Transform reading into a richer experience!

When we read we open windows and doors. The exposure that books grant us, the perspective they help build, the imagination that is enabled, the intellectual caliber that is nurtured is unparalleled. Reading comes with immense benefits; especially when it comes to a child’s development, reading plays a critical role. However in the current era of endless online exposure, books seem to have lost their charm. Instead of reading an actual article, children are relying upon AI tools to summarize information for them. Busy schedules and over whelming academic expectations further add to the agony.  

Here is a list of all that a child is missing out on by not picking up a book to read:

Vocabulary

Parents more than often feel that their kid is not able to express. Instead of using apt words in a sentence, children these days are relying more and more upon crutch words for basic communication. A paragraph would typically be an overdose of crutch words like ‘but’, ‘something’, ‘and’, ‘so’, ‘like’ and more. This is indicative of a weak vocabulary. Researches have proved that kids who are exposed to a language i.e. by way of reading, tend to have a wider vocabulary base. Those who read more, by way of a better developed vocabulary, have an intellectual advantage over their peers.

Expand the horizon

Reading imparts a whole new canvas of creativity. Learning and imagination go hand in hand. Exposure to unknown cultures, societies, traditions and varied characters bolsters the mind.

Writing skills

Reading more has a direct positive impact on the reader’s writing abilities. By stimulating imagination and imbibing details about the correct sentence structure, reading enables writing.

Knowledge & life skills

While the education system focuses largely upon academic – subject driven learning, reading outside the school curriculum, brings with it lessons about the real life. Practicalities of the outside world are introduced by these books. Complicated subjects, that might be otherwise difficult to deal with, can be seamlessly navigated through books.

Learn life through characters

Reading age appropriate books helps these young learners live vivaciously. Challenges faced by the characters helps readers connect with them. Problem solving skills too are developed and there’s an inclination to deal with day to day problems in a pragmatic way.

The CC program reading structure

At Conversation Club we are invested in inculcating reading as a habit. This is a rich experience and only with the help of right ingredients, complete benefits can be absorbed.

We begin with an assessment of areas and topics that spark interest. The passions once identified are nurtured through relevant discussions. Suitable reading material is simultaneously identified and sessions are customized around the subject. Gradually the learning base is expanded to include varied subjects and thus instill learning through a wider curriculum. Furthermore, trainers question the subjects read by the students, they review the paradigm of the material, promote analysis and unlock the content, thereby harnessing the critical thinking skills. A close eye is kept on the subjects being read, which is critical to ensure apt development of these young minds.

Mnemonics for English Vocabulary & Memory Enhancement!

Don’t we all wish there was a simpler way to retain the information; be it new words or never ending historical facts. Learning English and improving communication skills would be much easier if a memory tool could aid with vocabulary. Well certainly it would be and there are many techniques out there, which have been tried by many including mnemonics.

What is Mnemonics??

The concept, especially in the words of Oxford Dictionary, sounds a bit intimidating. The definition goes like this – the study and development of systems for improving and assisting the memory.

As it seems, mnemonics is some kind of a technique, that needs to be studied and systems have to be developed and implemented … well if it is this complicated, might as well learn the concept as it is.

Let us not allow Oxford to haunt us and let the British be with their fancy nomenclature. How about a simpler version of the stated – mnemonics are simply strategies that help retain information.  There are multiple mnemonic techniques that enable the objective and can be effortlessly comprehended and implemented; for instance songs & music. Advertisers have long been relying on this mnemonic strategy for building a customer base and ensuring long term association. No wonder we are able to hum songs from old movies that we perhaps watched when we were kids.

Learning English with Mnemonics

Well if the technique is so popular and has been used in various other fields, why not try this memory tool to brush up your vocabulary.

Vocabulary or new words in English or for that matter in any language are essential to add depth to the overall communication skills. Being able to remember words and use them in day to day conversations is a skill that we all wish to possess. Amongst the various other exercises, mnemonics can certainly help retain the meaning of new words and thus improve listening. This is in fact the first step towards English vocabulary enhancement. A learner in his / her initial stages, is able to recognize new words and perhaps decipher their meanings. Once the meanings settle in, comes the stage when one is able to use these words. It is a task that demands patience and continual effort and mnemonics can certainly help build the base.

How???

Illustration 1

Wistful – regretful / nostalgic / longing

Mnemonic – full of wish (left unfulfilled)

Illustration 2

Abase – humiliate / degrade

Mnemonic – Push off the base (push somebody down)

In addition to the word associations, rhymes, pictures and more can be used. One can further relate words with their own experiences and circumstances to enable retention. The notion is to get used to a word, to add it to one’s system and let it grind. Once the technique is repeated often enough, the words begin to occupy their special places in your head. The next time you hear the word, it resonates and while you might not remember the exact meaning, you know that the word you just heard, isn’t an alien. The familiarity deepens every time you check the meaning and correlate it with the mnemonic key. Eventually comes the stage when you are able to not just understand the word, but are also able to proficiently use it in your English conversations.