Parts of Speech.

As mentioned in our earlier post about self confidence that being prepared and being prepared is an important part of soft skills. But just being prepared isn't enough, one has to be effective in communicating their ideas and views. This is possible only when people have a strong hold on the basics of a Language. In this blog we will concentrate on the English language and help you understand this language better.

In the English language, words can be considered as the smallest elements that have distinctive meanings. Based on their use and functions, words are categorized into several types or parts of speech. 
This post will offer definitions and examples for the 8 major parts of speech in  English grammar -noun, pronoun, verb, adverb, adjective,conjunction, preposition, and interjection.

Knowing the eight parts of speech is important because it will allow you to better identify how words are functioning in a sentence. Punctuating a sentence correctly often depends on the writer’s ability to correctly identify the function of a given word.

Noun:
A noun is a naming word
Ex:
Alan, leopard, India, table etc.

Verb:
A verb is an action word. It denotes action.
Ex:
Come, sit, go,hit etc.

Words that are used as both nouns and verbs are known as gerunds
Ex:
Raju smokes. (Verb)
Smoking is injurious to health. (Noun)

Adjective:
Adjectives are the words that are used to describe a noun. Adjectives are usually the measure of quality.
Ex:
Beautiful, ugly, short, tall etc.

Pronoun:
Pronouns are used instead of nouns. They reduce the time taken and the complexity of the sentence.
Ex:
Radha is a good girl. Radha studies well. Radha is beautiful.
Instead of using Radha  in the second and third sentence, the pronoun 'she' can be used.
Radha is a good girl. She studies well. She is beautiful.

Adverb:
Adverbs are used to enhance the character of a verb.
Ex:
He corrected the paper carefully.
He wrote the test easily.

Preposition:
A preposition links a noun ,a pronoun and a phrase in a sentence.
Ex:
The book is on the table.
The kids are in the car.

Conjunction:
Conjunctions are used to join two different parts of a sentence.
Ex:
'and', or and 'but' are the commonly used conjunctions.

Interjection:
These are used to convey emotions.
Ex:
Ouch, that hurt!
Oh no, I forgot that the exam was today!

Are you confident?

As mentioned in our earlier post, soft skills is a vast ocean which we will attempt to conquer one step at a time. Before we move onto discussing soft skills in depth let us discuss about the one skill that everyone must possess. This skill plays a vital role in each of our lives and without it we may not be able to face the harsh competitive world.

Confused?

Take this test and find out for ourselves. Rate yourselves from 0 to 5. 0 being the lowest.

1. How confident are you to initiate a conversation with strangers?

2. How comfortable are you while having a conversation in English?

3. How confident are you while addressing an audience?

4. How confident are you in resolving a conflict?

5. How confident are you about airing out your views when they differ from others?

If your average score is in the range 0- 1.9: You are low on confidence. But don't worry, this post is perfect for you!

If your average score is in the range 2 - 3.9: You are a pretty confident individual. Here are a few tips and pointers that would help you along the way.

If your average score is greater than 4: You are a very confident individual. This blog will help you add a few finishing touches to your skill because nobody is perfect!

You might have just got a clue about topic for this post.

Yes, we are going to blog about Self Confidence or simply Confidence!

Many people debate about self-confidence being interchangeable with self-esteem. But, research suggests that self-esteem and self-confidence differ from each other. Self-esteem is the value you see yourself having in this world. Confidence, on the other hand, is related to action. It's a belief that you can succeed at something. Now confidence is domain specific. You can be confident about a particular domain and absolutely unconfident about another. If you are a confident individual you are most likely to have a high self-esteem. For example, if you are good at the work you do, you are most likely to have a high self-esteem. Hence, Psychologists suggest that there is a correlation between the two qualities. 

Low confidence could be a result of many factors such as fear of the unknown, criticism, previous failures, poor time management, lack of knowledge and also low self-esteem. In order to overcome a low self-confidence, one may have to build a positive attitude towards life. Accept failures as a stepping stones to success and be ready to face criticism, no matter how harsh, in order to improve oneself.

PREPARE YOURSELF!

Another important factor that contributes to a person's low confidence is not being prepared. Always try to prepare yourself before an event or occasion. Think about the possible situations that may arise and prepare yourself accordingly. For instance, when you are attending an interview, always go through the company's website and gather information such as founders of the company, their vision and the fields of work that the company is involved in, etc. This gives you an upper hand in the interview. You may also use this information during your interview process which might just impress the interviewer.

TAKE CRITICISM POSITIVELY!

Criticism is also another factor to one's low confidence. People live in the fear of being criticised about their work or are fearful about making mistakes. Let's face it. Mistakes are inevitable! Especially if you are trying out something new. Confidence improves in knowing what to do when mistakes come to light. This again includes proper preparation and planning.

DRESS THE PART! (ESPECIALLY IF YOU WANT TO BE BATMAN)

Another important pointer to build your confidence is to dress the part. When you look better, you feel better. If you choose clothing and accessories that fit you well, suit your industry and lifestyle and make you feel good, it will automatically increase your self-esteem. Look like the part you want to play or in other words, suit up for success. Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine in your accessories. Bold jewellery or a colourful tie can be a focal point and a good conversation starter.

BE CONFIDENT BUT NEVER OVER CONFIDENT!

Self Confidence is a matter of balance. At one extreme, we have people who are over confident and on the other hand we have people who are under confident. Getting this right is a matter of having the right amount of confidence, founded in reality and on your true ability. With the right amount of confidence, you will take informed risks and be better prepared to face the world.

HINT: There has always been a raging debate whether practicing in front of the mirror or in front of an audience is better. Few argue that you are never an excellent judge of character of yourself but hunting down someone to listen to you can also be quite a task! So we suggest that you practice your speech in front of a mirror once and if you can find someone, ask them to hear you out too!   

English language and Soft skills. Why are they needed?

English is a funny language. It’s one of those languages that create a lot of ambiguity when a sentence is said.

There's a story that Winston Churchill was called to apologise for being rude to a fellow parliamentarian. 

His apology stated, “It is said that I have called the honorable member a liar. It is true and I am sorry.” 

Now the confusion is whether Churchill meant that the parliamentarian was a liar or if he had made such a declaration and was sorry about it. 

Opinions differ when a statement is made. Debates rage over a simple poem.

A single poem can be interpreted in several different ways! Yes English cannot be learnt overnight but it can be started by understanding the foundation of the language. A word that scares a lot of beginners. Hell, it has been a nightmare even for the most experienced lecturers. Grammar!

         

  A language can be learnt only when the knowledge on its grammar is solid. The language can be spoken and written properly when one knows how to structure the sentence properly.

But, in the world that we are living today, knowledge of the English language alone will not help you survive in the industry!

One may have a sound grasp on English Grammar but will still not be able to communicate his/her ideas and views. Many want to seize the opportunity and be a leader but do not know how to lead. Many would have gotten into an argument but couldn’t have stopped it from turning it to a fight. Many do not know that it is not your words but your body language behind it that matters. Many know that they need to improve but they do not know how. 

The above said traits can be broadly classified as ‘Soft Skills’.

But what are Soft Skills?

The term ‘Soft Skills’ has been a trend for quite some time now. But, how many of us really understand the meaning behind it? 

Soft skills in general is a term often associated with a person's ‘EQ’ (Emotional Quotient).

It is a cluster of personality traits, social graces, communication, language, personal habits, interpersonal skills, managing people, leadership, etc. that characterize relationships with other people.

Mind boggling right?

Let's try to keep it simple. Soft skills is nothing but the art of presenting oneself. It might be in front of an audience or maybe just an acquaintance but how we present ourselves is very important as it can leave a lasting impact on our counterpart.

Here in 'Sculpt Your Skills', we will try to conquer the ocean of soft skills and the basics of English grammar in a simpler and more practical manner. You will be given tips and hints along the journey which makes it easier for you to master the art of presenting yourself. 

So let's decide, "To be, or not to be" Stay tuned for more!

P.S. In every blog post written from now on, a hint or a tip will be published at the end of the post. Be sure to read that!

HINT:  It's a common misconception that a sentence cannot be started of with 'And' or 'But'. Although conjunctions are used to join two words, phrases or sentences together, it is not wrong to begin a sentence with a conjunction.