Which One Am I?
Theories and books state that there are 3 types of learners.
· Listening learners
· Seeing / observing learners
· Touch / experience learners
Which one am I?
Mr. Toastmaster, Fellow toastmasters and my dear friends,
It was a chilly evening. I was sitting on the swing and gossiping with my mother. The sun was trying to kiss the moon , when the wrestling rain drops tried its best to cover it. My mother went to the back yard and lit the wood to make dosa’s. Engrossed in the peaceful weather, I tried to warm myself sitting next to the lit wood. My mother paced the tawa on the fire. She filled the ladle upto the 3/4 level with Dosa batter. She gently poured the batter onto the center of the pan. She then spread it on the tawa in perfect circles to form a thin film. Dosa after Dosa , she repeated the same and I could see Dosa’s of same shape, size and thickness in the collection plate. It reminded me of my progress card with ‘0’s.
“ Mom… You must have been a teacher before. You really put good circular zeros. Your Dosa’s are the best examples of the same”
She smiled. “ Why don’t you learn communication from Dosa. See The point you want to make is the batter. The batter is picked by ladle and placed on tawa and spread equally to a thin film. I.e. the point is elaborated with anecdotes and such that every body can break it, take it and digest it. Do not overstress a point as it will be disagreeable like a blackened dosa”
I starred … If we keep on observing what we do, we can expect books on burgers to hit our book stalls soon.
A 100 i.e. centum in academics tastes delicious. A Perfect zero in Dosa tastes delicious.
Looking back, I found that I am neither an observer nor a listener. Doubt arose that if I am an experience learner.?
Compromise plays a major role in maintaining relationships.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Hobby Please…
Every interview has some common questions like “Tell me about yourself”, “What are your dreams” and “What is your hobby”
Hobby…. This question was a night mare to me.
Mr. Toastmaster, Fellow Toastmaster and my dear friends,
During my childhood, my hobby was the same as my friend. She too had trouble. But watching realty shows has given her some inputs. She always picked the one which could not make the opposite person ask questions. However, I could not easily lie. When I was a child, I forcibly collected some stamps and purchased a set from an exhibition. I used that as my hobby. But when people asked as to what is my aim and what did I learn and what I plan to do with it, I did not have an answer.
Sooner, I found that this was not what I wanted to do or get embarrassed with. I conducted a survey on various hobbies.
Some of them were Watching TV, reading book, collecting coins or stamps, eating, roaming, gardening, cycling, dressing, singing, dancing, eating, sleeping, painting, playing cricket based on the thirst. None of the answers satisfied me nor suited me. My problem remained. One day , My aunt came down to my house.
Aunt, what is your hobby?
“Cooking, cleaning house” was her immediate reply. “What do you want?”
“I need a hobby”
The laughter took time to settle.
“Do you know what is a hobby?”
“Aunt, I know. A constant question asked by a person to whom you get introduced.”
“ My aunt took me in her hands and said, What do you do in your free time?”
“I walk behind my mother wherever she goes.”
“ Do you play?”
“No. Not much. I play when my mother is next to me.”
“ Oh.. So, walking behind your mother is your hobby?”
I felt relieved then. Later, when I grew up, I found that my hobby was just whiling away time. i.e. Laziness.
But how do I say that. Nobody will respect me, talk to me. I started playing tennikoit. Thanks to the physical training hour in school. They trained me in wobbling, smashing, serving.. I learnt it thoroughly. However, diminishing eyesight did not allow me to continue. Now I had to say hobby with an excuse. Those days spectacles were made of glass instead of plastic or high index lens.
I was in search of a hobby again. I tried reading books, however, I could not compete with book readers. My confidence started going down and I feared to meet people. Solitude hurt me.
I visited my aunt’s place. I talked continuously, when she said, “Latha, talking is your hobby. “
I was happy to find an unquestionable hobby. Then on I stuck to my hobby. Sooner, people started to analyze what I say. I was in trouble. Accidental gossips led me to trouble. I sooner had suggestions to learn what to talk, where to talk, when to talk and how to talk.
So, finalized hobby was in trouble again. But I was already in danger that if I stop talking, I may end up badly. Unable to catch up with what is required and I started changing my styles based on the listeners.
Sooner, I lost track on patterns. Thanks to age, that my grey cells had no place to store. I was worried. I wandered and bought books after books. My laziness never allowed me to read even a chapter. My mother worried more as it required greater effort to pack while shifting.
I was then in a job by then, safely settled. I had a great relief. If I do not opt to participate in reality shows, I will never be asked that question. I had created an end to a daring question.
Happiness did not lost long. Pavitra my colleague in office met me over coffee. “ How do you spend your time ? What is your hobby?”
Now Back again. The Deadly devil is here again. I quickly thought and said, “Chatting with friends.”
Name your friends was her next question. “ You…” was my immediate reply.
Now I can safely say talking, chatting, working and sleeping as I do all of them regularly. Chatting with my office colleagues on technical issues, working longer hours, talking continuously for 5 mins and sleeping when I do not do the other three.
I now have 4 Hobbies. How many do you have?
Mr. TM
Hobby…. This question was a night mare to me.
Mr. Toastmaster, Fellow Toastmaster and my dear friends,
During my childhood, my hobby was the same as my friend. She too had trouble. But watching realty shows has given her some inputs. She always picked the one which could not make the opposite person ask questions. However, I could not easily lie. When I was a child, I forcibly collected some stamps and purchased a set from an exhibition. I used that as my hobby. But when people asked as to what is my aim and what did I learn and what I plan to do with it, I did not have an answer.
Sooner, I found that this was not what I wanted to do or get embarrassed with. I conducted a survey on various hobbies.
Some of them were Watching TV, reading book, collecting coins or stamps, eating, roaming, gardening, cycling, dressing, singing, dancing, eating, sleeping, painting, playing cricket based on the thirst. None of the answers satisfied me nor suited me. My problem remained. One day , My aunt came down to my house.
Aunt, what is your hobby?
“Cooking, cleaning house” was her immediate reply. “What do you want?”
“I need a hobby”
The laughter took time to settle.
“Do you know what is a hobby?”
“Aunt, I know. A constant question asked by a person to whom you get introduced.”
“ My aunt took me in her hands and said, What do you do in your free time?”
“I walk behind my mother wherever she goes.”
“ Do you play?”
“No. Not much. I play when my mother is next to me.”
“ Oh.. So, walking behind your mother is your hobby?”
I felt relieved then. Later, when I grew up, I found that my hobby was just whiling away time. i.e. Laziness.
But how do I say that. Nobody will respect me, talk to me. I started playing tennikoit. Thanks to the physical training hour in school. They trained me in wobbling, smashing, serving.. I learnt it thoroughly. However, diminishing eyesight did not allow me to continue. Now I had to say hobby with an excuse. Those days spectacles were made of glass instead of plastic or high index lens.
I was in search of a hobby again. I tried reading books, however, I could not compete with book readers. My confidence started going down and I feared to meet people. Solitude hurt me.
I visited my aunt’s place. I talked continuously, when she said, “Latha, talking is your hobby. “
I was happy to find an unquestionable hobby. Then on I stuck to my hobby. Sooner, people started to analyze what I say. I was in trouble. Accidental gossips led me to trouble. I sooner had suggestions to learn what to talk, where to talk, when to talk and how to talk.
So, finalized hobby was in trouble again. But I was already in danger that if I stop talking, I may end up badly. Unable to catch up with what is required and I started changing my styles based on the listeners.
Sooner, I lost track on patterns. Thanks to age, that my grey cells had no place to store. I was worried. I wandered and bought books after books. My laziness never allowed me to read even a chapter. My mother worried more as it required greater effort to pack while shifting.
I was then in a job by then, safely settled. I had a great relief. If I do not opt to participate in reality shows, I will never be asked that question. I had created an end to a daring question.
Happiness did not lost long. Pavitra my colleague in office met me over coffee. “ How do you spend your time ? What is your hobby?”
Now Back again. The Deadly devil is here again. I quickly thought and said, “Chatting with friends.”
Name your friends was her next question. “ You…” was my immediate reply.
Now I can safely say talking, chatting, working and sleeping as I do all of them regularly. Chatting with my office colleagues on technical issues, working longer hours, talking continuously for 5 mins and sleeping when I do not do the other three.
I now have 4 Hobbies. How many do you have?
Mr. TM
Speech rules
The Speech Opening
Due to the primacy effect, words, body language, and visuals in the speech opening are all critical to speaking success.
- Was a hook used effectively to draw the audience into the speech? Or did the speaker open with a dry “It’s great to be here today.“
- Did the speech open with a story? A joke? A startling statistic? A controversial statement? A powerful visual?
- Did the speech opening clearly establish the intent of the presentation?
- Was the opening memorable?
The Speech Body
- Was the presentation focussed? i.e. Did all arguments, stories, anecdotes relate back to the primary objective?
- Were examples or statistics provided to support the arguments?
- Were metaphors and symbolism use to improve understanding?
- Was the speech organized logically? Was it easy to follow?
- Did the speaker bridge smoothly from one part of the presentation to the next?
The Speech Conclusion
Like the opening, the words, body language, and visuals in the speech conclusion are all critical to speaking success. This is due to the recency effect.
- Was the conclusion concise?
- Was the conclusion memorable?
- If appropriate, was there a call-to-action?
Delivery Skills and Techniques
Delivery skills are like a gigantic toolbox — the best speakers know precisely when to use every tool and for what purpose.
Enthusiasm and Connection to the Audience
- Was the speaker enthusiastic? How can you tell?
- Was there audience interaction? Was it effective?
- Was the message you- and we-focussed, or was it I- and me-focussed?
Humor
- Was humor used?
- Was it safe and appropriate given the audience?
- Were appropriate pauses used before and after the punch lines, phrases, or words?
- Was it relevant to the speech?
Visual Aids
- Were they designed effectively?
- Did they complement speech arguments?
- Was the use of visual aids timed well with the speaker’s words?
- Did they add energy to the presentation or remove it?
- Were they simple and easy to understand?
- Were they easy to see? e.g. large enough
- Would an additional visual aid help to convey the message?
Use of Stage Area
- Did the speaker make appropriate use of the speaking area?
Physical - Gestures and Eye Contact
- Did the speaker’s posture display confidence and poise?
- Were gestures natural, timely, and complementary?
- Were gestures easy to see?
- Does the speaker have any distracting mannerisms?
- Was eye contact effective in connecting the speaker to the whole audience?
Vocal Variety
- Was the speaker easy to hear?
- Were loud and soft variations used appropriately?
- Was the pace varied? Was it slow enough overall to be understandable?
- Were pauses used to aid understandability, heighten excitement, or provide drama?
Language
- Was the language appropriate for the audience?
- Did the speaker articulate clearly?
- Were sentences short and easy to understand?
- Was technical jargon or unnecessarily complex language used?
- What rhetorical devices were used? e.g. repetition, alliteration, the rule of three, etc.
Intangibles
Sometimes, a technically sound speech can still miss the mark. Likewise, technical deficiencies can sometimes be overcome to produce a must-see presentation. The intangibles are impossible to list, but here are a few questions to consider:
- How did the speech make you feel?
- Were you convinced?
- Would you want to listen to this speaker again?
- Were there any original ideas or techniques?
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