by Victoria Chen Dinesh

A London Academy qualified trainer, Victoria Chen Dinesh has over ten years’ experience in working with mainstream and special needs students on Speech, Presentation and Drama Training. Read her profile

 

"Language is the blood of the soul into which thoughts run in and out of which they grow.” - Oliver Wendell Holmes

Language is the most powerful tool in communication and words make a significant impact on listeners. Language is a means to express thoughts and ideas, and language builds or breaks relationships. The power of conviction begins with language. Through a common tongue, leaders unite their country and build economic relations across borders, thus developing global businesses and job prospects. Advertisers manipulate words to sell their product, role-models such as athletes use positive words of encouragement to influence the young, parents display their affection to their children with words of love, and friends reassure with comforting words.

With the advancement of modern technology, the need for oral communication seems to be slowly declining. Messages are sent via email or mobile phone, and the sentimental greeting card by snail mail might soon be extinct. Why socialise at the playground, run around and play marbles when there are fancy gadgets and games such as PSB and X-Box? In this new age world, children are retreating and happy to be isolated with only their mobile phone or hand-held game. I asked my students once about being stranded on an island and choosing either a friend or PSP for company. The majority response was ‘PSP’.  

A child-care centre I worked at many years back saw the children come together at the dining hall for meals, as with most centres. The children’s conversations with one another were often frowned upon by the teacher as they should be concentrating on finishing their lunch and not ‘waste time talking’. I thought it was the loneliest and quietest meal ever. I couldn’t imagine myself having a silent meal with friends. In most gatherings, conversations were the highlight of the event. We took the chance to touch base, network or catch up on old times. I kept the practice of sitting with the children under my charge and eating lunch with them, and having conversations with them. It was through these meal-time chats that I also learnt more about them. The children in turn developed crucial skills in communication and language, conversation etiquette and appropriate table manners. 

When I was growing up, dinner was always shared as a family. We sat together, talked about our day and discussed any other matters that popped to mind. This helped us bond as a family and taught us to express our needs, wants or even displeasures. By doing so, we were able to solve our differences easier, better and faster.

In this fast paced world we live in, with a global economy, increased competition for jobs and the influx of foreigners, it is crucial to be able to communicate effectively with one other. Our island is becoming more vibrant with new neighbours making Singapore their home. Our children are much more exposed to the various cultures and festivals, and have the opportunity to learn and deepen friendships and forge new ones.

Children must be encouraged to communicate as much as possible in their early years. It is a crucial skill which they carry with them for life. Most times, the child’s relentless quest for answers is not well-received by adults who find these questions silly or annoying. We must remember that these children are just making sense of the world around them and who better to nourish their growing minds but us, adults? If we want our children to be the future leaders, it is time to start them communicating confidently and building their language skills in their early years.

 

Comments (0)

Name

Email

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment