PROVERB: proverb (from Latin: proverbium) is a simple and concrete saying popularly known and repeated, which expresses

a truth, based on common sense or the practical experience of humanity. They are often metaphorical. A proverb that describes a basic rule of conduct may also be known as a maxim. If a proverb is distinguished by particularly good phrasing, it may be known as an aphorism.

Examples
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Haste makes waste A stitch in time saves nine. Ignorance is bliss Musn't cry over spilt milk. You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar. You can lead a horse to water, but can't make him drink. Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. A Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Well begun is half done. A little learning is a dangerous thing.

LISTENING SKILLS
Listening makes our loved ones feel worthy, appreciated, interesting, and respected. Ordinary conversations emerge on a deeper level, as do our relationships. When we listen, we foster the skill in others by acting as a model for positive and effective communication. The Technique. Active listening is really an extension of the Golden Rule. To know how to listen to someone else, think about how you would want to be listened to. While the ideas are largely intuitive, it might take some practice to develop (or re-develop) the skills. Heres what good listeners know and you should, too: 1. Face the speaker. Sit up straight or lean forward slightly to show your attentiveness through body language. 2. Maintain eye contact, to the degree that you all remain comfortable. 3. Minimize external distractions. Turn off the TV. Put down your book or magazine, and ask the speaker and other listeners to do the same.

4. Respond appropriately to show that you understand. Murmur (uh-huh and um-hmm) and nod. Raise your eyebrows. Say words such as Really, Interesting, as well as more direct prompts: What did you do then? and What did she say? 5. Focus solely on what the speaker is saying. Try not to think about what you are going to say next. The conversation will follow a logical flow after the speaker makes her point. 6. Minimize internal distractions. If your own thoughts keep horning in, simply let them go and continuously re-focus your attention on the speaker, much as you would during meditation. 7. Keep an open mind. Wait until the speaker is finished before deciding that you disagree. Try not to make assumptions about what the speaker is thinking. 8. Avoid letting the speaker know how you handled a similar situation. Unless they specifically ask for advice, assume they just need to talk it out. 9. Even if the speaker is launching a complaint against you, wait until they finish to defend yourself. The speaker will feel as though their point had been made. They wont feel the need to repeat it, and youll know the whole argument before you respond. Research shows that, on average, we can hear four times faster than we can talk, so we have the ability to sort ideas as they come inand be ready for more. 10. Engage yourself. Ask questions for clarification, but, once again, wait until the speaker has finished. That way, you wont interrupt their train of thought. After you ask questions, paraphrase their point to make sure you didnt misunderstand. Start with: So youre saying As you work on developing your listening skills, you may feel a bit panicky when there is a natural pause in the conversation. What should you say next? Learn to settle into the silence and use it to better understand all points of view. Ironically, as your listening skills improve, so will your aptitude for conversation. A friend of my partner once complimented me on my conversational skills. I hadnt said more than four words, but I had listened to him for 25 minutes.

READING SKILLS:
Definition Reading skills are specific abilities which enable a reader
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to read the written form as meaningful language to read anything written with independence, comprehension and fluency, and to mentally interact with the message.

Kinds Here are some kinds of reading skills:

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Word attack skills let the reader figure out new words. Comprehension skills help the reader predict the next word, phrase, or sentence quickly enough to speed recognition. Fluency skills help the readers see larger segments, phrases, and groups of words as wholes. Critical reading skills help the reader see the relationship of ideas and use these in reading with meaning and fluency.

In the modern age of information, reading truly is a fundamental survival skill. Here are ten tips that anyone can use to improve their reading skills: 1. You don't have to be a great reader to get the point. Some people read fast and remember everything. Others read slowly and take a couple of times to get all the information. It doesn't matter, really, so long as when you read, you get the information you're seeking. 2. Know WHY you're reading. Are you reading for entertainment or to learn something? Decide why you're reading before you start and you'll greatly improve your comprehension and your enjoyment. 3. You don't need to read everything. Not every magazine, letter, and email you receive contains information you need. In fact, most of it is simply junk. Throw it away, hit the delete key! Just doing this will double the amount of time you have available to read. 4. You don't need to read all of what you DO read. Do you read every article of every magazine, every chapter of every book? If so, you're probably spending a lot of time reading stuff you don't need. Be choosy: select the chapters and articles that are important. Ignore the rest. 5. Scan before you read. Look at the table of contents, index, topic headers, photo captions, etc. These will help you determine if, a) you have a real interest in this reading, and b) what information you're likely to get from it. 6. Prioritize your reading. You can't read everything all at once (and wouldn't want to). If it's important, read it now. If it's not, let it wait. 7. Optimize your reading environment. You'll read faster and comprehend more if you read in an environment that's comfortable for you. 8. Once you start, don't stop!

Read each item straight through. If you finish and have questions, go back and re-read the pertinent sections. If you don't have questions, you got what you needed and are ready to move on. 9. Focus. Remember, you're reading with a purpose, so focus on that purpose and the material. If you lose interest or keep losing your place, take a break or read something else. You can keep track of where you are by following along with your hand. This simple technique helps you focus and increase your concentration. 10. Practice! The more you read, the better reader you'll become (and smarter, too)! So, feed your mind: read!

Writing skills:
Definition Writing skills are specific abilities which help writers put their thoughts into words in a meaningful form and to mentally interact with the message. Discussion Here are some writing goals as defined by Hampton 1989:
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Writers are independent when they are able to write without much assistance. Writers gain comprehensibility when they can write so that it can be read and understood by themselves and others. Writers are fluent when they are able to write smoothly and easily as well as understandably. Writers gain creativity when they can write their own ideas, not copying what has already been written, so that they can be read and understood.

Kinds Here are some kinds of writing skills:

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Comprehensibility skills for writing include understanding that writing is communicating messages or information. Fluency skills for writing include o recognizing the linear sequence of sounds o mastering writing motions and letter shapes o recognizing the chunking of words o recognizing the need for space between words o writing quickly Creativity skills for writing include the ability to write freely anything the learner wants to write.

Speaking skills: Introduction Speaking is the productive skill in the oral mode. It, like the other skills, is more complicated than it seems at first and involves more than just pronouncing words. Every public speaker should be able to: 1. Research a topic Good speakers stick to what they know. Great speakers research what they need to convey their message. 2. Focus Help your audience grasp your message by focusing on your message. Stories, humour, or other sidebars should connect to the core idea. Anything that doesnt needs to be edited out. 3. Organize ideas logically A well-organized presentation can be absorbed with minimal mental strain. Bridging is key. 4. Employ quotations, facts, and statistics Dont include these for the sake of including them, but do use them appropriately to complement your ideas. 5. Master metaphors Metaphors enhance the understandability of the message in a way that direct language often can not. 6. Tell a story Everyone loves a story. Points wrapped up in a story are more memorable, too! 7. Start strong and close stronger The body of your presentation should be strong too, but your audience will remember your first and last words (if, indeed, they remember anything at all). 8. Incorporate humour Knowing when to use humour is essential. So is developing the comedic timing to deliver it with greatest effect. 9. Vary vocal pace, tone, and volume A monotone voice is like fingernails on the chalkboard. 10. Punctuate words with gestures Gestures should complement your words in harmony. Tell them how big the fish was, and show them with your arms. 11. Utilize 3-dimensional space Chaining yourself to the lectern limits the energy and passion you can exhibit. Lose the notes, and lose the chain. 12. Complement words with visual aids Visual aids should aid the message; they should not be the message. 13. Analyze the audience Deliver the message they want (or need) to hear. 14. Connect with the audience Eye contact is only the first step. Aim to have the audience conclude This speaker is just like me! The sooner, the better. 15. Interact with the audience Ask questions (and care about the answers). Solicit volunteers. Make your presentation a dialogue.

16. Conduct a Q&A session Not every speaking opportunity affords a Q&A session, but understand how to lead one productively. Use the Q&A to solidify the impression that you are an expert, not (just) a speaker. 17. Lead a discussion Again, not every speaking opportunity affords time for a discussion, but know how to engage the audience productively. 18. Obey time constraints Maybe you have 2 minutes. Maybe you have 45. Either way, customize your presentation to fit the time allowed, and respect your audience by not going over time. 19. Craft an introduction Set the context and make sure the audience is ready to go, whether the introduction is for you or for someone else. 20. Exhibit confidence and poise These qualities are sometimes difficult for a speaker to attain, but easy for an audience to sense. 21. Handle unexpected issues smoothly Maybe the lights will go out. Maybe the projector is dead. Have a plan to handle every situation. 22. Be coherent when speaking off the cuff Impromptu speaking (before, after, or during a presentation) leaves a lasting impression too. Doing it well tells the audience that you are personable, and that you are an expert who knows their stuff beyond the slides and prepared speech. 23. Seek and utilize feedback Understand that no presentation or presenter (yes, even you!) is perfect. Aim for continuous improvement, and understand that the best way to improve is to solicit candid feedback from as many people as you can. 24. Listen critically and analyze other speakers Study the strengths and weakness of other speakers. 25. Act and speak ethically Since public speaking fears are so common, realize the tremendous power of influence that you hold. Use this power responsibly.

Body language: Body language is a form of non-verbal communication, which consists of body posture, gestures, facial expressions, and eye movements. Humans send and interpret such signals almost entirely subconsciously. In the beginning easy its to exaggerate your body language. You might sit with your legs almost ridiculously far apart or sit up straight in a tense pose all the time. Thats ok. And people arent looking as much as you think, they are worrying about their own problems. Just play around a bit, practice and monitor yourself to find a comfortable balance.

1. Dont cross your arms or legs You have probably already heard you shouldnt cross your arms as it might make you seem defensive or guarded. This goes for your legs too. Keep your arms and legs open. 2. Have eye contact, but dont stare If there are several people you are talking to, give them all some eye contact to create a better connection and see if they are listening. Keeping too much eye-contact might creep people out. Giving no eye-contact might make you seem insecure. If you are not used to keeping eye-contact it might feel a little hard or scary in the beginning but keep working on it and youll get used to it. 3. Dont be afraid to take up some space Taking up space by for example sitting or standing with your legs apart a bit signals self-confidence and that you are comfortable in your own skin. 4. Relax your shoulders When you feel tense its easily winds up as tension in your shoulders. They might move up and forward a bit. Try to relax. Try to loosen up by shaking the shoulders a bit and move them back slightly. 5. Nod when they are talking nod once in a while to signal that you are listening. But dont overdo it and peck like Woody Woodpecker. 6. Dont slouch, sit up straight but in a relaxed way, not in a too tense manner. 7. Lean, but not too much If you want to show that you are interested in what someone is saying, lean toward the person talking. If you want to show that youre confident in yourself and relaxed lean back a bit. But dont lean in too much or you might seem needy and desperate for some approval. Or lean back too much or you might seem arrogant and distant. 8. Smile and laugh lighten up, dont take yourself too seriously. Relax a bit, smile and laugh when someone says something funny. People will be a lot more inclined to listen to you if you seem to be a positive person. But dont be the first to laugh at your own jokes, it makes you seem nervous and needy. Smile when you are introduced to someone but dont keep a smile plastered on your face, youll seem insincere. 9. Dont touch your face it might make you seem nervous and can be distracting for the listeners or the people in the conversation. 10. Keep you head up Dont keep your eyes on the ground, it might make you seem insecure and a bit lost. Keep your head up straight and your eyes towards the horizon. 11. Slow down a bit this goes for many things. Walking slower not only makes you seem more calm and confident, it will also make you feel less stressed. If someone addresses you, dont snap youre neck in their direction, turn it a bit more slowly instead. 12. Dont fidget try to avoid, phase out or transform fidgety movement and nervous ticks such as shaking your leg or tapping your fingers against the table rapidly. Youll seem nervous and

fidgeting can be a distracting when you try to get something across. Declutter your movements if you are all over the place. Try to relax, slow down and focus your movements. 13. Use your hands more confidently instead of fidgeting with your hands and scratching your face use them to communicate what you are trying to say. Use your hands to describe something or to add weight to a point you are trying to make. But dont use them to much or it might become distracting. And dont let your hands flail around, use them with some control. 14. Lower your drink dont hold your drink in front of your chest. In fact, dont hold anything in front of your heart as it will make you seem guarded and distant. Lower it and hold it beside your leg instead. 15. Realise where you spine ends many people (including me until recently) might sit or stand with a straight back in a good posture. However, they might think that the spine ends where the neck begins and therefore crane the neck forward in a Montgomery Burns-pose. Your spine ends in the back of your head. Keep you whole spine straight and aligned for better posture. 16. Dont stand too close one of the things we learned from Seinfeld is that everybody gets weirded out by a close-talker. Let people have their personal space, dont invade it. 17. Mirror Often when you get along with a person, when the two of you get a good connection, you will start to mirror each other unconsciously. That means that you mirror the other persons body language a bit. To make the connection better you can try a bit of proactive mirroring. If he leans forward, you might lean forward. If she holds her hands on her thighs, you might do the same. But dont react instantly and dont mirror every change in body language. Then weirdness will ensue. 18. Keep a good attitude last but not least, keep a positive, open and relaxed attitude. How you feel will come through in your body language and can make a major difference. For information on how make yourself feel better read 10 ways to change how you feel and for relaxation try A very simple way to feel relaxed for 24 hours. You can change your body language but as all new habits it takes a while. Especially things like keeping you head up might take time to correct if you have spent thousands of days looking at your feet. And if you try and change to many things at once it might become confusing and feel overwhelming.