My mother once told me how excited my father was to celebrate my first birthday. He had plans — proper plans. He even named my grandmother’s rooster “6th November,” my birthday. That poor fellow had only one destiny. He was born for a purpose. And that purpose was… curry. That was the level of excitement in the house. The same excitement followed when I was admitted to an English medium school. Like every ambitious Maharashtrian parent of that time, the belief was simple: “English medium madhe gela ki mulga set.” The expectation was clear — my child will read English, write English, and speak English. Reading and writing? Done. Speaking? Ah. That’s where the rooster survived. If I enter any classroom and ask, “How many alphabets are there in English?” the answer comes like a slogan: “TWENTY-SIX!” Full confidence. Full volume. But when I ask, “How many sounds are there in English?” there is silence. Some look at the ceiling. Some look at the bench. Some look at me. And that’s wher...
College Presentations Without Panic: 5 Easy Tricks to Speak with Swag Standing in front of your class, all eyes on you, heart pounding and mind racing—is this what you imagine when you think of giving a college presentation? You’re not alone! The fear of public speaking is real, but guess what? With a few simple tricks, you can not only survive your presentation but absolutely own it. Here’s how you can speak with swag and maybe even enjoy the spotlight. Practice Before You Perform , Don’t wait till the last minute! Preparation is your best friend. Here’s how to make it easy: Read your topic aloud at least three times. Hearing yourself helps your brain remember the content. Explain it to a friend or even your mirror in simple English. If you can teach it, you know it. Practicing out loud gets your tongue used to the words and makes your brain comfortable with the flow. The more you practice, the less you’ll panic. St...