AFL1501
ASSIGNMENT 1 (FORUM) SEMESTER 1
DUE DATE: 31 March 2025
Written Assignment Submission Guidelines:
Please ensure that your assignment is submitted electronically through the myUnisa platform no
later than March 2025. Kindly note that fax or email submissions will not be accepted.
NB: Assignment submitted to the lecturer(s) through email will not be considered.
TASK 1
THE IMPACT OF LANGUAGE BARRIERS ON COMMUNICATION
Language barriers and differences have influenced my communication with others in various ways,
helping me appreciate the significance of cultural diversity. One experience occurred when I
traveled to a rural village where the primary language spoken was different from my own. I struggled
to communicate with the locals, which made even simple interactions, like asking for directions or
purchasing goods, challenging. However, through non-verbal communication and gestures, I was
able to convey my messages, leading to moments of shared laughter and understanding. This
experience taught me the value of patience and creativity in cross-cultural interactions. It also
deepened my appreciation for linguistic diversity and the importance of learning new languages to
bridge communication gaps.
Another instance was in a classroom setting where a fellow student, who was a non-native speaker,
had difficulty understanding certain academic concepts due to language differences. I took the
initiative to simplify explanations and use visual aids to help them grasp the content. This not only
strengthened my own understanding of the subject but also highlighted the significance of inclusive
communication in diverse environments. It reinforced the idea that language should never be a
ASSIGNMENT 1 (FORUM) SEMESTER 1
DUE DATE: 31 March 2025
Written Assignment Submission Guidelines:
Please ensure that your assignment is submitted electronically through the myUnisa platform no
later than March 2025. Kindly note that fax or email submissions will not be accepted.
NB: Assignment submitted to the lecturer(s) through email will not be considered.
TASK 1
THE IMPACT OF LANGUAGE BARRIERS ON COMMUNICATION
Language barriers and differences have influenced my communication with others in various ways,
helping me appreciate the significance of cultural diversity. One experience occurred when I
traveled to a rural village where the primary language spoken was different from my own. I struggled
to communicate with the locals, which made even simple interactions, like asking for directions or
purchasing goods, challenging. However, through non-verbal communication and gestures, I was
able to convey my messages, leading to moments of shared laughter and understanding. This
experience taught me the value of patience and creativity in cross-cultural interactions. It also
deepened my appreciation for linguistic diversity and the importance of learning new languages to
bridge communication gaps.
Another instance was in a classroom setting where a fellow student, who was a non-native speaker,
had difficulty understanding certain academic concepts due to language differences. I took the
initiative to simplify explanations and use visual aids to help them grasp the content. This not only
strengthened my own understanding of the subject but also highlighted the significance of inclusive
communication in diverse environments. It reinforced the idea that language should never be a
