Learning the Art of Conversation

‘Can We Talk?’ by Lisa Fields (Art of Living, June) immediately took me back to 1962 when I was a 24-year-old rookie teacher. I was given philately (stamp collecting) as a subject with which to captivate a vertical grouping of students, ranging from 12 to 18 years, who refused to choose any of the offered recreational subjects.

None of them collected stamps. Neither did I. At our first meeting I changed the topic to ‘Conversation with people you don’t know’. Starting the discussions with basics, such as sport, music, dance, books, camping – subjects that might interest a stranger – the class not only became hugely popular but helped the shy, satisfied the drama queens, and built bridges between the different grades. CAROL MORGAN