CARLIE COATES

     Some may say that interpreting nonverbal communication is a skill all should have.  However, not everyone may have this capability.  According to Dr. Albert Mehrabian, only seven percent of communication is expressed verbally; indicating over ninety percent of a conversation is through body language, vocal tone, facial expressions, or another possible means.  Thus, when Stephan Sloan shares his graduate students’ experiences and reactions on conducting peer mock interviews, he mentions issues surrounding nonverbal communication.

     Within his article, Sloan states “what students conducting oral history research need is a better understanding of the mechanics and interpersonal dynamics of the interview session itself – in all its variety and for the range of narrators they might encounter” (Sloan, 4-5.)  Understanding every interpersonal dynamic an interviewer will come across, is not something that can be taught.  Instead, it is a process of telling someone to be more aware of their own nonverbal communication, as well as being aware of the nonverbal communication of another person. 

     Reading and interpreting someone’s nonverbal cues comes easily to me, as I have a job where it is expected to be aware of all communication regardless of who I am speaking with.  Sloan’s article came as a reiteration of my career, and I was surprised and intrigued to learn about the similarities behind being a successful interviewer and being a successful tutor.  Students who do not know how to be sensitively aware may feel uncomfortable in an unfamiliar atmosphere; however, if given the proper reminder to not have any preconceived notions, a successful oral history should be recorded.