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Annoyance- IV
Please consider the situation; while technocrats queue up before High Commissions, Embassies and recruiting agencies, searching for lucrative western destinations, governments are locating talents in non-technical domains. The message is very clear, our graduates need not feel withdrawn for choosing a “not-so-attractive” study. Again I intend reminding you that, any high quality performer has scope for a decent employment. Learn things cheerfully. It is the right approach to “conquer” or attain supremacy. Even those pursuing popular courses have to establish their supremacy just to be in the fray among competitors. Always be alert to every form of learning. Please cultivate simple approaches to learning. Learning should never be postponed just to enjoy something else. Follow these tips. Learning is not a mere classroom exercise. Domains of learning are strewn all over our way. Develop an “eye” for everything. Familiarize yourself with the varied forms of notices displayed in public places like Railway stations, Air ports, Collectorates and other similar spots. There are innumerable facilities for passive learning. Read all signs and posters. Many words can be learnt from advertisements. [Please do not directly adopt the usages since most of them are highly informal in style and may land you in a mess. Mess is not always an eating place- by the way.]
Familiarity with words and their usage pave the route to minimize discomfort in learning. Never be happy with the few words you know. I have seen many students saying “Good morning Sir” at 2.00 pm, by a wrong belief that it should be the way when you meet someone for the first time that day. [Why there are words- afternoon and evening besides morning and night?] I used to correct my students. Many of them stopped exchanging the day’s wish with me. Whether you exchange a wish or not, please be aware of usages. If at an interview you display such bad traits of “Good morning” in the late day, you would be posted as the gatekeeper for your polite manners.
Another common practice among students of men’s colleges is to suffix “sir or miss” to a teacher’s name[ as for instance Raman sir, Rani miss]. It is not the right way to refer to. The accepted practice is to say Mr. or Ms so and so. Somehow women schools/colleges inculcate this with a greater specificity of Ms or Mrs. There is a signal behind these instances. Our youngsters feel hurt at being corrected. How can we learn correct things in life? Did you ever consider how much hurting it is to see a PG student not making a distinction between morning and afternoon? A fellow like me would not tolerate it, because a student of mine doing it amounts to my being inadequate in the eyes of the public
Progressive gathering of information can help to build up knowledge. Any knowledge is information codified and sequenced. This can not accrue by reading ‘notes’. Use the text for study. Interact with teachers on academic aspects Seek appropriate clarifications. If someone corrects you, be sure that [s]he is protecting you against future shames. People who do not come forward to correct you are not doing any good. Either they do not understand the corrections themselves or they are conscious of their inadequacy and avail of this opportunity to befriend you by criticizing those who attempt correcting you. The friendly image that some teachers strive for among students [by non-academic interactions] is a clear proof of professional inadequacy on their part. Please try to recognize that life is a mixture of good and bad. But student life is slightly different. Those who toil to learn now have a happy life ahead. Those who are blissfully ignorant and happy as students would face unmanageable hardships later. Accept corrections as God-sent. A teacher would sincerely correct mistakes. Others would laugh at you heartily. Laughter is the best medicine for those enjoying our shallowness. It is a bitter pill thrust down the throat of the one laughed at. On which side of the fence would you like to be all your life?
Please carefully decide. Don’t we laugh at our own teachers for their inadequacy?
There is laughter or slaughter for the bad performer in later life.
Try to note down every
new item or information that you come across. Discuss every point with your
teachers. Repeatedly use “new words”. Do not fear to use English. If mistakes
occur, teachers [the honest ones] would correct them. Remember those corrections and improve your
ability to communicate. Please remember that unless we communicate others can
not recognize our depth. This is becoming an inescapable trend. By now, we know
that our politicians can not come to our rescue on matters of employability.
Any strong expressions employed by me are meant to imply seriousness and not
any vituperation. May God bless You.
Enjoyed reading the Annoyance series. They contain great lessons for students, teachers and anyone who want to improve their communication skills which is vital for survival in today's world.
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