Do uncommon words and effective communicators get along? Let's find out
Did you come across the tweet Congress MP and author Shashi Tharoor addressed to popular novelist Chetan Bhagat? The exchange that ensued was one that is going to be memorable for a long time to come
Canteen Fundas: There's a reason they say #GoodVibesOnly, here's what we found
Pro Tip: To change the energy in a relationship, change your energy first. Gratitude, love and forgiveness are powerful tools that can change your relationships and your experiences
Should examiners be subjected to the same scrutiny as examinees?
Did you hear about the chaotic results of the Karnataka SSLC results declared recently? Monteiro wonders about this in the context of evaluators who are in agitation mode over issues
Pets are a gift to mankind that we don't deserve. Here's why we should always cherish them
The Coach explains why our dear pets have grown to become one of the most important parts of our lives and why we must always cherish them. And no one can deny that they are good for our mental health
Goodbye, Mister Grammar Nazi: Why being obsessed with grammatical accuracy is not the best idea
This is what transpired when Dr Albert P'Rayan started a conversation on grammar and communication on Facebook. He made a few provocative statements and the following discussion ensued
What should replace district recognition for SSLC results? The debate is on
If district ranks are abolished, what would serve as the best alternative for it? Can there be other systems of rewards, better ones? John Monteiro thinks aloud in his column about this issue
Canteen Fundas: Here's why you shouldn't ditch the whole because of a part
Pro Tip: If you label a person as ‘bad’ based on one act, you’ll lose the relationship. Instead, give feedback in a manner that affects change. By focusing on the good, you can get the best of them
The Coach speaks: How to handle a proposition from your queer friends?
The Coach speaks about the need to accept homosexuality and move on from the taboo that society has quietly built around it. And how do we do it? Let The Coach guide you through it all
Why youngsters should aim to build a career instead of just getting a job
The columnist makes a case for why, as youngsters, we should not just aim to get a job, we should actually be looking to build a career. This is what will serve us well and be useful in the long-term
An ode to Twitter: All about tweets, retweets and hashtags and their effects on English
There are many Twitter accounts that can help one improve their vocabulary and English, but one must be careful on the platform as people are prone to using short forms to beat the word limit
Remembering Ram Jethmalani: What a young law student who interned with him learnt after a fiery cross-examination
A year after the legendary lawyer's passing, one of his former interns who is a lawyer herself, recalls all the lessons she learnt from her mentor and about his larger than life personality
International Literacy Day: Why we need to look at literacy beyond the basic ability to read and write
Former IAS officer Swaran Singh explains why he believes that literacy is not an endpoint but a continuous process and has a definition that encompasses more than institutional learning
What’s the right thing to say? Here's how you can respond to greetings appropriately
Don't know how to respond when people ask you 'How's you?' or 'How's things?' In this English Blues column, you might understand the greeting and how to respond to it properly and appropriately
Let’s not take it personally, buddy: Keep things simple and work towards what you love doing
​Pro Tip: Keep things simple. Separate facts from the stories you created about them by not taking them personally. Life gets way simpler, easier and enjoyable
This is the first step, my dear: Tips to approach competitive exams
Wondering how you should be approaching competitive examinations? Nervous about actually attempting them? This column will give you note-worthy tips that will surely help
Are our young ready to cope with job losses and unemployment?
Because India’s employment scenario looks dismal, and this is the cold hard fact of today, are the youth prepared to handle the pressure? John Monteiro wonders out loud. What are your thoughts?
The answer to violence: Why the topic of domestic abuse needs to be dealt with sensitively
The Coach continues to examine instances of domestic abuse and the various impacts it can have on young, impressionable children. It is a serious issue and needs to be dealt with sensitively
Teachers' Day: Why teachers should strive to become educators in the 21st century
Educators are not mere givers/sharers/creators of knowledge; they enable students to think creatively, critically and productively
Speaking effectively in 2020: What you need to do to amp up your communication skills
If you have felt tongue-tied during a virtual conversation, these insights may help you prepare better in future
Why I believe the Open Book Examination in Business education is the way forward
Prof Tania Saritova Rath from Xavier University, Bhubaneswar talks about her experience with Open Book Examinations, its significance now and why we need to conduct them in a much better way
Contempt of court or conscience: What do these phrases and words mean?
All the legalise that you have been reading in the newspaper about the Prashant Bhushan case dumbfounding you? Albert P' Rayan simplifies it all for us. Read on to see how
Delayed gratification over instant joy: How you can derive long-term happiness by investing in growth-oriented activities
Pro Tip: You derive long-term happiness by delaying gratification and investing in growth-oriented activities. Minimise activities that seek instant gratification because they distract
Will the outdoors save students from the Coronavirus?
In the context of the pandemic that has plagued not just us but the whole world, how will the classrooms in schools, when they open, look like? How does open-air teaching sound like to you?
The answer to violence: How abuse leaves an impact on young, impressionable minds
The Coach examines instances of domestic abuse, violence and the various impacts it can have on young, impressionable children. It is a two-part series, read on to find out what he has to say
Celebrating Teachers’ Day with the English Language Teachers’ Association of India
The association has been organising webinars focusing on the critical issues such as learners autonomy, love for literary texts, social media literacy, multimodal approaches and more
Filthy rich or stinking rich: What do these phrases and others like 'to come of the blue' mean?
Albert P' Rayan responds to the questions that various readers posed. He talks about the usage of phrases like 'filthy rich', 'to come out of the blue' and many more
How EQ can help you go the full distance and become an overall advantage
Pro Tip: EI is a key factor in your success. Work on personal and social-emotional competencies to gain an overall advantage
That social media secret: How to be more respectful and understanding on social media
The Coach speaks about steps we can all take to be more respectful and understanding of other people across social media platforms
Is your handwriting critical to success in the age of computers and text messages?
How much trouble can bad handwriting get you into and for how long? Monteiro ponders over it in his recent column
NEP has the right intentions, but it all depends on how it is implemented
NEP talks about umpteen vital changes like incorporating Indian values in the education system starting from school to higher education. If implemented properly, the results will be quite positive
By combining flexibility and creativity, the NEP will make India an Education Hub by 2030
Between ease of getting approvals and a healthier quality assessment system, the NEP will ensure that the quality of education across the country skyrockets soon
The Penn Masala story: How this Indian-American acapella band at University of Pennsylvania has been rocking for 24 years
We recently caught up with two members of Penn Masala, who spoke to us about the band's story, history, the lockdown and of course, their music that's beyond borders
The art of saying 'no': Why refusing to do certain things will prevent you from repenting it later
The Coach explains the dangers of taking advantage of people and why you must always teach yourself to say 'no' in difficult situations
Canteen Fundas: Why managing your emotions is the key to a successful and happy life
Pro Tip: Improving your emotional intelligence helps you manage your personal and social life effectively, leading to healthy relationships, higher productivity and better quality of life.
Learning new words and phrases: What do phrases and words like 'abetment to suicide', 'allege' mean?
‘Abetment’ is a legal term. The word ‘abet’ means to encourage someone to do something wrong or undesirable or to assist someone to commit a crime
Why I believe the NEP’s move to teach in one's mother tongue up to Grade 5 should be welcomed
The NEP’s move to the medium of instruction up to grade 5 in the mother tongue or local language is a true game-changer. Here’s why this is important
Greek to you, Sanskrit to me: What do phrases like 'hot potato', 'bone of contention' mean?
An issue over which there is continuing disagreement is called a bone of contention. NEP draft was the bone of contention during the past year and it continues to be controversial
Canteen Fundas: Always prioritise what’s important to get things done on time
Pro Tip: Separate activities that are ‘important’ from ‘urgent’ and ‘unimportant’ activities. Do important activities first
Are we taking off from Gurukuls to ‘Gharkuls’? Homeschooling might be the way to go
But a new element comes into the picture in the avatar of parents, especially the mothers. Their role earlier was to escort their kids to school and to occasionally take part in parent-teacher meeting
Dear kids in the Class of 2020, you are the bravest. Love, a worried mom
This account of the fear, worry and absolute disbelief that the mother of a 17-year-old had as her daughter went out into a pandemic-ridden world and wrote the KEAM exam
