TEDx Talks - peoples words will reflex on you. | Dr rizgar abdullah | TEDxArafa
The speaker recounts a personal story from 24 years ago when he struggled with calculus and differentiation in high school. Initially discouraged by a teacher who doubted his mathematical abilities, he later found encouragement and success through another teacher, Mr. Rashid, who taught with passion and care, leading to a significant improvement in his exam scores. This experience highlights the impact of supportive educators.
The speaker also discusses the importance of passion in life and work, suggesting that identifying what makes one happy and what others appreciate about them can guide career choices. He emphasizes the role of storytelling and asking questions to engage audiences effectively. Practical skills, honesty, and humor are crucial in training and public speaking. The speaker shares experiences from training sessions in challenging environments, stressing the need to inspire and provide skills and opportunities to others. He concludes with a metaphor about birds singing their unique songs, encouraging individuals to find and express their unique talents and passions.
Key Points:
- Supportive educators can significantly impact student success.
- Identifying personal passions and what others appreciate can guide career choices.
- Storytelling and questioning are effective tools for engaging audiences.
- Practical skills, honesty, and humor are essential in training and public speaking.
- Providing opportunities and inspiring others are crucial in personal and professional development.
Details:
1. ๐ Navigating the Challenges of Mathematics
- 24 years ago, the speaker was a 6th-grade student struggling with mathematics, specifically integration and differentiation.
- The speaker experienced two types of student focus: attentive and confused, identifying more with the latter during math classes.
- An encounter with a teacher highlighted the speaker's lack of understanding of integration and differentiation concepts.
- This experience is representative of common educational challenges where students struggle with abstract mathematical concepts without adequate support.
- The educational context of the time often lacked personalized instructional approaches, making it difficult for students like the speaker to grasp complex topics.
- Today, similar challenges persist, but there are improved methodologies and technologies aimed at personalized learning to better support students in understanding mathematics.
2. ๐จโ๐ซ The Transformative Power of a Teacher
- A student initially struggled with mathematics, being told by a previous teacher that they were not good at it.
- A new teacher, Mr. Rashid, introduced a focused approach towards understanding calculus and differentiation.
- Mr. Rashid identified five students, including the narrator, who were struggling and provided targeted support.
- A 20-day intensive preparation before exams led to significant improvement.
- The student's understanding and performance in mathematics improved drastically, with final examination scores reaching 88 after initially aiming for a minimum passing grade of 50.
3. ๐ฑ Personal Growth Through Overcoming Shyness
- The speaker, who is now comfortable and at ease speaking in front of others, was once very shy, particularly at the age of 15. This shyness manifested in avoidance of social interactions and efforts to isolate to avoid greetings.
- Two key individuals played a significant role in the speaker's journey, encouraging them to embrace social interactions, which was pivotal in overcoming shyness.
- Strategies that helped included gradually increasing social exposure, receiving encouragement and support from mentors, and practicing public speaking in safe environments to build confidence.
- The transformation involved moving from avoidance behaviors to actively seeking social engagement, which was supported by a positive reinforcement from the speaker's environment.
- Continued practice and exposure to social settings were crucial in maintaining the speaker's newfound confidence and ease in public speaking scenarios.
4. ๐๏ธ Unveiling the Secrets to Effective Training
- Effective training often begins with early encouragement and support, as demonstrated by a teacher's advice to the speaker's mother to prioritize education despite challenges.
- Training can occur in diverse settingsโhome, workplace, or through professional coachingโdemonstrating the need for adaptable methods.
- The speaker contrasts impactful trainers, like Mr. Rashid, who make a positive difference, with less effective ones, suggesting that certain methods distinguish them.
- A collaborative approach is encouraged to explore and share these 'secrets' of training success.
- Specific strategies could include setting clear educational goals from a young age, fostering environments that support continuous learning, and developing personalized training plans that adapt to individual needs.
- Examples of effective training might involve mentorship programs, skill workshops, and the integration of technology to facilitate learning.
5. ๐ฅ Discovering and Cultivating Your Passion
5.1. Discovering Your Passion
5.2. Cultivating Your Passion
6. ๐ค Mastering the Art of Public Speaking
- To effectively train others, a trainer must possess essential skills in communication and storytelling.
- There are three key strategies to captivate an audience: 1) Start with a story to capture attention by appealing to social and relatable human nature. 2) Pose a question to generate interest and attentiveness. 3) Share unexpected or little-known facts to maintain audience engagement.
- An example of an intriguing fact: Every child is born 100% creative, but by the age of 30, creativity can drop to as low as 2% without the right environment.
- Incorporating anecdotes or examples can enhance the relatability and impact of each strategy.
- Each strategy should be clearly separated for a structured presentation.
7. ๐ซ Sidestepping Common Presentation Pitfalls
- Avoid starting presentations with apologies, as it sets a negative tone and is unnecessary since the audience does not have a script to compare against.
- Do not begin by introducing yourself, as the event organizers typically provide this information.
- Refrain from starting with a greeting; instead, integrate it naturally into your presentation to maintain a smooth flow.
- Consider opening with a compelling story or a surprising fact to capture the audience's attention immediately.
- Effective openings set a positive tone and engage the audience from the start, enhancing the overall impact of the presentation.
8. ๐ Embracing the Core of Training
- Credentials are less important than practical value, honesty, and relatability in effective training.
- Training should aim to leave participants with a tangible benefit, even if it's a small improvement, such as a 1% enhancement.
- A legal recommendation to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 9 to 11 years emerged from a workshop, showcasing training impact.
- Honesty in training builds mutual respect and improves trainer-participant relationships.
- Using humor and relatable stories, like that of a Nobel laureate, can diffuse tension and support significant legal changes.
- Inspiring a desire for change is crucial, even in challenging environments, to motivate participants to improve their lives.
9. ๐ผ Building Practical Skills and Seizing Opportunities
- Practical skills are more critical than formal qualifications; real-world application often outweighs academic achievements.
- Despite high educational qualifications, many lack essential skills needed in the workplace.
- An example is given of a successful individual with only a third-grade education who won a court case due to practical skills.
- The United States spends $28 billion annually on training, yet lacks significant leadership in society, emphasizing the need for skill-based training.
- Opportunities are abundant and should be actively pursued; personal experiences include gaining international exposure by traveling to different countries.
- By focusing on developing practical skills, individuals can improve their employability and career prospects.
- Skill-based training programs should be prioritized over traditional academic paths to bridge the gap between education and employment.
- Seizing opportunities often involves stepping outside of one's comfort zone, as demonstrated by personal stories of international travel and networking.
10. ๐ถ Crafting and Singing Your Unique Life Song
- The concept encourages individuals to create and sing their unique song in life, symbolizing personal identity and expression.
- Birds sing to assert their presence and identity, which is a metaphor for humans to express their individuality.
- Each person's life song should be composed of their own words and melody, emphasizing original personal creation.
- The act of singing one's life song is a continual process, not a one-time event, suggesting lifelong personal development and expression.