Real- Time English Conversation with Rashi Ma’am @EnglishYaari #mahalashmienglishjourney #english

Added: 2026-05-07

[00:00:00]You know, Mahalaxmi, maybe I would have agreed more with you had I not been on the other side of the table here. Okay.

[00:00:09]What is the use of crying over spilled milk?

[00:00:12]Even now we have the opportunity, time, amount, everything. It would be a way of expressing yourself. There's a lot of clarity in your ideas. The words that you choose or the sentences that you frame, there is a direction in your answer. Uh the topic for today is empowering through sports. Okay. So, if I may just tell you what I the the way I look at this topic is about uh how different sports or different rules in every sport kind of brings up your skills.

[00:00:49]Okay. For example, if you are playing uh basketball, right? So, you need to have team spirit, you need to have proper coordination, you need to have proper communication with the rest of your team members because your ultimate goal is the same.

[00:01:06]Okay. Right? So, it's about talking about different sports, the requirements of that sport, and then trying to uh associate your talent or skills with that sport. Okay? So, you think it'll be good enough to go ahead, the topic?

[00:01:22]Would you like to discuss on it?

[00:01:25]Ma'am, actually I'm not a sports person sport person. Uh having said that, I want my daughters to be excelling sports.

[00:01:34]I did not have an opportunity to involve myself in sports activity and during my school days and also in college days. So, I don't know much about sports.

[00:01:45]Okay. Uh yes, but that should not be uh there for my daughters. So, I have incorporated them in some activities. I have uh made them to participate in some sports.

[00:01:58]So, they have been participating in basketball and swimming.

[00:02:03]Uh yes, and my younger one is very little. So, next year probably we may uh make her to join in some tennis or shuttle. Or her own.

[00:02:13]Yes, ma'am. As of now, uh she has been learning swimming.

[00:02:17]Okay. Lovely. How old is she?

[00:02:21]My younger one is uh in the first standard ma'am now, uh 5 and 1/2 years.

[00:02:26]5 and 1/2 years. Okay. Okay. I think that's a brilliant time to for her to learn swimming because I remember by the time my daughter started learning swimming, she was already 9 years of age. Okay. 8 and 1/2 9 years of age. So, it was easy for her. It was still easy for her because I started learning when I was 15. So, Okay.

[00:02:46]>> I was way worse than her. But yeah, I think it's a brilliant way to get your children a com- you know, very used to this kind of physical activity. Okay.

[00:03:01]I think they have inherited this from his from their father. He's he's a sport person. He's a sport person and he's well versed in all kinds of kind of sports like uh he's good at basketball, football, cricket, tennis, and everything. I'm just opposite. Uh I am not interested in anything. So, the they may have inherited this uh interest from their dad.

[00:03:28]Absolutely. But um that definitely might be the case, Mahalaxmi, but I'll also tell you that this generation is understanding more about sports than it just being a physical exercise or a physical way of winning a game.

[00:03:46]You know, for example, this generation has seen the growth of uh someone like Virat Kohli, right? Where he has very openly spoken about how many things he had to give up or the kind of limits he had to cross to achieve what he has achieved so far.

[00:04:05]So, it doesn't just start and stop on the field.

[00:04:09]It is a complete 360° turnover uh in the lifestyle.

[00:04:16]Yes, ma'am. Right?

[00:04:17]>> See, while playing sports, we can get the holistic development of our oneself, ma'am. We we we cannot say that I'm only concentrating on this sport, that sport.

[00:04:29]It is an an amalgamation of all the good qualities. We are we can learn so many things while playing. Like as you said, it's a spirit and the communication, uh the generosity. It means that we we don't see that I have to win always. We give opportunities to others. I came to know all these by watching the basketball. When my daughter is playing basketball, I was it was evident to observe all these. I could uh yes, I could analyze everything from that uh sport from that uh game, ma'am. So, it is an amalgamation of everything and also it is going to help them in their academics as well.

[00:05:12]True.

[00:05:12]>> In their life and everything.

[00:05:15]Very true. And more importantly, the schools today also have started putting a lot of importance and emphasize uh emphasizing this role of sports in a person's overall personality or development. Correct.

[00:05:31]>> Back in the day when I was in school, there was very little, you know, maybe in a week there used to be two game games period, right? And there also [clears throat] there was not a proper approach followed that okay, we are going to uh first see your physical strength and we are going to give you some activities to perform and then we will see what suits you the best or where your interest lies the most. Right? So, nowadays they are more procedural when it comes to picking you for certain sports and all of that. So, I think that's a good part good change in the Indian education system.

[00:06:05]Yes. That being said, ma'am, we are also they are also missing out certain things. They are giving importance to the children who are well versed in that sports. Then what about the remaining kids? Yes.

[00:06:17]>> They might not be interested in sports, but it is their duty to inculcate that habit to those students to those children. They somehow should encourage them also to participate in some of the games. Right, ma'am? It is also happening nowadays. They are just concentrating in the average or above average students or some extraordinary students. They are just leaving below average and the students the the silent students. But it should not uh be there, ma'am. They have to give importance to everyone.

[00:06:52]You know, uh Mahalaxmi, maybe I would have agreed more with you had I not been on the other side of the table here.

[00:07:00]Okay. Because I have been in a school, I have seen how the things work and function there.

[00:07:08]That is why I can tell you what happens on their end also. As a parent, we expect that okay, we are sending the child to this school, they are keeping the child for 7 to 8 hours, and we are paying a big huge amount to them as fees. So, we have to expect them to excel in everything. Okay.

[00:07:27]>> Right? And if not excel, we at least want them to participate in everything.

[00:07:32]So, in that expectation itself, somewhere we lose the focus.

[00:07:37]Okay.

[00:07:38]>> That is we need to personally first understand where do we think our child is good in.

[00:07:44]What activity is the child good in? And then push the child in that direction.

[00:07:48]That is one thing. Second thing is the school schools mostly over promise.

[00:07:55]Correct. Because even though they understand that they have taken that huge amount and they have to justify that amount.

[00:08:03]So, while explaining it to the parent, oh, we have this facility. They make swimming pools, they make basketball courts, they have volleyball courts, they have skating grounds. My daughter's school had it all.

[00:08:13]Okay. Okay. And obviously when we go as a parent, we are like all starry-eyed like wow. Like this has every amenity.

[00:08:22]My daughter is going to get the best.

[00:08:24]Best.

[00:08:24]>> Right? But the problem is that in those 7 hours, there are also 10 subjects.

[00:08:31]There is also art and craft, there is also music, there is also dance, there is also sports.

[00:08:36]Correct, ma'am.

[00:08:37]>> Right? So, those 7 hours actually fall short. Now, you tell me if in 1 week my daughter does 1/2 an hour of practice of dance twice in a week, that is 1 hour in a week, what will she learn? No.

[00:08:52]Nothing, ma'am.

[00:08:54]Yes. See, that time they should actually what, ma'am?

[00:08:59]I said that is the problem. Are you able to hear me? Yes, ma'am. Yes. Okay.

[00:09:03]>> Before Okay. I was not able to hear those two words, so I asked. Okay. No worries.

[00:09:09]Okay.

[00:09:14]There was a power cut. Yes, ma'am. There was a power cut. Now, it has been resumed. The services have been resumed.

[00:09:20]Yes.

[00:09:22]Great. Lovely. I'm glad I'm so glad for you.

[00:09:26]Go ahead. What were you saying? Okay, ma'am.

[00:09:29]See, as you said correctly, ma'am, we cannot expect our children to produce everything. We just need our children to be a doctor, as an engineer, >> [laughter] >> as a policeman overnight. But they are just a small kid. We should understand that. We should not uh make them to participate in everything, ma'am. That is not like this, but on the whole day the school also should give some importance to all the children. That is my point. Uh okay, let it be ma'am, but we don't know the exact thing. The school just needs to get the attention from the parents.

[00:10:04]So, they are actually doing their best to showcase that amenities to the parents and their facilities to the parents. They're also doing great and in the meanwhile we also should give our contribution towards on the children growth. We should not just to simply say that we I have paid the lump sum amount. So, it's their duty to take care of my daughter or the children. No, it's not like that. We also have to give our 100% attention.

[00:10:33]And Because a parent is a parent at the end of the day. The school or the teachers cannot do the duty that you are expected to perform. Perform.

[00:10:44]Right? And you know, let me also put it in a way which will give you a another approach to this picture. I'll tell you what happens.

[00:10:54]So, talking about extracurricular activities in general.

[00:10:58]Okay, so you said that you were not really interested in sports. So, was there any particular extracurricular activity that you had a lot of interest in apart from your studies? Okay, I'm more interested in reading and arts art based work. I'm interested in drawing, painting and all.

[00:11:16]And then so in solving Sudoku in solving cubes and Rangoli part. So, I'm more in I'm more interested I am more into these kind of work, ma'am.

[00:11:29]Creativity.

[00:11:31]work and some logical analytical work.

[00:11:34]And I really love to solve puzzles.

[00:11:37]That kind of work.

[00:11:38]See, when I was doing my college or school, I was reading everything except my academic books.

[00:11:46]So, I was good at reading.

[00:11:48]I I did not study any of my academic books related to academics, but I was just concentrating on some other part.

[00:11:55]When there was a competition, so I I used to participate in everything. So, I was giving my time for for the preparation of these those activities.

[00:12:08]So, I was into reading. Even now I'm into reading and solving puzzles giving some work works for my daughters.

[00:12:16]Some games. So, I'm more interested into this.

[00:12:20]Having said that, I love to watch all the games.

[00:12:24]Starting from cricket to basketball, tennis and everything.

[00:12:29]Okay.

[00:12:30]So, this started now like that watching the game the interest in watching the sport that started now or it was there even in as a child?

[00:12:39]Uh ma'am, cricket we all watch together.

[00:12:42]So, we are interested in watching cricket as a whole family. Even now my everyone is fond of watching cricket match.

[00:12:52]And tennis also I used to watch a lot when Leander Paes, Agassi, Steffi Steffi Graf and Williams Venus Williams right ma'am? Correct. Uh yes. Yeah.

[00:13:06]When they were participating when they were playing, I used to watch a lot not now.

[00:13:14]Uh Okay. Okay. So, I'll I will take one more question and then we'll talk about the feedback. Okay, Malakshmi.

[00:13:23]So, nowadays we see and even back in the day it was a lot, but I think now that intensity has gone up. So, when we see parents who probably did not get a lot of facilities as a child.

[00:13:38]You know, when they were growing up.

[00:13:40]Probably they stayed they lived in a smaller town or a village or the financial condition was not as good as they were as what they are today. So, they couldn't do a lot of things as a child or they did not get the facilities or the kind of exposure and they feel had they gotten it, they would have been so much better.

[00:14:00]Okay? And so with that kind of uh forcefulness if I may say, they try to put all this baggage on their children. That you know what, had I been given this opportunity, I would have done so well. You have got everything. So, you should definitely go ahead and perform better. So, what's your opinion on that? You think that is justified? No, ma'am. That is not at all justified.

[00:14:26]See, even now you can do all your works. What is the use of crying over spilt milk?

[00:14:34]Even now you have the opportunity, time, amount, everything. You can start doing start learning everything even from now.

[00:14:42]So, why are you expecting all these from your children from your next generation?

[00:14:47]You please allow them to do based on their interest based on their nature.

[00:14:53]But Now, in this generation we are not forcing them, ma'am. It was there during our generation, but now we are way more better than our parents generation like. So, we actually we actually encountered everything in our uh stage. So, we are not forcing to our children. We are just allowing them to do based on their wish.

[00:15:22]Right. Right. We started understanding the Absolutely. We are only pushing them when they have got themselves in a competition or in a sport or in any extracurricular activity by their own interest. It's not like we have put all that baggage on them forcefully.

[00:15:42]Correct, ma'am. So, I consider that if you want your children to inculcate reading habit, do it by yourself. No better way to learn something than by doing yourself. Correct. You have to lead by example. By example. Don't just say by words. Action speaks louder than words.

[00:16:01]Absolutely. It's always good to do the actions, ma'am. So, I always like to set myself as an example for my daughter.

[00:16:10]So, I don't say that please read. I just sit in front of them, take a book and start reading. We have to practice what we preach. What we preach.

[00:16:21]Okay, Malakshmi. So, here we are towards the end of the session. We are give talk about a quick feedback. Okay?

[00:16:28]So, see I think this is our fourth session together. Okay? So, I have told this earlier also. So, you have a good way of expressing yourself. There's a lot of clarity in your ideas. The words that you choose or the sentences that you frame, there is a direction in your answer. It's not like you start somewhere and then you reach somewhere else. It's not like that. Your thoughts are very well aligned and you know what exactly is going to be the conclusion of your answer. Right? So, that's a great point where you are you have clarity of thoughts and ideas.

[00:17:01]Okay? Then we come to the technical part, the subject-verb agreement or the prepositions or the tenses, they are mostly a nine out of 10. Okay? There are hardly any places. If I may just add a few instead of saying in present continuous, we will stay in simple present. So, this is happening nowadays. So, this happens.

[00:17:25]Right? Instead of saying it is happening. Right?

[00:17:29]Or a few words, for example, when you said that you know, giving an opportunity equal opportunity to the other person also or having that spirit.

[00:17:38]So, if we use a word like sportsmanship spirit.

[00:17:41]Okay. That means giving equal opportunity accepting win as well as loss with equal spirit. Okay? Having the enthusiasm and coordination as a team.

[00:17:51]So, all of it will come in one word only having the sportsmanship spirit.

[00:17:56]Sportsmanship spirit. Correct.

[00:17:59]Okay, ma'am. Okay? And when you said inculcate to those students, can we change the preposition here?

[00:18:07]To will not be correct.

[00:18:09]Inculcate in.

[00:18:11]In. Okay. You're inculcating something in the students. Okay.

[00:18:17]Okay? Um Other than that, there were words like pressurizing, equality and participation. So, these are the words which while speaking I felt will be better to explain yourself. Okay? Now, about the pronunciation, there are two specific sounds. Okay? One one is words like art and father where I'm still hearing a Yeah. All sounds should be completely removed.

[00:18:44]And when you say now and allow, so after the word is over, there is a sound a little bit of sound that is audible. Okay, ma'am. Okay? So, it sounds like now and allow.

[00:18:57]Okay? So, that all sound is it probably probably comes when you join the lips together. Okay. So, don't do that.

[00:19:05]Okay. Now.

[00:19:07]Now.

[00:19:08]Allow.

[00:19:09]Correct. Allow. Right. Allow.

[00:19:13]And more interested in this not into this.

[00:19:17]More interested in this. In this.

[00:19:19]But other than that, the words that you were quite good. You were able Like I said, you were able to express yourself with a lot of clarity. So, no worries there. This is just a few things which we need to remember the next time we have a session.

[00:19:33]>> Okay. Fine. Okay. All right, Malakshmi.

[00:19:35]So, thank you so much for joining. You have a great enjoyable summer vacation ahead at your mom's place.

[00:19:42]Thank you, ma'am. All right. Bye-bye.

[00:19:44]Bye.