If you want to say something, you must find the words!

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If you have an opinion and would like a platform to share, we welcome you to CC.

Creative writing is an art, that greatly helps improve the communication skills. At CC we encourage the use of English language in all formats and thus are delighted to extend this writing platform to all.

You are welcome to submit articles, which we shall publish on our blog, with your name & email id. This is an exercise, which will help improve the communication skills and thus is an opportunity for all learners. The option is open for all age groups and backgrounds. We shall promote your work on our social media pages and you too can promote the published work by sharing the links amongst your circles. Share your opinion & encourage your children to pen their thoughts!

Terms & Conditions

William Wordsworth said, ‘fill your paper with the breathings of your heart’, our rule – ‘Don’t let AI drive your emotions’. The articles, if AI generated, will not qualify. Additionally, we strongly condemn copied work and thus plagiarised entries too will not be entertained.

All articles will be reviewed by our content team and once approved, will be published along with a media presentation (audio/video). The articles should be a minimum 300 words.

*We reserve the right to modify / reject any entry.

**This is not a paid opportunity & we do not provide any kind of certification.

For any further queries, drop a mail @ connect@conversationclub.in

Let tears flow … the power of CRYING!

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We are all meant to be strong; crying is a sign of weakness.  The world we live in is ruthless and any sign of weakness will be taken as a failure and used against us.

This thought terrifies, especially when it comes to our kids. We don’t want our children to be fragile. As a parent, we want our kids to be equipped to face the harsh tones of life and thus are often tempted to advocate the idea of ‘no tears’. Boys don’t cry and these days, cause girls are as strong as boys, they shouldn’t cry either. While the idea of gender equality is a welcoming thought, the notion of banning tears is a problem that ought to be dealt with.

Let your mind & heart detox … Crying HEALS!!

Crying is a natural phenomenon, which a human is expected to perform. In fact, there is something medically wrong with those, who cannot shed tears. This exercise of shedding tears is imperative for both body & mind and is not necessarily in response to a negative emotion. Often, we cry because we are happy; tears can reflect ecstasy, achievement and fulfillment. The stated however doesn’t undermine the importance of tears as an expression of grief. Often these tears, help cope with the toughest conundrums and face the hardships life puts us through.

Emotional & Physical Benefits of Crying

  • Crying releases toxins – Crying helps release a lot of harmful toxins from the eyes and thus enables natural cleansing. Tears lubricate the eyes and help relieve stress.
  • Helps fight pain and initiate self-soothing – By allowing us to release our emotions, we ease pain. Both psychologically and physically, when we cry, we allow ourselves to start the process of healing. This emotional outburst improves our brain temperatures and helps us cool down and restart.
  • Crying is a vent – It is not always possible to express in words. Tears act as a powerful mode of communication in such cases. It is often said that tears are words, expressed by the heart. Especially in the case of children, when they are not able to process their emotions, crying helps balance it out.  

Create a Safe Space

As a parent or a partner, create an embracing environment. Those whom you love should be able to come to you and express themselves in any manner possible. Rather than creating rules of idealistic behaviour, offer a comforting safe space in your embrace, where they can express, even through tears. Help by initiating the process of healing – promote healthy relationships through open verbal & non verbal communication.  

Crying is better than being numb. Only a heart that experiences pain, sheds tears. If we force our kids to completely shut off this strong expression of emotions, we are training them to be robots. Can you imagine the life of a person who does not feel or even worse, is not allowed to express? Tears are a powerful communication tool … embrace the strength of crying.

Scorecard versus Real Life – The Marks Mystery

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Newspapers right now are flooded with pictures of students who have managed to score more than 90% in their class X or XII board exams. All schools and coaching institutes are advertising their scholars. After all, these educational setups are the ones preparing the next generation of leaders, professionals and entrepreneurs for us. God forbid if somebody scored less than 80%, the world might just end now. Wonder what Rancho from 3 Idiots has to say about this.

Do you remember your friends from school who aced in grade 10th?

Go down memory lane; even dig out a school photo if you have one. Now open Facebook or Instagram and see how many of those faces you recognize in your vast list of long-lost friends. Though their faces might be completely unrecognizable now, I am sure you remember a few.

The weirdly tall fellow who was always trying to hide in his corner desk cramped towards the wall. That pretty petite girl who was undoubtedly the class princess and object of envy. And of course, the teacher’s pets, who always thrived to secure top positions and never failed to answer any question. While you were still figuring out the question, they promptly raised their hands to answer. Exams were a battle for them and winning was the only option. Girls with long braids and boys with ruptured teenage voices, clinging on to their books, cramming it all up to ensure perfect scores.

Where are these academic geniuses in life now???

The evident ‘Hypocrisy’!!!

We talk about street smart and discuss the value of life skills. We act like the most open minded, intellectually qualified modern parents, who totally understand the relevance of true – deeper learning. As and when it suits us, we even blame the current education system and bring out all that needs to be changed or challenged. We claim to fully acknowledge the pertinence of practical growth and exposure in life.

But, while we love advertising our revolutionary beliefs, the true reflection of intelligence is still the school board exam SCORECARD.

We are the famous aunties and neighbours who pester kids about their marks in the board examinations. In fact, for a lot of parents, marksheets are currently their profile pics. We talk about an all-inclusive education system and yet when it comes to selecting a school, we go by the adverts promoting an age-old rotten rote learning system. Once the scores are released, we track down all the kids and find out their performance in board examinations. After all, marks in class 10th and 12th are the only true reflection of a child’s intelligence. If you do not remember the year Hitler attacked Jews or when the French Revolution reached villages, you are definitely doomed for life. Don’t you agree??

Truly skip the rat race!

If possible, for your child’s sake, make an honest effort and opt out of this silly competition. Life is a lesson we are still learning. There is a long way to go and how we prepare our kids today, will decide the outcome. Practical education ought to be the focus. Let them experience life beyond school books and tuition. Let them explore, make mistakes and gather pieces to start afresh! These marks will be forgotten, but the scars of this undue pressure won’t fade easily. Each child is special and full of possibilities. Ensure that there’s enough scope to experiment and weave a life worth living!

Don’t let AI cripple your kid

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Be it a simple mathematical calculation, an English assignment for school or for that matter the captions for a reel they are editing, children these days are simply unable to operate without the artificial intelligence tools.

Try an experiment to understand better.

Give your child a small writing task, could be a letter or even a text message in English, without the help of any online tool or search engine. Just leave your kid with a pen and a notebook and check the results. Even a basic task like the stated will turn into a mammoth challenge. Now let your child be in the room with a mobile or ipad or a laptop and try the same exercise. You will have your answer in minutes. Thanks to programs like Chat GPT, all answers are readily available.

Don’t confuse gadget friendliness with intelligence

My uneducated maid’s three year old daughter (doesn’t go to school) is able to operate smartphone seamlessly. She is able to scroll through reels and even save selected ones in playlist. Does this mean she is super intelligent?

We often hear grownups say things like kids today are so intelligent. Look at how comfortable they are with technology. Well of course they are comfortable with smartphones, Bluetooth speakers and laptops; these are akin to toys for them. Children now days are more exposed to gadgets than books. In an average Indian household, at any given time, the number of gadgets on a table will exceed the number of books or newspapers. So if they can operate the keypad efficiently or have exceptionally developed online surfing skills, it doesn’t qualify as an adequate indicator of intelligence.

AI is hampering creativity

If a few clicks can get you all the answers, why bother? Google, Siri, Alexa know it all. Why think … let’s just ask them!

This is the typical mindset of a child these days. Easily available information is making life easier but at the same time, it is restricting the thought process. Rather than thinking about the situation, kids are merely relying on automated system generated responses. Small things like reading a map / chart on the metro station to check the train route seem impossible; they’d rather check the phone for next station details. A child’s creative growth is being largely hampered in the process. Resultantly, practical life skills like problem solving and abstract thinking are taking a major hit!

AI is promoting an emotionally challenged generation

Since the kids are no longer used to the idea of understanding things and preparing for adequate responses, their ability to perceive situations and accordingly manage circumstances is largely being challenged. Owing to the nuclear family structures and working parents, most of the time these days is spent with AI tools, which leads to emotional development issues and creates problems like social anxiety. The dependence on texting is so much that rather than speaking with a person, they rely on emojis to convey the message.

Provide the needed Learning Environment

AI has caused way too much dependence on technology. This excessive technical engagement, coupled with reduced human interaction, is impacting the child’s intellectual and psychological growth. They thus need an environment where they are encouraged to think and express in words. A schema like ‘Conversation Club’, which is driven by emphasis on the art of communication is the need of the hour!

Communication Skills & Academic Excellence

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‘Envisage’, ‘social contract’, ‘resplendent’, ‘grievances’, ‘hoarding’… these are just a few words from the very first chapter of the history book grade IX. We’ve all heard our children crib about the complex and boring chapters. We have witnessed their struggles with learning. We have seen them cram up the material and often wondered about the fruitfulness of this exercise. I mean if kids have to memorize those hefty books and not remember a word after the day of the exam, what is the point of it all??

What if the child doesn’t have to memorize it all? What if instead of just trying to remember each and every word of the sentence, they understood the idea covered in the chapter and phrased the answer in their own words. Wouldn’t this understanding of the concept enable long term benefits in terms of academic success?

The stated is just one of the many benefits of improved communication skills in the life of students.

Communication skills for students – See your child blossom!!

  • Better understanding of the scholarly curriculum – As elaborated above, the most critical aspect of enhanced language skills is the apparent ease of learning. Kids who understand the language better are not forced to robotically cram up the lessons. Owing to the evolved communication skills, they comprehend and thus enjoy better understanding and retention.
  • Increased class participation – Being able to comprehend and rephrase in their own words allows kids to ask questions and clearly answer when asked. A grasp of the English language brings clarity and thus enables two way communication between the educator and learner. Comprehension of the concept being taught thus paves the way for enhancement of the oral communication skills.
  • Emergence as a group leader – The one who has a tighter grip on the subject is naturally awarded the central chair in group discussions and class projects. Other students display natural confidence in the kid who is able to explain and thus the opportunities to lead and stand out, naturally follow.
  • Improved performance in written exams – Clarity of the subject and fluent written expression help frame better answers and thus the desired scores. Improved written communication skills further enable structured answers to meet the examiner’s criterion.
  • Overall confidence and life skills – Together the stated facets reap confidence in a child. The verbal and non-verbal aspects of communication ensure a learned and confident approach towards all kinds of academic and non-academic situations. Being able to express allows seamless exchange of ideas amongst teachers and students and parents and children.
  • Enhanced personal relationships ­– The ability to express helps form the desired bonds with other students. Kids face a lot of social issues on account of broken communication. Over dependence on gadgets and AI has fractured their ability to maintain real world relationships and this is where Conversation Club mends the broken bridges.

Working on communication skills is akin to watering the roots of the plant. It is a regular process and with the right guidance and supervision, fruits of success can be reaped. At Conversation Club, we provide a customized curriculum for students wherein the nuances of communication skills are carefully clubbed with academic concepts and thus learning among students is largely promoted.

Communication Skills – The Essential Ingredient of Life

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What are soft skills?

Definition – personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people. Communication skills are an important element of the soft skills.

Communication skills in the life of a student!

Aman and Kriti are in the same grade and academically they are both decent students. In most of the subjects, they both score in the above average category and are usually ready with all answers. However, if you’ll ask teachers, Kriti will be the one they’d recognize in a batch of 40 students in the class. As for Aman, his report cards will reflect decent performance, but his participation in class and ability or rather the lack of ability to verbally express across various platforms ensures that he remains unnoticed. But how does it matter? He is a good student and will secure decent grades!

Well certainly he will perhaps score fine but his inability to effectively communicate will keep him hidden away from all opportunities. Despite being a hardworking student, he won’t be noticed or given a platform to perform even better because he is not able to display the knowledge that he has acquired by way of seamless communication.

Good communication is the bridge between confusion & clarity – Nat Turner

Communication skills in the life of a professional!

Who do you think will have a better chance at the interview, Aman or Kriti? Let’s consider a hypothetical scenario where both have completed the same courses from the same institution and have more or less similar mark sheets. As freshers, they are being considered for a profile that along with the technical skills, requires team work and reporting. Kriti, on account of the enhanced communication skills and exposure received as a student, will clearly outshine Aman and therefore her chances of bagging the job are higher.

Even if we consider a case where there are multiple opportunities and both get selected, the chances of Kriti working her way up the career ladder are much steeper. Any organization, irrespective of the industry or job profile, is seeking employees who can help integrate human resources and outshine as leaders. Honed soft skills, especially communication skills, help achieve the said objective.

Of all the life skills available to us, communication is perhaps the most empowering.” — Bret Morrison

Communication skills in relationships!

Relationships demand a lot of work and still many fail. While there are many reasons behind the troubles encountered by those in these failed relationship, a common denominator is the inability to express and understand each other. Communication isn’t just about saying, it is also about listening. In fact, an important element is the ability to listen and understand what the other person is trying to say. Additionally, one must be able to give appropriate words to the emotions they are going through and thus being proficient at the art of communication makes life much easier.

Ultimately the bond of all companionship, whether in marriage of friendship, is conversation – Oscar Wilde

Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy and mutual valuing – Rollo Reece May

Sow the seeds of a happy life with simple communication steps

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Once upon a time, we lived in big joint families. There were uncles and aunts and brothers and sisters and relatives who were always visiting. To add to the equation, boundary walls of the houses were tiny enough to peek into the neighbor’s yard and engage in priceless chat sessions over a cup of tea.

Life now however is different. We’ve moved into nuclear setups and neither the uncles nor the aunts have time to visit. Cousins have moved to different states or countries and the houses have turned into buildings where we hardly know the family living next door.

Like any other change, this transition too has its pros and cons. There is independence, privacy, financial growth, etc., but there is also a little too much alone time – the overdose of seclusion. While these changed equations have impacted us all, the younger generation is facing some serious challenges. Kids are glued to their gadgets and their social skills have taken a major hit. No wonder, behavioral issues and problems like social anxiety & lack of confidence amongst kids are evident in every household.   

How to mend the broken bridge??

How do we establish the broken channel of communication? How do we prepare these youngsters to gear up for the world? The lost art of communication … how do we revive it??

  • Walk under the stars – start the tradition of post dinner walk with kids. These casual strolls have multiple benefits. Owing to gadget addiction, children these days are hardly engaging in any kind of physical activity. Moreover, too much screen time and life within closed walls are hampering the mental growth. These walks will ensure physical fitness and gradually, the time spent together will lead to discussions. Do not force your kids to talk, instead share anecdotes from your childhood. Eventually, they will open up and will start sharing their day.
  • Go old school – bring back the old board games from the storeroom; plan gadget free game evenings on the weekends. Clean the spider webs off the carom board, pull out the chess board, find a pack of cards, see if you can grab the box of monopoly; rather than talking about careers, marks and competitions, treat your kids with a stress free evening. Instead of lecturing about the overindulgence of mobile phones and upcoming exams, give them the option of an easy fun time.
  • Give the gift of a channel to express – most kids avoid any kind of verbal communication these days because they are hesitant. The lack of speaking opportunities has led to a silent generation that is way too scared of making mistakes. Help the young ones, overcome this hesitation, this social anxiety, this lack of confidence with the help of communication experts @ conversation club. They need an encouraging platform to express and to freely make mistakes. These crucial ingredients of expression are offered here at CC.

    Remember the most important rule – communication cannot be forced! You cannot just impose the rules when it comes to interacting. Help your child naturally open up; offer the space, comfort and guidance to express and engage.

    Communication skills enable growth & mental health!

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    Being able to express improves self-image and imparts confidence in kids.

    Communication skills training is imperative for the young ones for numerous reasons. While better communication skills help in every field, when it comes to mental health, the ability to communicate effectively has quite a few advantages. For a growing kid, self-image and confidence are vital ingredients of development and these elements are strongly linked to the child’s ability to effectively communicate in his / her environment. Thus, when it comes to communication skills training, special attention from the very start is a mandate.

    Communication gaps & mental health

    It seems natural that kids talk and convey their message; so what is the whole fuss about communication skills? Well yes, kids talk and they try to send out the message, but the aspect that demands attention is if they are actually able to convey the right message, comprehend what is being said and what happens if they are not!

    To understand better, take the case of an infant. The baby is too young to use words or sign language and thus resorts to crying whenever anything is needed. Parents eventually get accustomed to these signs and the baby’s schedule and thus comply as per their understanding to satisfy the baby. Eventually, this child is expected to make use of spoken words and adequate sentences to express. The growth seems natural and perhaps in the safety of the home environment and in the language used at home, kid is able to convey the thoughts.

    However, as the kid grows and moves out into the real world, things change quite rapidly. From physical surroundings to people, from language to mannerisms, everything changes drastically. Further clubbed with competition and academic pressures, many kids find it quite challenging to maintain pace.

    How can communication skills help maintain the needed wellbeing?

    This challenge which is posed by the outside world, can be countered by enhancing the communication skills. Communication skills training works on a very simple formula.

    Key components:

    • To be able to say / write the desired message using the correct grammar & sentence structure.
    • Ability to patiently listen to others.
    • Capability to hear and understand what is being said, including the meaning of unsaid words and used language tones.
    • Respond in an appropriate manner, using the right set of words.

    Crying for everything might work for a 1 year old, but a 10 year old or a teenage does not have the luxury to simply replace words with sounds. An authentic expression of thoughts is the only solution to the problem. The mentioned components, when suitably mixed, provide the needed communication support for enhanced self-image and self-monitored positive expression.

    Why Conversation Club for communication skills training?

    The focus at Conversation Club is imparting the needed elements of communication, while strictly working as per the individual child’s needs. Customized practical communication sessions for kids ensure learning at a reasonable pace. We understand their struggles and provide a communicative curriculum that enables learning & development.

    Packed everything for survival in an English speaking world?

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    Be conversation ready with Conversation Club!

    An actual conversation refers to a meaningful exchange of thoughts and emotions between two adults. While we all yearn for this skill, communication these days has taken many different forms, thereby complicating the underlying rules.

    We are being judged by the way we communicate!

    Communication skills have always been an integral part of our personality. No wonder that in the current global era, which is largely driven by technology, communication skills go way beyond the basic ability to speak. The way we articulate our thoughts and deliver the message is of critical importance. Furthermore, English has been accepted by majority as the language driving the scenario. Be it on a personal or professional front, a speaker with a strong grasp of the English language and thus polished communication skills has an upper hand.

    Be it initiating a dialogue with a gym instructor or a casual tête-à-tête with a possible matrimonial prospect or an online sales call, conversing in English language is a mandate. However, communication skills training is not just mastering the rules of the language, it entails specialization in the art of expression.

    The art of articulation

    Good communication skills go way beyond answering questions in small standard sentences or replying to an email in a couple of copied phrases. A skilled communicator is trained in the art of conversations. Instead of opting to text a few words and emojis, a trained English language speaker is confident enough to pick up the phone and connect over a call.

    Communication skills training provides the needed practice and thus confidence to contribute meaningfully. Practical conversation skills help in every aspect of life. One who is able to assimilate the essence of a discussion is naturally able to participate better. Getting a hang of the language makes one a better listener and thus a better communicator. No wonder, in relevant managerial positions, requiring team management, a candidate adept at communication skills is universally preferred.

    Even in a student’s life, communication skills play a fundamental role. Kids are currently facing a lot of competition in every arena; with expertise in English language skills, the journey to success is quite streamlined. In fact, psychologists are of the opinion that the ability to effectively communicate can also lead to positive mental health. By streamlining relationships and empowering young adults with tools of persuasion, conflict resolution and safe expression, communication skills enhance the overall quality of life. 

    Travel the road with Conversation Club!!!

    Why conversation club for communication skills training? Well, the answer is quite simple. This is a learning channel that focuses on the imperative practical application of the English language. While the basics are gradually worked upon, each session is designed around the functional aspects of communication. Everyday language requirements are a top priority. 

    Furthermore, the sessions are customized by trained language experts to inculcate topics of interest. These discussion based sessions ensure assimilation of all relevant aspects of the communication skills training, without the mundane learning rules.

    Twisted Pygmalion connect between expectations & reality!!

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    Every aspect of life has a story behind it, the Pygmalion effect beholds one too. Back in the day, the Greek sculptor Pygmalion had once, sculpted a woman out of ivory. Absolutely in awe of what he had just created, he turned the woman from a common to a personal noun and gave her the name ‘Galatea.’ There was no denying in the fact that he was profoundly, and deeply in love with ‘it.’ Inspired by his love, Aphrodite – the goddess of Venus decided to do him a favor and brought his significant other to life.

    But why are we discussing Pygmalion & his love for Galatea … what is the relevance of this Greek anecdote today??

    Pygmalion was so deeply obsessed with his sculpture that he imagined that the creation was a living person. His imagination or rather his obsession was so grave that the goddess granted his wish and in effect the sculpture indeed became a living person.

    If we look at the situation from an aerial view, who gave life to Galatea? The Greek goddess or the creator Pygmalion’s love??

    There’s a Pygmalion in all of us … we birth our reality as per our desires!!!

    How is the Pygmalion and Galatea’s story connected to us, our situations? It was Pygmalion’s expectations which, in the first place motivated him to craft such a sculpture and inspired Aphrodite to bring Galatea to life.

    In simpler words, the Pygmalion effect is a psychological phenomenon wherein our expectations from a person push that person to behave in the way we desire. Thus we decide the result beforehand and work in the direction to achieve it, which eventually leads to the same result.

    Expectations = Behaviour = Result as per expectation.

    To understand better, consider the experiment below:

    An experiment regarding this subject was held in a school in a district of Mexico. Students were separated in two groups and they were led to believe that those in group A were better in terms of their ability & skills to read and thus were intelligent. Group B was also informed about this division criterion.

    This made the students believe that A group had high expectations set from their respective teachers whereas the other flock believed that they had failed to make the teachers proud. This resulted in the first group, showing better academic excellence in comparison to the other, which withered.

    How can it help??

    The above mentioned phenomenon has several real life implications too. It can be used by seniors to motivate their unit to complete a project by setting high standards and expectations. It can be used by parents to make sure that their children score well in their upcoming exams and furthermore, it can also be smartly and statistically used by coaches to help their players win. There are 3E’s that help create such a situation:

    1. Elect – elect candidates who are fit for such a role, candidates who will not be harmed by such a psychological deliberation.
    2. Expect – create expectations and certain standards for the people elected.
    3. Eye – observe carefully how it affects them and their results.

    Pygmalion effect sounds interesting, but is it ethical? Let us consider the Mexican school – study once again. The first group definitely improved but what about the second? It compromised one entire year of their academic lifespan and destroyed their confidence.

    This leads us to the discovery of the Golem effect, also called the Pygmalion fall, which states that reduced expectations lead to diminished results. Both the effects are like two sides of a coin.

    The golem effect is the segment of the Pygmalion effect which causes several drawbacks. It leads to a certain stereotype threat, a situation where people belonging to certain communities feel more vulnerable to conforming to stereotypes regarding their gender, caste, and status, hampering equality and perpetuating discrimination, especially in the cases of gender. Furthermore, it has a significant role in creating insecurities between siblings who go through what is commonly called ‘favoritism.’

    This brings us to the commonly asked question, “Is the Pygmalion effect self-validating?”

    The effect does create a condition where the expectations set do modify the final outcome. In other words, in such an event, an individual’s expectations about another person eventually result in the other person or entity acting in ways that confirm such expectations. So ultimately, yes, it can be called self-validating.

    “Before we acquire great power, we must acquire wisdom to use it well.”

    As for a final feedback, the Pygmalion effect may seem intriguing at some point, and may be a part of our daily life, but it needs to be controlled and used properly to make sure that there are no casualties, that is, no victims of the fall, or the Golem effect. All that glitters, after all, isn’t gold.