Writing Worries!!

Writing- something that everyone is afraid of, next to public speaking of course! Whether you are a 12-year old or 22-year old person, everybody tries to run away from writing as much as they can. From a simple letter to essays to report writing, all these things are guilty of inducing fear in the heart of students, irrespective of whether they are in school, high school or college. But not anymore. Today, we will provide you some simple pointers which will help you overcome this fear.

1.     First and foremost, make sure you know all the words you are using and their correct usage. A diverse, large vocabulary is impressive, no doubt. But using words in wrong context has a negative impact on the reader.

2.     Keep changing your sentence structures. Use short, simple, complex and compound sentences to induce some variation. It makes it more exciting for the reader.

3.     Use correct punctuation and grammar. If you are confused about something, it’s always better to look it up first, instead of making an error. There is nothing more putting off for a reader than coming across spelling errors or grammatical mistakes.

4.     Get your facts right. There is no margin for error here. If you are putting up data or some kind of facts or principles, make sure you have sufficient and absolutely correct information.

5.     Organise your thoughts. When writing an essay or an article, it’s always advised to think of some points before you actually start writing. Jot them down so that you can compile everything in a structured format later on.

6.     Avoid repetition of words. Don’t use the same words or terms again and again. Look up for synonyms if needed. One needs to put a lot of time and patience to develop a powerful vocabulary. For others, there is always the world wide web.

7.     Keep practising. Now, this theory is very difficult to implement, especially for people who run away from writing. But let us tell you, there is no substitute for hard work. A journal entry in your own words or just by copying a newspaper article, you can learn a lot. Even editing other people’s work teaches you a lot.

8.     Lastly, READ whether it’s a newspaper article or a health magazine. The more you read the better your writing will get.

To conclude, equip yourself with these tips. Having a strong command over the language will definitely help you in boosting your confidence. It will also give you an edge over all those people who still fear writing.

Make An Impressive Introduction!

New place, new faces, unfamiliar surroundings!

It is natural to get homesick and feel that you are all alone and helpless. You start missing your friends. It gets even worse if you feel you are being treated unfairly because there is a language barrier. But don’t worry. We will tell you how to make that charming first impression and set the ball rolling with the new set of people around you. No need to get nervous. Just follow these simple tips and we assure you, you will be a hit wherever you go:-

Initiating a conversation:

Always begin with a smile. A nice gentle smile goes a long way in establishing that initial connection with a stranger. It gives you an opportunity to say something about yourself.

You can start with a simple greeting - “Hello! I am ____.”And then ask for the other person’s name. It is also a good habit to slow down and say your name clearly. Once you know the name of the other person, ask something about the person like “Where are you from?” or “What do you do?” Also make sure you take the person’s name while asking the question. This will help you remember the name and it shows your interest in the other person.

e.g. What do you do, Sneha? / Sneha, where are you from?

Body Language:

While you are saying the initial words, remember that your tone of voice as well as body language have a major impact. You will want to project enthusiasm by using an upbeat and a positive tone of voice. While hand gestures should be as less as possible, make sure you maintain eye contact as looking into the eyes of the listener while speaking shows that you are giving your complete undivided attention.

What to talk about:

You could start by giving some personal details about yourself like your native place or even hobbies after which you can casually ask the other person about the same. Try to talk about something in common and if not, choose common topics such as sports, music, food or even the weather. It will help you establish a rapport with the other person. Try to stay away from boring or depressingly serious news events. Moreover, if you are talking about religion or politics, do not try to impose or force your beliefs as some people could be really sensitive when it comes to such issues. Try and use humour. Be supportive and positive. Always avoid asking for a favour or money.

Closing the conversation:

You could end your conversation with a cordial “Hope to see you around” or “It was really nice meeting you”. And last but not the least, always be POLITE!

Don’t forget, people quickly form opinions based on first impressions and that is why making a good first impression is extremely important. Whether you are in a classroom, a coffee house, a conference room, a restaurant or online, the ability to introduce yourself effectively is a useful communication skill. Thus, follow the above mentioned pointers and go out and impress everybody with your newly acquired social skills!

How good are YOU as a story teller?

Have you ever wondered if those boring classroom sessions were actually that boring because of the subject matter or it was the dull, dismal method of delivery?

Listening to someone telling a story or narrating an event over coffee, at restaurants, or in a classroom and getting absolutely bored to death is something all of us can relate to.

The meat of the story was interesting, but for some reason you just couldn’t stay intrigued.

Or maybe you heard an anecdote that completely blew you away, but when you tried to retell it, it didn’t have nearly the same impact.

Why was that?

Story-telling is an art like writing and there is a way it should be done to be captivating and completely effective. Whether you are addressing a large group of people or just narrating an incident from your last visit to a supermarket, there are certain guidelines you should follow if you truly wish to impress your audience.

Firstly, don’t think you have to be perfect the first time you tell your story. However, if you love your story and have prepared it reasonably well, it will surely be a hit with your listeners. And each time you tell the story, you and your story will improve.

Give your listeners your full energy. If speaking to a group of people, aim your voice at the back row. Make your words ring. Avoid verbal trash like “umh” or “you know.” Sit or stand, but face your audience squarely, and with a straight back. No fidgeting, hands in pockets or shifting from foot to foot.

Make eye contact with your listeners. Talk to them. If there are too many of them or you can’t see them all, look mostly at the ones in front. If some aren’t paying attention, focus on those who are.

As you tell your story, take your time, and give time to your listeners—time to comprehend and visualize the story, time to laugh, time to experience it, time to reflect, time to anticipate what may come next. It’s usually easy to go too fast and hard to slow down. If you are losing their attention, you may need to go slow! After the story, be sure to leave time for the audience for appreciation.

Storytelling is interactive. As your listeners respond to your story, let your story respond to your listeners. Make your voice and gestures bigger or smaller. Pay attention to what works and what doesn’t, so next time you can change, add, or subtract. Stretch or shrink parts of the story accordingly.

Above all, trust yourself, your audience, and your story. Keep in mind, they are there because they want to listen to what you have to say. Thus, speak confidently and be receptive to your audience’s reactions and expressions and IMPROVISE accordingly!

Confusing Catchphrases!

Have you ever heard people saying “It takes two to tango.”, “Better late than never.” or “Barking up the wrong tree” and wondered how such expressions came into English? What is even odder is the fact that despite not knowing what these things literally refer to, we somehow know exactly what these mean proverbially. It is only natural to wonder what must be going on in people’s minds when they came across such phrases. Today, we bring to you a couple of phrases with the story of their origin and their meanings as well. We hope it will “quench your thirst” for knowledge. So, read on.

1) Bark up the wrong tree-

Meaning - to do, believe or pursue something wrong or inappropriate. To take a wrong approach, to follow a false lead or to blame or rebuke the wrong person.

Origin- Back when hunting was a major sport, this phrase derived from when animals were used to track, catch or retrieve prey. Dogs were used in the chasing of raccoons, which was chiefly undertaken at night and were trained to indicate the tree in which the animal had taken refuge by barking at it. Of course, even dogs can err and, at times, bark up the wrong tree.

2) It’s raining cats and dogs-

Meaning- raining very heavily

Origin- Houses in the 1500s had thatched roofs, thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence, the saying came into existence.

3) Bite the bullet-

Meaning - a person who ‘bites the bullet’, without any sign of fear, acts with great courage in the face of adversity.

Origin- The phrase recollects a dangerous army practice in the 1850s. Soldiers were then equipped with the British Enfield rifle. Prior to using it, they had to bite off the head of the cartridge to expose the explosive to the spark which would ignite it. The procedure was fraught with danger, particularly so in the heat of battle. It needed firmness and courage, as even the slightest deviation or hesitation would endanger the soldier.

4) Giving somebody the cold shoulder-

Meaning- to be unfriendly or to act indifferently to someone on purpose

Origin- When someone is blatantly snubbing another person (high school style) this is the appropriate descriptive phrase. It originated in Europe during the middle ages. The term actually had two implications: the first instance referred to any guest who overstayed their welcome. Such people were promptly served cooked (but intentionally cold) beef shoulder for their daily meals. This passive aggressive action went on until the unwanted guest got the hint and finally left.

5) Bury the hatchet-

Meaning- to bury the hatchet means to create peace

Origin- Now a merely figurative expression, the phrase is based on an actual practice of North American Indians. When negotiating peace, they buried all their weapons; their tomahawks, scalping knives and clubs. Apart from showing their good faith, simultaneously it made it impossible for them to go on fighting.

That’s all for now! Try to use these phrases in your speech. Remember, the regular use of idioms won’t just help you expand your vocabulary, but also add zing or spark to your conversation!