When I first started tutoring, I was very impatient with my students. Some students were easy to teach. They understood the concepts easily and could apply them to the questions. Other students just could not get the concepts no matter how many times I explained it to them. It was these students that I became impatient with and I often scolded them. I thought they were pretending not to understand just to frustrate me. Gradually, I realized that the words I used affected their response. If I said things like “This is so easy, why can’t you get it?” they would become sullen and refused to try. But if I said things like “I know this is hard for you but if you keep trying I’m sure you’ll get it soon” they would try harder. I recognized that words matter. The words we use create an emotional response in the listener. The response can be positive or negative. Nowadays, I try to think before I speak. Many times it is hard as we tend to just blurt out what’s on our mind. It is good to think about the common phrases you use when you speak to your child and [...]
