Assignment task:
Everyone has a story and you are now given permission to ask someone you care about what his/her story is. This can be related to a onetime event, or can be broader. You are challenged to give the gift of active listening to someone whose story you want to hear. Remember, you have ethical responsibilities with all messages that you send and receive. If the relationship isn't established you may be in danger of the discomforts of premature disclosure.
1) Decide whose story you want to hear.
2) You might prepare by writing a few prompts to get the story started, but this is NOT an interview.
3) LISTEN: Use your eyes and your ears to p ay attention to the nonverbal messages
- Facial expressions
- Gestures or lack thereof
- Body movements
- Paralanguage components
4) Write, a reflection of this experience. Include what you heard and observed. Discuss the nonverbal components using academic terms to demonstrate comprehension. Also comment on why you chose your "story teller" and their response to your request. Record if this experience was beneficial to your relationship.