Learning a second language requires the development of the four language skills – listening, speaking, reading and writing. The development of these skills has to follow this order of listing for the learner to be competent in the language. In order words, for you to learn the English language, you first have to develop the listening skills before going over to speaking, reading and then finally writing skills. So a person’s proficiency in a language is actually judged (first) based on his listening and speaking skills. Only those who have more dealings with the user will evaluate his reading and writing skills.

But, sometimes we pay more attention to developing our writing skills in English than we do the other three skills. The reasons for this could be because we write business letters and proposals than we listen or speak to our customers and employers. Whatever the reason may be the result is not impressive because we ended up having a lot of people who are highly proficient in writing the English language but encounter difficulties in speaking it.

Developing an oral proficiency in English is highly necessary in Nigeria. This is because English, though a second language, has taken up a prestigious position in Nigeria and is therefore an elitist language. In Nigeria today, English is considered the language of the upper class; it is used to measure someone’s level of education; and it is necessary for social mobility. Therefore, anybody that speaks it fluently is considered to be well educated and to have good social status.

English is the only language that links the 400 and more Nigerian indigenous languages. This is to say that failure to use the language competently can create a communication barrier between the participants if they happen to have different mother tongue.

Being proficient in speaking English in Nigeria can boost the confidence and self-esteem of the speaker. Good self-esteem and confidence is important as that will boost the speaker’s career success. Besides that, his audience will always find him impressive even on their first meeting.

Alright, let’s go over to some techniques we can apply in developing and improving our speaking skills. Before we continue, I’ll like to state here that language learning is a habit. This means that for you to improve your speaking skills, you have to make these techniques a habit. Some authors may recommend that you give yourself about 30 minutes to one hour every day to practice. But I’ll say that apart from those that will need the use of equipment (such as mirror), practice these techniques as often as possible. In fact make use of any opportunity you have to practice them. Let them be a part of you and you will see the changes in no distant time. And please, don’t put pressure on yourself by setting a time frame. Remember, you are forming a habit that will last a lifetime. So the changes need to be gradual but steady, if you truly work on yourself.

So, here are the techniques:

1. Be Confident: This is one area that learners have challenges. Some have it deep down them that they aren’t cut out to speak English or that since they missed the opportunity of learning it at childhood, they can’t learn it again. I remember when one of my students approached me that he would love to speak the way I do but that he can’t because he grew up in a rural area. I taught him these techniques and he started practicing them. By the time he graduated, I noticed that he has improved greatly. So, I’ll say, be confident. The language isn’t meant for anyone in particular. Besides, what we speak in Nigeria is a modified version of English that is for all Nigerians alone.
2. Sharpen Your Listening Skills: This will enable you to understand how some words are pronounced. Of course, if you can’t listen, you can’t speak. So, what do you listen to? Do you listen to English songs, news and films? Are you surrounded by people that speak good English that you can listen to? I hope the answers to these questions are yes. Find your role models today and start emulating them.
3. Use the Mirror: I love this part so much. You don’t only use this to work on you speaking skills; you can also use it to sharpen your presentation skills. Ok, see how you do it. Stand before a mirror, look at your image, look yourself straight in the eyes and talk to yourself in English for nothing less than five minutes (Sounds crazy, right? Well, that’s the way it is. Lol). So, just have conversation with yourself on any topic for as long as you can. Allow the words to flow. Don’t pause to think. Observe the gestures and the way you move your lips. Do you like this experience? Do it as often as possible, but let it not be less than five minutes in a day. This technique also works on your self confidence.
4. Record Your Conversation: This really helps a lot. There are a lot of apps for mobile phones that record sounds. Look for them and use them. Record yourself as you are having a self conversation or while having a phone call. You can also record yourself while you were singing or reading aloud (but recording during a conversation is more effective). After recording, listen to yourself. It will help you to evaluate your spoken English. You can also record news and record yourself as you recast it. Don’t worry if you don’t sound exactly like the newscasters, they have special training for that job.
5. Increase Your Vocabulary: The basic way to expand your vocabulary is by reading. Listening also helps but reading is the best. So read as much as you can. Like one of my lecturers used to say, read everything you can lay your hands on, only be matured enough to sieve through the information contained in the book.
6. Learn the Sounds and Prosodic Features of English: Every language of the world has sounds as their raw materials. English has 44 phonemes (20 vowels and 24 consonants). You need to learn these sounds so that you can pronounce words correctly. Most learners encounter challenges pronouncing some English words because they substitute the sounds in those words with the ones that exist in their native language(s).

English is also stressed timed language. So learners have to understand its stress patterns and intonations. I believe that there are good schools that train people on spoken English. But as you are searching for them, you can look for good books on English phonetics and phonology that have audio CDs. The Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary by Peter Roach and co can help here too.

7. Use the Tongue-Twisters: Tongue twisters seem to be going into extinction these days. One thing tongue twister does is helping us in contrasting sounds. I always use it in my classes whenever I teach sounds that prove difficult to my students. A good example is the ‘th’ sounds. I also use this technique for those that have the L-R (you know, those that substitute L for R and R for L) and the ch-sh (substituting sh for ch, and vice versa) problem. So, locate books on tongue twisters and practice them a lot.
8. Focus more on Fluency than Accuracy: This technique always raises eyebrows each time I bring it up. I’m not saying that accuracy isn’t important. Of course, it is. What I’m trying to say here is that when you focus more on saying what is grammatically correct, you will be slowed down. Trust me, your listeners may lose interest before you finish what you have to say. Learn the English grammar but don’t worry about it when you speak, at least not while we are developing your fluency. But if you noticed that you committed a blunder, you can retrace a little and correct it to show that it was a mistake, and not an error. But if correcting it will make the mistake too obvious, please ignore it and continue talking. Let those words flow freely.
9. Have a Transcription Book: I learnt this technique from a public speaking coach. I started it and found out that I pronounce some words wrongly. So, if you have learnt the English phonemes, get an exercise book and use it for your transcription exercises. Write down words, sentences or passages in their orthographic spellings and then transcribe them. Use a good English dictionary to check for corrections. This exercise is truly very rewarding. By the way, make it a daily affair, just like every other technique.
10. Speak English More: Of course, practice makes perfect, remember. So, you have been practicing all these in your home, what about outside? Do you speak English more as you work on your speaking skills? Or do you revert to pidgin and your native language(s). Ok, I’m not saying we should throw away our Nigerian languages because of English. What I’m saying here is that you need to practice what you’ve learnt. So, if the crowd you move with now will not provide you with the opportunity to practice English, look for another crowd that will. Just find someone that will encourage you to speak English more often. You can also look for opportunities to engage in public speaking using English. This may sound outrageous but it is worth it.

So, we have seen ways we can develop and improve on our spoken English. Let’s remember that we need this language for these reasons – to boost our career and our social status. Besides, it is still a part of the packaging.

Social media is yummy. I mean the real deal for every company to build a brand identity and get unlimited exposure. 

Here’s why you should start taking advantage of social media – more than 70% of the population of the world spend their time on different social platforms. Imagine if you get yourself in front of 1% of the population of the world, ain’t that yummy? 

Of course, it is! 

However, it doesn’t come so cheap. It’s not about getting in front of the audience that sells, it is getting in front of the right audience. Take, for example, if you sell laptops, it wouldn’t make any business sense if your one million audiences are kindergarten kids. You will never sell because they don’t need it. Hence, you are racking up vanity metrics. 

What do you do to get in front of the right audience?

Want to reach more of your target audience? 

• POST MORE! 

People that post weekly see two times lift in engagement with their content. Let’s think about that for a second and analyze, with just one post on social media platform a week, you can double your engagement. Now imagine what you could do if you posted DAILY!

You don’t need to go crazy and post ten times a day, posting once a day would be great. If you can’t commit to once a day, then shoot for at least three times a week. Find a balance. Look into your schedule and see the one that works for you. 

• QUALITY

It’s also important to remember that just posting is not enough. In order to consistently make it into people’s feeds, you need to be regularly putting out good content that your followers reliably engage with. That gives you even more opportunities to reach your target audience. 

People visit social media platforms for various reasons. If you would want to get people’s attention, you must be willing to serve them consistently. This way, you are turning them to your fans. They would definitely turn out to be your target audience or get you closer to your target audience. 

• ENGAGEMENT 

Behind every phone, there’s a human. Behind every laptop, there’s a human. Engagement can not be taken away from finding your target audience. People want to feel appreciated. Engagement provides a form of satisfaction to your general audience. It makes them feel that their time and input is well appreciated. 

No matter how good your content or the number of posts you are pushing out on a daily basis; if you don’t commit to giving people that human touch through engagement, you might be wasting your time.

People are not the ATM machine you can insert your card and cash money out. If you want to get money from people, they need to see the value and treatment they are getting. 

• HASHTAGS 

The use of hashtags will make it easier for a certain set of audience to find you. Ensure you lookout for the trending hashtags when pushing out your posts. 

Social media is a work on its own. You have to treat it like one. 

Quick Questions:

• Who is your target audience?
• Are you reaching them?
   

If your answer is no, reach out to me via email on chinedu@bamf.media

On Saturday 11th of August, the news was making headlines that Dr. Yakubu Nura won the World Physics Competition. It was reported that Dr. Nura of the University of Maiduguri beat about 5720 other contenders from 97 countries to clinch the title. It was widely celebrated in Nigeria, every Dick and Harry were heaping praises on the Yobe state born Lecturer until Dr. Farooq Kperogi took a look, and his bubbles were busted.

It seems the celebrated distinction, “the father of modern Einstein’s planetary equation studies in physics” is a scam. And Dr. Yakubu Nura is a victim without knowing it, and so were so many others, from the newspapers to every person who was gullible enough to celebrate the fictitious achievement. The Guardian, Sahara Reporters, Senator Shehu Sani, and the famous Journalist, Kadaria Ahmed, all lend voices to the chorus of praise.

The organizer of the award, who goes by the name, International Agency for Standards and Ratings (IASR), has no official website with its name. It uses Google free domain to function. A closer look reveals that the site has been operational since 2013, and has been scamming people since 2014, under the guise of world championship for scientific feats.

Their application form is simple:

Name of program: Application for World Championship

Name of Applicant:

Detailed Resume:

Passport Photograph:

The Applicant is therefore expected to include his works and send them to the email address: plojindexing@gmail.com, which is open to receive applications on the 31st of every month, but the yearly review is done by July.

In 2018, there were 34 Nigerians out of 187 people in the list of winners in different categories of scientific feats, and some of them were highly celebrated just as Dr. Nura. A certain Dr. Kaywood Leizou of the Niger Delta University, who became the Nigerian champion in chemical science (Metal Speciation in Sediment), got the Guardian newspaper to publish an article about his award on October 19, 2018.

There are several other victims of this “scams of ego,” as Dr. Kperogi described it, from around the world. Professionals from 97 countries, mainly from Africa and Asia, whose desire for recognition and award blinded their sight so that they couldn’t pay attention to obvious details. For instance, the site and email (gmail) speak with voluminous evidence of sham. A credible organization with the capacity to award international medals for scientific feats should have a secure website with its name and a professional email that rhymes.

The world of science has over 100 recognized award giving organizations for scientific inventories, discoveries and breakthroughs. Physics isn’t left out that someone like Dr. Yakubu Nura who claimed to have broken Albert Einstein’s planetary equations record would not be recognized for his work.

There is Albert Einstein World Award of Science created to recognize and serve as an incentive to scientific and technological research and development. The award is made by the World Cultural Council (WCC), and the winner is elected by the interdisciplinary committee, which is composed of world renowned scientists, among them 25 Nobel laureates. The award consists of a Diploma, a commemorative medal, and $10, 000.

There is also Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics: It recognizes individuals who have made profound contributions to human knowledge. It is open to all Physicists – theoretical, mathematical and experimental. The prize can be shared among any number of scientists.

The Kavli Prize in Astrophysics is awarded for outstanding achievement in advancing our knowledge of cosmology, astrophysics, astronomy, planetary science, solar physics, space science, astrobiology astronomical and astrophysical instrumentation, and particle astrophysics. This is exactly where Dr. Nura is supposed to be awarded or at least mentioned, but it didn’t happen.

There are so far, over 30 recipients of medals in 2019, in different categories of physics feats, and all of them are listed on the Isaac Newton Medal and Prize portal. For instance, Dr. Lisa Jardine-wright and Prof. Mark Warner receive the Lawrence Bragg Medal and Prize for jointly setting up and directing the Isaac Physics Programme which has revolutionized physics education for teachers and students in UK schools.

And there is also Prof. Chris Hancock who received the Katharine Burr Blodgett Medal and Prize for designing and patenting an electro-surgery platform enabling microwave and bipolar radio frequency energy to be delivered from a range of miniature endoscopic devices to treat lesions in the gastrointestinal tract.

The fact is, the traces are too bold to miss and the recipients are too good to overlook. It was in the wake of the bust that several other Nigerians opened up about sham online awards in many places. Most of them charging fees instead of giving prize money to the awardees.

A Twitter user, Jideofor Akpa lamented how he was exploited, by Arc of Europe Award in gold category for innovation and excellence in business, that would be held in Berlin. Another victim said he was contacted back in 2014, for an award for the most influential 100 Young Entrepreneurs in Shipping, Maritime and Stevedoring.

It seems the scammers would sit back and collect informative data from some online activities, or advertise it online waiting for the gullible. However, one thing is for sure, many have fallen to their baits, and many more are going to fall. The self-recognition thirst is rising to a dehydration degree, not only in Nigeria, but the world over, and scammers are capitalizing on it to push their fraudulent agenda.

As an African and a proud Nigerian, I love the fact that we are always looking out for our family and friends. Ironically, an average African man has bigger responsibilities than the wealthiest man in the world, especially if he’s the first child. He is mandated to take care of his siblings and other extended family irrespective of his financial status. 

As much as this may sound good, however, it tends to demand too much from every African first child. The fact that they are the first child doesn’t make them the Messiah. African parents demand too much from their first child. Right from birth to when he gets old, he is always reminded of the responsibility he has to shoulder. 

There is this belief that he must lead by example. Although it is true, as the younger siblings are liable to copy him. But it is not enough to put a heavy responsibility on such a child. Because it makes him live all his life thinking about his family, and less about himself. Whenever he’s failing, he feels bad because he knows he’s not meeting standards. Many had been pushed into doing what they don’t intend to do because they fear their parents would tag them as a failure. They don’t want their parents to call and remind them of another first child doing better than them in the community. You know African parents are good at doing that. No wonder some ladies are skeptical when it comes to marrying a man who is the first child of his family. 

Enough is enough! 

Let every first child be. Let them work the best way they can. The messiah tag should be taken off their heads. Life is personal. Helping siblings should be willing and not mandated. When we put that responsibility on them at a younger age, we tend to make them desperate. I am not the first child of my parents but I can tell you from my experience. 

My parents demanded too much from my poor sister. When she’s running at her pace, they would complain. ”Is this how you will take care of your siblings?” They would say to her. She had to start running faster than her legs could carry her. 

My plea to every African parent, teach your kids to be responsible for themselves. Don’t put the burden of others on the first child. I understand our grandparents taught you that, but we can’t continue to apply a 100-year-old method in this new era. Things have changed and are still changing. It is your responsibility to look after your own children. It is your duty to teach them how to fend for themselves and not to depend only on the first child. Everyone has got his own life to live. 

Besides, what makes you think the first child would even be wealthier than his younger siblings? 

I beg to differ on this mentality. No first child chose to be first. It happened by chance, so they should not be made to pay for that. 

Live and let others live.