Future Seafarers Undertake Communication Training

The University of the Visayas- Maritime College held its first seminar-workshop for future seafarers last October 22, 2015 at the Inday Pining Teatro with the themes: “More than Words: Nonverbal Communication for Future Seafarers”. This was organized by Professor Rosie Altizo-Mendoza of the Department of Language and Literature, College of Arts and Sciences. The one-day seminar workshop was the culmination of the English 3M classes of the maritime students and aimed at providing opportunity to enhance the competence of the future seafarers through non-verbal communication.

Observe signals as a group, pay attention to contradictions and trust your instincts are just few tips shared by communication coach and language educator Professor Gianne Rensen V. Antonio. He demonstrated some aspects on nonverbal communication that counts the most in influencing people across borders. Basic tips to improve one’s voice, the use of the eyes and gestures effectively and improve one’s posture were tackled in the training plus Power Dressing that gave the trainees prospects on acing the job interview.

As cited in the article 201 of Gestures: Your Body Speaks, body language is an important part of speaking because it enhances the message and gives one more credibility. It also helps release nervousness. Stance, movement, gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact help communicate the message and achieve one’s speech purpose.
“Body language should be smooth, natural, and convey the same message that your listeners hear,” emphasized Professor Antonio as he conveyed the students to demonstrate various body movements during the workshop.

The University of the Visayas continues to broaden the competency in verbal and nonverbal communication of the maritime students preparing them to become competent world-class seafarers. This is also to realize the vision of the Maritime College to beacon the aspiring seafarers anchored towards local and international Maritime Industry demands anticipating the foreseeable future in an effort to raise the standards of competence and professionalism of future seafarers.