE DROVE HOME AND HE SAID THIRSTY MOMMA! I POINTED TO THE FRIDGE IN THE GARAGE AND HE OPENED IT AND GRABBED A CAPRI-SUN, HE COULDN'T GET THE STRAW IN SO HE SAID HELP MOMMA I NODDED AND PUT THE STRAW IN FOR HIM. I WONDERED TO MYSELF THIS BOY HASN'T HEARD MY VOICE YET AND DOESN'T SEEM SERIOUS ABOUT IT AS LONG AS HIS NEEDS ARE MET! NEXT MY SON WATCHES DINO DAN WHILE I MAKE HIS SNACK CATCHING MY SELF BEFORE I SAID COME TO THE TABLE I WALED TO THE DEN AND SHOWED HIM THE FOOD AND SET IT ON THE TABLE SO HE COULD GO SIT DOWN. PROBLEM WAS HE DIDN'T WANT TO STOP WATCHING HIS SHOW AND COME EAT. NOW MENTALLY TICKED OFF I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THE BOY TO LISTEN(W/O LISTENING TO ME) USUALLY MY MOMMA TONE WORKS TO GET HIM TO COOPERATE BUT I COULDN'T USE THAT SO I ENDED UP GIVING HIM HIS LUNCH ON THE COUCH..LOL! AND YES THERE WAS A MESS!
PART 2:15 MIN SPOKEN LANGUAGE
FINALLY I GOT MY VOICE BACK W/NO EXPRESSION AND GESTURE WHICH I'M TOTALLY USED TO WITH LITTLE ONES IN THE HOUSE! SO I ASK CHACE TO HELP ME CLEAN UP AFTER HIS LUNCH AND HE STANDS THERE WITH THAT CLUELESS TODDLER LOOK (IF YOUR A PARENT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN) I WANT TO MAKE A STERN FACE AND VOICE AND TELL HIM TO PICK UP HIS MESS BUT I SAY PLEASE HELP MOMMY AND START CLEANING SO HE CAN FOLLOW MY LEAD, DID I MESS UP AND GESTURE SINCE THIS IS SHOWING HIM WHAT TO DO *DARN* SO NOW HE JUMPING UP AND DOWN BECAUSE HE WANTS TO PLAY HIS GAME AND I SAID WAIT UNTIL YOU PUT YOUR DISHES IN THE SINK -IN MY ZOMBIE VOICE AND PERSONALITY- SO I DON'T MESS THIS UP! HE IS NOT TAKING ME SERIOUS-OH GOSH, THIS IS HARDER THAN I THOUGHT I ASSUMED IF HE HEARD COMMANDS IT WOULD BE EASIER THAN JUST NOT SAYING ANYTHING AT ALL BUT HE WAS MORE COOPERATIVE WHEN I DIDN'T SPEAK. THIS KID IS READING ME MORE THAN WHAT I THOUGHT! CHACE DUMPS HIS DISHES IN THE SINK AND I GIVE HIM THE GAME AND HE IGNORES ME TO PLAY ON THE i Pad!
SO I ASK MY SON DO YOU LIKE WHEN MOMMY DOESN'T TALK HE NODS YES. THEN I ASKED DID YOU LIKE IT WHEN MOMMY TALKS TO YOU HE NODS YES AGAIN. AWE, I LOVE HIM, I'M NOT SURE IF HE KNEW WHAT I WAS DOING BUT HE DID REACT TO VERBAL/NON VERBAL, BUT AT LEAST I SAW THE DIFFERENCE. I'M TOO EXPRESSIVE AND IT WAS A STRUGGLE TO LET GO OF THE BODY GESTURES!
I can only imagine the difficulties of doing the second part with a toddler! Toddlers seem to respond better to voice tones, not being able to use them could probably make them not take you as serious. I love that you did these with your son, as I'm sure it is already a language barrier as is.
ReplyDeleteThat was a very interesting experiment! No student has ever been brave enough to try it with a child as young as your son. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteIt was very interesting listening to your dialog as you discussed his response to both experiments and to your response to his response as well. If found it enlightening that he seemed to respond better to no voice at all rather than a "zombie" voice he didn't recognize.
About once a year, I get hit by laryngitis. My kids love it! I feel like I am conducting part 1 of the experiment for several days. It is initially frustrating but I'm always pleased with how my kids learn to respond to body language... I bet you are good with that. Moms usually are. :-)
I suspect you didn't catch the additional information requested in the post guidelines. I'm missing a couple of answers to questions. You have a very entertaining writing style. I would have like to have read your responses to those questions. I enjoyed what you did write, however.
Your right I didn't catch it at the bottom of the assignments! Please forgive my inability to be thorough, especially since I liked this assignment: Answers below :0)
DeletePart 1
I found this experience fun, fun, fun, I learned so much more my son about how he perceive and responds to me!
Chace was okay with me not speaking as long as his need were met! He didn't seem frustrated at all and to be honest I liked not talking!
The culture that has the advantage is the spoken language but if you dont understand whats said, gesture are the next best clues.
Part 2
I was able to complete 15 min of non verbal communicating but it was tough since my some reacts better to facial expressions and gestures. He basically didn't care much about what I said!
Chace seemed to tantrum more with verbal commands instead of game like charades!
So sign is very significant to get your point across instead of dead emotion, How can he tell how I felt with out reacting?!
I think the people who cannot read body language are the blind so tone and touch is more important.
Part 3
The experiment in part 1 would have been difficult since my son cannot read! But if it were an adult it would have worked smoothly (if this person can read.
I think writing aka pictionary (holiday fav at my house) if your from another culture you can get your point across better when there is a language barrier by drawing it out_colors help to expressing feeling_ and earth elements!
Written language is global to help other understand each other and translators and foreign language classes and my favorite Google translate is another success of making us aware of each other need!
Thank you for the follow-up.
DeleteThat's so fascinating how your son responded to you. At first, I thought that he would like it better when you didn't say anything at all (kids!). But when he said he liked it the same when you spoke as well was interesting to me. And the effectiveness of the whole mommy voice - talk about the impact of tonal variances and body language! Kids respond to that so well, and when you can't use it, they're like "yeah right; I don't think so." Your experimenting with this with your son just shows to me how important body language and tonal variances are in overall communication.
ReplyDelete