Module 3 – Unit 4: Project Work
Observing Communication on TV Dramas
Watch at least one TV drama where people are in a work situation (such as Grey’s Anatomy, House, ER, Boston Legal, Law and Order, C.S.I.). As you watch, take notes on how people socialize with each other and how people talk about their work.
Name of TV Drama _______________________ |
Date and Time _______________________________________ |
How formal is their language, generally speaking? Is the formality the same when they talk about work? |
informal |------------------------------------|formal |
What topics do these people talk about when they socialize at work? |
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What language do you hear that signals transitions from social talk to work talk? |
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What language do you hear that signals an end to a conversation? |
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What language do you hear that signals that someone wants to keep a conversation going? |
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What types of information do the colleagues report to each other? |
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What specific language of reporting do you hear? |
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Do you think any of the social behavior or language is inappropriate? If so, what? |
How realistic do you think this TV show was in terms of how people socialize at work in the U.S.? What aspects of the communication patterns you observed would probably be different in real life?