Tackling the English Language

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A word after a word after a word is power – Margaret Atwood

Language is a formidable foe and the certain way to win this battle is with the weapons of persistence and consistency.  Be it English or any other language, mastering the components requires effort and dedication on the part of the learner. A mentor can pave the way, but the eventual result relies heavily upon the student’s willingness to learn.

Tackling the English Language

Vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure and pronunciation are the key elements of a language. The pursuit in this direction entails working on these aspects. A structured approach, backed by diligence and consistent effort, is the key to enhanced English communication skills. In addition, you continually need to push yourself or find your motivation. Mastering the English language is a daunting task and often on this treacherous journey, there’ll be an inclination to give up. Finding the zeal in you will help improve your English communication skills.

Immerse yourself in the language

In other words, embrace the English language as if it were your mother tongue! If you pick a magazine, pick one in English. If you switch on the news, opt for the English channels. Find your shows in English or at least keep the English captions on. Even while playing games on your phone, switch to the English language. If you have to speak to a customer care executive, go for the English option.

Experienced mentors shall pave the way

In order to improve your English communication skills, you need someone to lead the way. While there is enough available online to help you improve spoken English, following a proper approach ensures success and this is where trainers @ Conversation Club can help. With CC to assist with the task of improving communication skills, the learning path becomes easier and shorter. Here’s how we can help students across all age groups and backgrounds:

  • Experienced mentors to guide – English language experts help you strategize the way forward. By assessing the student’s current competence levels and by identifying the key problem areas, trainers at Conversation Club help devise the suitable English language learning plan. The plan is customized as per the learner’s requirements.
  • Professional guides to help you stay on track – With the plan in place, all it takes to master the English language is determination to go on and this is where we help you achieve the endeavour. Through regular guidance, our skilled trainers reinforce the idea of learning, thereby enhancing spoken and written English skills.
  • A constant friend who corrects and helps improve – We offer you the practical learning experience and ensure correction at each and every stage. This hand holding makes the learning program a rewarding and interesting journey for English language enthusiasts.

Be it in social circles or professional spaces, the English language these days is a mandate. From school interviews to college applications to job interviews to seemingly simple society luncheons and dinners, a command of the English language paves the way. Conversation Club is your partner and we can together achieve the objective of enhanced English communication skills.

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

Applications of English for adults in everyday life

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  • Social Interactions – Be it with your child’s teacher or husband’s friends or wife’s relatives from abroad, fluent English conversations leave an impression. From simple introductions to meaningful exchanges about personal matters, a strong grasp of the language goes a long way.
  • Career Growth – Irrespective of the profession or profile, there’s hardly a white collar job holder who can deny the importance of English in the overall career advancement. Be it preparing a presentation for an upcoming meeting or an office lunch with the management, seamless communication is simply essential.
  • Kid’s education & Upbringing – As a parent we understand the pertinence of effective communication. We expect our kids to excel academically and want them to be intellectually mature. Be it academic excellence or personality development, without a proper understanding of the English language, the mission cannot be accomplished. Parents are the foundation of learning for a child and thus if we have strong communication skills, kids shall naturally adapt.
  • Travel – Be it a short vacation to an English speaking nation or long term plans to permanently move, command of the global language goes a long way. English can simply make your life much easier in a foreign nation and different states of India.
  • Trade – Setting up one’s business, importing and exporting from other countries, communicating with vendors and customers from across the globe are just a few practical applications of English in this category. Your ability to fluently converse in English leaves a positive mark on your prospective clients / associates. Communication can impress!!  
  • Entertainment – An understanding of the language opens doors to infinite content. You can enjoy an endless variety of shows and can fully assimilate the wonderful literary works from across the globe. Horizons beautifully expand with the familiarization of this global language.

English is the accepted language of the world and thus for successful sustenance, one must get accustomed to it. Not only corporate survival depends heavily on this language, even seemingly simple daily life connections cannot thrive without a proper understanding of the English language.

Learning can be FUN!!!

The idea of learning or joining classes shouldn’t bring back nightmares of the past. Language is not just a useful tool, it is also a very interesting hobby. At Conversation Club, we understand the mental barriers faced by adults and thus accommodate for challenges. We focus on the practical aspect of communication and thus work with you on a customized learning program that focuses upon the imperatives of day-to-day practical communication requirements.

Language is a Weapon … Practice and empower yourself  

Join Conversation Club and improve your practical Communication Skills

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

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.

Writing as a profession – the varied options you can choose from!

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Reading is no longer an in thing and if nobody would read, why bother writing? Well, the question seems justified; is there any point in writing anymore?

Ralph Waldo Emerson said that the writer is an explorer. Every step is an advance into a new land.

Creative writing as a learning & personal growth tool –

Stated more than aptly answers the question. Creative writing, for professional or personal reasons, offers innumerable benefits. Be it journaling or article writing or preparing notes for a fiction book, each and every word helps the writer enter a creative, intellectual territory. Furthermore, creative writing is an immensely important communication tool. Expressing oneself through words opens doors to imagination and wisdom. The art of writing builds discipline. Being able to pen leads to self-control and tutors kids about routine.

In addition to the mentioned, writing all thoughts in an organized manner helps find solutions. A well-articulated plan in writing has a much better chance of success. Furthermore, creative writing engages the brain most exhaustively. Together the analytical and creative sides of the brain work and help form ideas that creative writers deploy.

Words have the power to stay; they form memories.

Writing as a profession – it opens avenues!!

In addition to writing for personal development and creative expression, kids can also opt for the art of writing as a profession. Professionally, one can make quite a buck by writing in various capacities and across different industries.

  • Script writer – if you enjoy telling stories and enjoy the fascinating world of movies, script writing is the profession for you.
  • Book author – let your imagination run wild and let every thought find its way to the pages of a novel. As a book author you can experiment with various writing styles and pen numerous genres.
  • Ghostwriting – you write for others and make an honest penny. By helping others put their thoughts and experience in an interesting format, a creative writing career as a ghostwriter pays you well.
  • Journalist / News producer / Editor – add your own stylized masala to the world events and let the audience see from your scanner. As the creative writer behind a news channel you create and vet content before it reaches the outside world.
  • Website writer / Blog writer – this is yet another enchanting avenue a professional writer can explore. This creative writing career option offers abundant scope for flexibility and variety; collaborate for a blog as interesting as Conversation Club and each minute of your time is well utilized.
  • Proposal writer / corporate communications / marketing copy specialist – as a professional writer this is yet another avenue that can help you earn quite well. It is a well-paying position and top MNCs are always looking for new talent.

Stated are just the top few options. Writing is a field that brings with it immense possibilities. To add to that, this is one professional field where owing to the option of flexible hours, work life balance can be well achieved.  

Conversation partners – we elevate together!

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Learning with a friend, who understands … challenges … motivates … helps … shares, is the definite path to excellence. Especially when it comes to communication skills training, if we have someone to work with, the sharing of ideas and constant deliberations help excel.

Teamwork has proven to be a tool that leads to innovative ideas and effectively solve problems. When it comes to learning in the domain of communication skills, working with a study partner has similar benefits. Study partners ensure that the process of learning is stimulated in a happy zone. It lowers the risk of burnout and through the helpful clubbed sessions, students tend to observe from varied perspectives and thus learn effectively.

Furthermore, knowledge when shared with a study partner, significantly enhances in terms of value. Combined efforts act a fuel and provide the desired momentum. Academic excellence is guaranteed if there is the option of working with an ideal learning mate.

Why work with a study mate?

One cannot improve upon his / her ability to communicate in isolation. Communication skills training is a domain that relies heavily upon an environment to connect & express. In fact learning can only prosper in an environment, which provides ample opportunities to freely open up. It is only when we speak that we are able to identify our mistakes and thus correct them. Connecting with a suitable learning partner or a study group has numerous addition benefits; few of them are as below:

  • The content is better understood post discussions with other learners. Analyzing a content from various viewpoints enables better assimilation.
  • When clubbed with a study group / mate, one is motivated to keep up with the learning schedule and thus there’s less inclination to delay.
  • Learning partners motivate each other by identifying frequent mistakes and learning barriers. They help correct each other and thus achieve the desired goals.
  • Working with a conversation partner, as part of communication skills training, makes sure that the process does not become monotonous.
  • Peer review and the option to improve reduces anxiety and thus encourages learning.
  • Social interaction is an integral component of the communication skills training program. The conversation partner program encourages interactions and thus stimulates growth. 

Conversation partner @ conversation club!

Verbal expression is a pertinent ingredient of the communication skills course. While communication course mentors can impart the required tools and guidance to comprehend the language basics and associated formats, practicing in a challenging environment is of integral relevance. The notion behind encouraging 1:1 discussions and communicating with conversation partners is to duplicate the nuances of practical environment. A close to realistic communication driven scenario is encouraged at Conversation Club, which extensively promotes learning.

Conversation partners are carefully matched up to ensure optimum results. Age, background (education & profession) and language proficiency levels are considered critical influencers. Communication skills training at Conversation Club is not merely about brushing up the grammar concepts or learning new words. The sessions are designed around the objective of expression, sentence articulation and language usage & clarity. These communication skills objective are met through conversations.

Let the light of knowledge illuminate this Diwali

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Enter the world of learning with Conversation Club!

A Chinese proverb encapsulates the complexities of a curious mind in quite simple terms – A man who asks is a fool for five minutes. A man who never asks is a fool for life.

Knowledge in any format, if consumed and applied, paves way to a meaningful life. One who is not just willing to learn but is also receptive to the idea of unlearning, is on the path towards success. In fact any teacher, mentor or a guide can only help if the student’s mind is open to the process of accepting information and thus learning. The stated is true is any field, including the vast domain of communication skills.

To communicate … to share

Communication simply means exchange of ideas, transfer of information & sharing. It includes the phenomena of expressing emotions, transferring feelings and empathizing with the world where we exist. This could be online or offline. It also means to learn and grow on both personal and professional fronts. The widely accepted effective form of communication is one that essentially helps achieve this imperative objective of growth.

Especially in professional world, the art of communication is acquiring a seat of extreme importance. Relevance of proficiency in the domain of verbal skills and the ability of configure the message in a desired manner is elevating. Certainty of achieving one’s goals is directly proportional to the ability of expression.     

A path towards meaningful exchange

Communication is not just about learning the intricacies of a language. It is a much more complex schema of interlinked concepts, critically revolving around intelligent exchange. A decent conversation must have a reasonable message and intent to convey the message. Depending upon the participants in the dialogue, it could be informal in approach or set in a formal apparatus with a professional objective. Either ways, the intention of a well drafted communique is to reach out to the audience and enable successful transmission. Only through continuous meaningful conversations can one truly achieve the objective of effective communication. Communication skills can be honed by assuming the roles of sender and receiver and exchanging information.

Expanding the knowledge base

At Conversation Club, emphasis upon communication skills training is through knowledge based discussions. Subjects from various fields are discussed and the cumulative knowledge of conversation partners drives the learning process. Learners from diverse backgrounds express and learn on this platform. The connect is cautiously harnessed to enable communication skills training.  

This investment in communication skills training thus helps streamline the grasp of the language and further boosts the know how in multiple domains. Ability to express and connect fosters a culture of mutual respect and admiration. In professional terms, overall productivity escalates and both internal and external relationships witness a boost.

The potent mix of knowledge, information and communication skills training tools at Conversation Club helps synthesize pertinent ideas and diverse information.

Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today―Malcolm X

Mnemonics for English Vocabulary & Memory Enhancement!

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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.

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