What new skills or subjects have you been learning lately? Tom Vanderbilt’s daughter was four years old when she became curious about playing chess. Since Tom did not know how to play, he found a coach for her. Recognizing that children learn new things all the time, Tom decided to challenge himself and learn something new— something that piqued his interest but about which he knew little. He chose activities unrelated to his work and that might be difficult to master. Surfing, singing, chess, drawing, and juggling were the five skills he decided to pursue. As a result, he wrote a book titled, Beginners: The Curious Power of Lifelong Learning.
For individuals who did not grow up in an English-speaking environment, mastering the skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening in English can be a challenging yet essential endeavor for achieving success in the United State. Perhaps if we emulated Tom Vanderbilt and embraced the challenge of learning something new —something difficult that captivates us, we would develop mutual empathy in our student/friendships. Maybe you will inspire them, and in turn, they would inspire you to persist in the demanding task of mastering a new subject.
Please let me know what you decide.
Jane Fox
kansasjfox@gmail.com
International Conversation Cafe 