Fluency

11/08/2021

Just as much as we love watching teams compete during the Olympics, let’s think about how these teams have come such a long way! Being a solid team requires great verbal communication skills to work together, express one’s feelings clearly and support one another during ups and downs. The most important and perhaps even the hardest part about communicating with teammates is to speak and express oneself without offending or hurting the other person, especially when it comes to giving feedback, planning and setting goals. A huge shout out to the super solid teams at the Tokyo Olympics!

Many studies have shown the benefits of good communication in competitive athletics. Players who know how to effectively interact with each other will work together better, forming a stronger overall team. However, learning to communicate one's thoughts and feelings clearly and effectively without hurting or offending others can take time. Fostering this knowledge in players is primarily the responsibility of the team's coach. Workshops in effective communication are a part of many successful athletic programs, and coaches who communicate openly with their athletes can model effective interaction by speaking directly, listening attentively and valuing others' opinions. Positive communication in sports can also benefit from common practices like pre-game meetings when the team and coaching staff can come together to give feedback, discuss strategies and set goals for the day.

10/08/2021

10/08/2021

The Tokyo Olympic games are a great place to observe the significance of non-verbal communication. Paying attention to body language is key when you are playing in a team. Whether it is letting your teammates know when you are open, signalling them toward the lane/goal or even expressing your emotions, strong communication skills can help you break the toughest defence!

10/08/2021

It has become difficult to meet friends and family in person over the last year and a half, but we can still do simple things to stay in touch and feel connected to our friends and family.

Video call with friends and virtual tours together of national parks, museums, and more from Google Arts & Culture.

Play online games together like ludo, uno, snakes and ladders, etc with friends and family.

Pick up the phone and call a friend - don’t just make WhatsApp your main medium of communication.

Exercise with a friend/family member at a safe distance.

Catch up with old friends you’ve been out of touch with, Just pick up the phone and call them, they will also really appreciate it.

09/08/2021

I really believe in remembering names and I’ll tell you how it’s helped me over the years!
First of all, it helps you to start a personalised conversation - It’s a great way to begin small talk with someone new you’ve just met.
Secondly, it makes the other person feel special and interested in speaking to you - whether it’s a vendor, an employee or someone you met at a party.
Finally, it helps you to establish a relationship. You really never know when you bump into the person again or if you ever need to reach out to them for something. I’ve really learned that it helps to remember names of people from all walks of life!

06/08/2021

Creative writing is a term used so often, but let’s really understand WHAT it is and HOW it can help your child.

CREATIVE WRITING is all about writing original stories with emotional impact. This kind of writing includes personal essays, speeches, short stories, memoirs and poetry in order to entertain and share human experiences. It is not technical or academic writing.

HELP IMPROVE CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS by encouraging children to read daily and inculcate the habit. They can write a brief summary, a character sketch, a poem or even a short essay about what they’ve read. Explore various genres of books to broaden their thinking, identify their interests and have them do some writing related to what they’ve read.

DM for a reading list!

06/08/2021

Recently, I met Ria (name changed), a very sweet and bright sixth-grade student. She told me how she struggled to make new friends and connect with her peers. She felt left out and lonely at times, and her mother was worried about how she could make friends, speak to new people and open up.

After several confident communication classes which included learning how to have day-to-day conversations and making small talk with new people, this is what Ria said:

“It was a great learning experience where I could learn to express myself and communicate with my family and friends more effectively, which I could not do before. It was a very fun-filled class.”

05/08/2021

Whenever you’re having a conversation with someone, remember to be yourself! Share your experiences, but don’t worry about your stories sounding extremely unique or hilarious to the other person. What is important in order to have a meaningful conversation is that the experiences you are sharing are real. Feel free to express your emotions and talk about how your experience impacted you!

04/08/2021

I have been conducting English enrichment classes for children for the last six years to help develop critical reading and writing skills. Now, I have also introduced confident communication classes for children to improve their public speaking and verbal communication skills. During the pandemic, it’s been hard to see people in person and a lot of our interaction has been on Zoom or through emails. In these classes, your child will learn to become a confident speaker while interacting with others (in person) and also learn to connect with the audience virtually. Whether it is conducting a presentation, participating in class online or having a simple Zoom call, your child will learn to express with confidence!