Report: Thinkers' Club Session 21

Date: 28th December, 2014
Session # 21
Attended by: 8 participants
Report written by: Zainab Salman

Today was the 21^st session of Thinkers’ Club. This session was about a game that we were going to play. First, we used building blocks to build lots of small things, which were obstacles that we would use for the game. We arranged them on the carpet. Then, we were divided into four groups, 2 children in each group. The game was explained. A group of boys went first. One of them was blindfolded and had to make his way through the obstacles without touching the He was called the ‘follower’. His partner, the ‘leader’ or ‘guide’, was to direct him and tell him, which way to go. Every child was blindfolded once, and every child was made a leader once, too. Although just one boy managed to make his way through the obstacles without hitting them, trying and being careful was fun. The game was enjoyable, but challenging too.  Some children were worried while others were enthusiastic. But all were enjoying. After we were finished with the game, we settled down on the mat. We discussed how we felt when we were blindfolded, what the challenges were, and what we learnt. We learnt to explain, specifically and precisely, what we wanted to say. The challenges were to remember clearly the right and left, how to explain the way to your blindfolded partner, and to go exactly where your partner wants you to go without touching the blocks.

This game is actually like your life. You have lots of obstacles in your life. When you can’t see where you are going, you have guides to lead you to your destination.

We also noted down what a guide and follower should take care of:

A guide should…

• Keep calm
• Think before giving instructions
• Make sure that his/her partner is clear about right and left.

A follower should…

• Follow and trust his partner
• Be clear about right and left
• Not give up
• Be confident
• Listen attentively to his guide

From this activity we learnt about leadership, teamwork, guiding clearly, having confidence in yourself, cooperation, coordination, and understanding what it feels like to be blind. The home task was to check the dictionary, read the meanings of the words ‘specific’ and ‘precise’, write them down, along with any examples. Although this session was supposed to be about the questions asked in the last session, but as many kids were not present, the questions will be discussed and answered next time. However, the questions will be posted on the blog soon, so kids can ponder upon them. This session was fun and interactive.

Report: Thinkers' Club Session 20

Date: 21^st December, 2014
Session # 20
Attended by: 13 participants
Report written by: Zainab Salman

Today was the 20^th Session of Thinker’s Club. When most of the children had arrived, we gathered up in the library, dragging chairs to form a circle. When all of us were seated, we recalled what we had done in the last two sessions as some children had joined us after a long time.

Then, we were told to make ‘I can’ and ‘I have’ lists, separately, in two minutes each including the best things you have and can do, right now.  (This task had been done before in another session, but most kids hadn’t completed it before so we were doing it again.) When we were done, we observed that our lists consisted of both types of ‘I cans’, the one we can do right now, and the ones we can do but haven’t done yet. We also shared the best things we have, and some things from the list, I can. 

We realized, that we have numerous blessings, and little time and we can’t thank God for all the things we have. 

Then we were asked if we had ever met a blind or a deaf person and spent time with them? Some of us had, and they shared their experience and how they felt after meeting that person. We all thanked God for making us perfect and blessing us with all the senses. Then we were asked the question “Was God unfair to those who he made blind or deaf?” Some discussed the question with each other, while others thought quietly about it.  Here are the answers we came up with:

   1.    Maybe god made some people blind and some deaf because he wanted to save those people from the sins we commit by looking or listening to wrong or inappropriate things.

   2.    Perhaps those people were very close to God, so he decided to test them if they would still thank him if he took something away from them.

   3.    Those people have other senses that are sharper than usual to help them in their life.

   4.    Maybe God wanted to punish them about the wrong deeds they did, so he took away their eyesight/hearing.

   5.    God made everyone equal, but in a different way. Those people have some hidden talent or rare ability that will make up for their disability.

                                                       
 We also talked about the American Writer, businessman, and motivational speaker, W.Mitchell, who had miraculously survived two accidents in which he had burned some of his body. He has said that “Before my accidents, there were ten thousands things I could do. I could spend the rest of my life dwelling on the things that I had lost, but instead I chose to focus on the nine thousand I still had left.”

Then everybody asked lots of questions related to our discussion in today’s session, and the questions were noted. They will be answered by the next session.

We ended the session by watching a Video Clip of a short talk by Nick Vujicic, a man who was born without limbs, also a motivational speaker and author of three books.

Overall this session was meaningful, and it made me think.

Tone and facial expressions, by Zainab Salman, club member

What is the role of tone and facial expressions in our communication?

I believe, tone and facial expression are an important part of our conversation, and things to take care of.

For Example, you’re talking to someone, using polite and friendly words, but with the troubled expression you’re wearing on your face makes the other person perceive the exact opposite of what you mean. The same goes for tone. So remember, if your facial expressions, tone, and words don’t match, the other person will accept the strongest of them three, that is, the facial expressions.

Is it possible for a person to be fully responsible for his/her tone?

I think so. Because tone is something you can choose for what and how you want to say it. Like if you want to be sarcastic, you’ll say polite words, but use a rude tone (or vice versa). So when you choose your tone yourself, according to how you want to sound, you can be fully responsible for your tone.

Can we control our facial expressions?

I don’t think so. If you’re angry with someone, and someone else is talking to you, chances are that your facial expressions won’t be too kind. Also, you aren’t standing in front of a mirror when you’re talking, so you don’t know if you made a face at something when you should’ve smiled.  Maybe some people can control their facial expressions, but I can’t, and I know it.

Tone and facial expressions, By Fatima Salman, club member

What is the role of tone and facial expressions in our communication?

Our tone and facial expressions have a very important role in our communication. If a person really means what he or she is saying, their tone and facial expressions would match their words. For example, if I’m persuading someone to do something, my tone would be determined and I wouldn’t look angry or bored. But if I’m pretending to be nice to someone I actually hate, my fake smiles might even be detectable and my tone could even give the game away.

Is it possible for a person to be fully responsible for his\her tone?

In a way yes, and in another way, no. I think our tones depend on our mood and feelings at that moment. A person may sound unintentionally rude at some time because something has made him or her feel angry. Or he may sound happy because of something else.

I think there is always a reason for the tone we use. The reason may lie in our statement or in something else. I think that if our tone used is according to what we are saying, then we can control it, but if a certain tone is because of something else (i.e.;  other than what we are saying) then we can’t control it.

Can we control our facial expressions?

I don’t think we can control most of our facial expressions that come by naturally. The only facial expressions that we can control are the ones we show on purpose, like in acting.

Report: Thinkers' Club Session 19

Date: 14th December, 2014
Session # 19
Attended by: 8 participants
Report written by: Fatima Salman

In this session, everyone was asked to make a detailed timeline of their lives. We had to include any important event that had ever taken place in our life. This was a task that required thinking and recalling our past. Some people were able to finish their timelines while others took theirs home to complete. 
Any other member who wants to can make their own detailed time line and bring it in the next session.

Thank you

Note: We will not be sharing any timelines on the blog for safety reasons.

Verbal and Non Verbal Communication, Writing by Kenza (online member)

We’re always talking and communicating every day. But what makes up the whole of our communication?

Verbal communication makes up only 7% of how we talk and express ourselves every day, while Non Verbal makes up an amazing 93% of all our communications!

Verbal communication includes the sounds and language we use in our individual community to relay a message. We’re born with the ability to speak, but we have to learn a language to communicate in. Language allows us to express what we want to say. Verbal communication doesn’t actually tell the truth of what we are thinking or feeling, though; it only gives us the words and information. For example, we could lie to someone that we weren’t scared, although actually we really are. We can’t always rely on verbal communication to tell the truth.

On the other hand, Non Verbal communication, including body language, is the tool we use to present what we really mean. We use this all the time to give out messages, although we might not even notice it. Even when we’re being silent, we’re still communicating nonverbally. It’s an unconscious language that expresses our true feelings, thoughts and intentions in any given situation.

There are many types of Non Verbal communication. There’s facial expressions, body movements and postures, gestures, eye contact, touch, physical space and tone of voice. It’s very difficult to disguise it all, because not only does Non Verbal communication make up the majority of how we talk and express things, but our body language is automatic and almost impossible to fake.

It’s been proven that our emotions or facial expressions are expressed in similar ways around the world. This includes, happiness, sadness, anger, fear, disgust and surprise. However, don’t muddle up gestures with emotions, because gestures aren’t always the same in other countries. In the US and UK, for example, putting your thumbs up is usually being positive, while in some other countries it may be an insult. These are cultural differences.

So, whether or not you are talking or being quiet, this won’t affect your Non Verbal communication. Whatever you do, you’re always expressing yourself in different ways that you, yourself, might not even notice. There are thousands of ways to communicate today and it is a powerful tool to help us communicate with ourselves and to interpret others.

by Kenza, Online Member

Report: Thinkers' Club Session 18

Date: 7^th December, 2014

Session # 18

Attended by:  8 participants

Report written by: Fatima Salman

Today was our eighteenth session. First we discussed the questions that are shared on this blog. The question ‘What is the role of tone and facial expressions in our communication?’ was talked about thoroughly. Everyone agreed that our tone has a very important role in our communication. We did a short activity around it. We were asked if we had ever been scolded in our life. Obviously, everyone has been scolded for different reasons many times in their life by their parents, teachers, siblings, etc. Everyone had to recall a phrase or sentence that was said to them when they had been scolded. We had to say that sentence in a harsh tone (or a tone that is used to scold someone) and then say the same sentence in a politer tone. The message perceived is changed just because of the tone! For example if I even call someone by their name in an angry or rude tone, they’d think I’m scolding them, even though I’m just calling out their name. And if I call someone in a soft and polite tone, they wouldn’t feel bad. Whatever you say, affects the listener just because of the tone! 

Facial expressions also affect our communication, but not as much as the tone, which has the most important role in our communication.

Then we talked about ‘What is Confidence’. Everyone suggested their opinions about confidence. These ideas came up:

Confidence is about:

• Believing in yourself
• Doing what we’re doing without caring what others think about us
• Speaking or performing in public

Confidence is mainly about believing in yourself. Many people mistake confidence for Public Speaking. Public Speaking is related to confidence, but they are not the same thing. If a person can speak in public, it is not necessary that he has confidence. We talked about what confidence is and it’s examples for a while.

Then, a last task was given. Each person had to make an ‘I can’ list and an ‘I have’ list. In the ‘I can’ list, you have to list down all the things that you can do. Similarly, in the ‘I have’ list, you have to list down all the things that you have. It can include any thing of any kind. Each list has to have at least ten points or more. 

The members started to make their list in the session, but they have to complete it and bring the complete list in the next session. All the members can do this task, even if they weren't present in the session.

Thank you

Verbal and Non-Verbal Commmunication

Dear Members

In the upcoming session, we will be discussing Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication.

Verbal communication is the words we say.
Non-Verbal is the way we say it. It includes our tone, intonations, facial expressions, gestures, posture, eye-contact, laughter, sighs, etc.

We will start this topic in the coming session. In the meantime, we would like you to think upon these questions.

1. What is the role of tone and facial expressions in our communication?
2. Is it possible for a person to be fully responsible for his\her tone?
3. Can we control our facial expressions?

You have to 'reflect and respond', 'inquire and share' and 'explore research and present' on these questions. It will be taken in detail in the coming session.

Thank you

Report: Thinkers' Club Session 17

Date: 30th November, 2014
Session # 17
Attended by: 12 participants
Report Written by: Fatima Salman

We did the rehearsal in this session. But it is now decided that the rehearsal and practice for the play should not be held in Thinkers' Club. We will continue to do the things we used to do before. The practice and preparations for our play can take place some other day. From the coming session, we will start doing the things we used to do like thinking and reflecting upon important things.
A task for all the members is shared separately. We would like you to work on it until the next session.

Thank you