Before watching the video, I searched for a speech made by President Joko Widodo of Indonesia, a leader whose language and cultural background I am unfamiliar with. Upon viewing the still image of President Widodo, I initially felt a sense of curiosity. He appeared confident and well-groomed, which led me to assume that he might be an effective and charismatic speaker.
I proceeded to watch the speech and paid close attention to President Widodo's tone of voice, body language, and nonverbal communication. As he began speaking, I noticed his calm and composed demeanor. His hand gestures were deliberate and purposeful, conveying a sense of confidence and authority. These nonverbal cues created a positive impression of him as a leader.
Although I couldn't understand the content of his speech due to the language barrier, I found myself inclined to believe what he said based on his appearance and body language alone. His confident and composed demeanor, coupled with his professional appearance, gave me a sense of trustworthiness and credibility.
Reflecting on this experience, I realize that my initial assumptions about a speaker are strongly influenced by their appearance and nonverbal cues. These unconscious biases can shape my perception of the speaker's credibility and the extent to which I am inclined to believe or reject their message. It is crucial to be aware of these biases and question why they exist in order to approach future speeches and talks with a more open mind.
Before we go any further, let’s examine our own assumptions (those things we accept as true without proof) about the character of a speaker before he or she even opens their mouths. Find a video of a speech online made by a foreign world leader that you are unfamiliar with who speaks another language. (You could simply look up “presidential speech Yemen,” for example.) Stop the video before the speech begins and think carefully about what you already feel about this person, judging from their appearance. Be honest and write it down. Then listen to the speech and think carefully about how you feel about them based on the tone of their voice and their body language or nonverbal communication through gestures or movements. Alternatively, find any speech or talk online and watch it with the sound turned off. Ask yourself what you feel about the speaker based on their appearance and body language alone? Do you feel inclined to believe what they say or reject it? Question why this is and write it all down in around 100-200 words
1 answer