We work with adolescents on Life Skill Education issues. The
communication skill is an important Life skill issue. It has a potential to solve
the problems of human relationships. But one cannot achieve this skill
easily. In training sessions we work with the adolescents on this issue but we
ourselves are not satisfied yet. The activities of communication skills that we
have design for adolescents are just like a trick. By this we can amaze people
and tell them the importance of communication issue in their lives. It is very
superficial, hollow and shallow. We
can't get a grip on the skill by doing such activities. There is a gap between
the trainer and in teenage there the scope of dialogue is such an e the
trainees. Mostly adolescent lack the art of communication. This lack of
communication is promoted by their customs and traditions. The dialogue with
the parents is merely commands and demands. Talking on some issues is strictly
prohibited in this relationship. Only friendship is a relation where to-way
communication exists at the level of equality. But a little mistake can break
down entire communication. Even in an intense relationship, once the communication
is broken, it’s hard to restore it. It happens not only in friendship but in
blood relations also. I know one of my collage friend who is not on talking
terms with his own mother for about two years. Long practice of this
communication gap gradually coverts in a habit and finally we can't break this
status quo. Who will take initiative to start conversation? It becomes a
lifelong dilemma. Communication breakdowns can happen anywhere level, in
between two persons, families, and generations and even in between two countries
also. When dialogue stops in between two nations then guns and swords speak
out. This lack of communication can
remain for a long time.
Most of the problems of our life are because of the communication still we have
not found any practice of dealing with it in our education system. Attempts are made only for learning spoken English.
This is not even real communication
skill. It might help someone to sale toothpaste or soap of an MNCs.
Communication is more than a monologue. It
happens between two persons. That’s why it is necessary to know others’
perception also. How do we know about others’ side?
Ironically, life and education are far from each other. Relationships and
communication are an important aspect of life, so are of education also. Medium
of problem solving in communication should be as alive as one’s life. And
this medium can be theatre. Its strengths are not fully recognized yet. Theatre
is closer to life is far from our education system. However some enthusiastic
teachers are experimenting it as a learning tool. Of course it is very
innovative. But theater can be more effective in its an original and traditional
form. It has been reached to us through a journey of thousands years but has
been neglected too. Formal theatre has an important role in developing social
skills. It is focused on final products that are presented to audience. This
product must be an excellent one. This professional approach makes a person
responsible. This sense of responsibility towards audience makes theatre
processes more meaningful. These processes help an actor becoming a good human
being.
In theatre there is enough space and time for practicing a sentence hundred
times to reach at the level perfection. An actor's body also becomes
synchronized with the speech. It happens only when we see ourselves objectively.
Another aspect of theater. It provides
opportunities for putting ourselves into another person’s shoes. This process
makes the actor a sensitive person. It might not become a drama production, or
might not happen through a signal workshop. But one has to take an initiative.
Theatre is not an incident only. It's a regular process like our lives. We go
to gym or go on a morning walk to stay healthy. Similarly we should join
theatre regularly to become social and civilized.
