Study Skills 94/J. Roth Notes due Tuesday, April 26

Social Awareness Assignment

(Help with the Classroom Etiquette Assignment)

When we first attend college, our social skills may be a bit rusty. We may have spent the past few months or years mostly alone or with a relatively few or familiar people; however, now we share space with hundreds of others in what may be a very new social environment that may require us to adjust.

Often, rusty social behavior can isolate a person, make him/her feel shunned, ignored, excluded. Teachers, in particular, will notice the behavior and make assumptions that may not be accurate. Equally often, this particular person has little idea of the cause of this isolation. Most of us simply will not tell another that his or her social skills are lacking. Instead, we tend to avoid the person, try to finish conversations quickly, come up with reasons not to interact or be near.

So how do we improve our level of social awareness, interaction, and behavior? For the next week, let’s do the following:

First, let’s consistently remind ourselves that we are now part of a large group; because of this, we have new responsibilities to that group if we want to be successful and feel accepted.

Second, let’s study the social interaction skills of others, noting which ones work and which ones don’t work. Let’s watch others as they interact, looking for both effective and ineffective behaviors.

(Please keep notepaper handy throughout the week and jot down what you observe and discover).

Third, let’s study ourselves--become aware of our own social interaction skills and honestly assess them. Which of our habits and behaviors should we accentuate? Which ones should we modify or abandon?

Finally, let’s take steps to modify our social skills in ways we feel will allow us to better interact with others. Let’s practice being self-aware in social situations until new behaviors become second nature.