How to Use Four Communication Responses Appropriately?

Essay by sunmicflyUniversity, Master'sA+, June 2004

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A friend of mine came to me and had a short conversation with me during the class break. After chatting for a while, she started talking about her summer classes. "You know I'm talking two classes right now. Huh, they almost drive me crazy. I have two exams next week, a group presentation and a project as well. I don't think I can have much sleep until the disastrous week is over. Hope the exams will be easy and the teachers won't be tough on grading." Actually it was not my first time to hear student complaining about all coming-up exams and projects, especially at the end of each semester. I find myself to be in that position, too. So my response was almost instant, "Wow, it got to be an exhausting thing to take two classes in one summer session. I never took two classes together. I bet you won't have enough rest in the following week."

As my friend went on with her frustration, I told her, "Oh, yeah, I know exactly how you're feeling now. I used to take three classes in one semester while working full time. I definitely don't want to do it again." The conversation, like any other similar one, ended like this, "Well, hand in there. Four more weeks to go. It will be over before you know it."

Such a conversation can't be more typical among students and the responses are pretty much the same as had above. I, probably any other respondent as well, tend to use reflective ("It got to be an exhausting thing to take two classes in one summer session" and "I bet you won't have enough rest in the following week") and deflecting responses ["I never took two classes together (in one summer session)" and "I know...