Monday, April 23, 2012

Listening: The neglected side of communication

The UA Geography Program is helping to support a communication workshop Friday, April 27.

The keynote speaker, the Rev. Dr. Michael James Oleksa, (pictured above) has spent the last 35 years in Alaska, serving as a village priest, university professor and consultant on intercultural relations and communications. He has written several books on Alaska Native cultures and history. A 1969 graduate of Georgetown University and of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Father Oleksa earned his doctoral degree in Presov, Slovakia, in 1988. His four-part PBS television series,
Communicating Across Cultures, has been widely acclaimed.

The recipient of numerous awards from local, state and federal agencies, as well as the Alaska Federation of Natives, Father Michael has taught on the three main campuses of the University of Alaska system and at Alaska Pacific University.

The workshop is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Gruening 413 on the UAF campus.

Topics include:
  • 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. Communication and mis-communication. Learn how mis-communication occurs, predictably, across cultural boundaries.

  • 10:20 a.m. - 1:50 p.m. Skill-development activities.

  • 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. Styles of talking: tempo, tone and ritual. Listening well requires attention to differences in styles of talking, including cultural expectations related to tempo, toneo f voice and rituals of politeness.
RAP graduate student (and SNRAS alum) Rachel Garcia said the workshop is designed to develop skills in listening to improve research, ourtreach and professional abilities. Contact her at 452-0517.

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