Week 1 Reflection: EFP 11
Circle Talks
Tarek Diabmarzouk
a. Why do we engage in circle talk? How could circle talk help create a sense of community?
Every person has ideas, emotions, and the knowledge to learn more about a subject. Circle talks help ease this concept of talking to everyone and allow for everyone in a group to communicate about whatever may be discussed. Everything said in the circle must stay within the circle and not leave it, making everyone more comfortable sharing their ideas. There tends to be a feeling sometimes that one’s idea may be stupid or dumb, however, the circle talk works to ease or erase this idea. Since people will start to get comfortable in circle talks it will create a sense of community especially once people share stuff that may be uncomfortable for them to do.
b. What does listening look like? Why is it important to respectfully listen to others during circle talk? How does it feel to be listened to and understood by others?
The ability to be respectful and silent is a simplified definition of listening. To listen it means that you are paying attention and giving respect to the person who is speaking. Everyone is at a different level while speaking publicly or even speaking in front of a few people that they don’t know. When people are not listening or being disrespectful to the speaker, it can be hard for them to share their ideas and make them feel disrespected. It is important to respectfully listen to others during a circle talk so that you can expect the same back and make others feel comfortable while sharing. To be listened and understood by others make you feel respected and that you are not wasting your time with a group that does not care for what you may be speaking about.
c. How did you feel after circle talk? What did you remember, and what did you take away? Remember not to speak another person’s story.
As a person who has contributed to a diverse amount of circle talks, there is many feelings that one can feel. For this specific circle talk we completed as a class, I felt curious and interested to learn more about others. I remember that we went over our names and had a topic to discuss, however I do not remember what we particularly discussed about. Learning everyones name and how they act in a group environment was interesting. I was able to know more about my classmates and my teacher by just observing everyone in the circle talk.