Vanya Wryter Consulting Services

Tag: Communication

  • Why I Started Learning New Languages as an Adult

    Why I Started Learning New Languages as an Adult

    Learning a new language as an adult might seem overwhelming, but I find it’s been a great pastime. I’ve been working with remote companies that hire people from many backgrounds. Many people speak more than one language. So speaking more than one language becomes a way to connect with people (hey, I speak that language too!), and learn about other cultures.

    I first started picking up more languages because there are so many free language lessons on YouTube. Unlike when you’re taking a class, you can learn at your own pace and learn whichever topic you’re interested in that day. So if I’m tired that day, I just watch a beginner-level video with some basic phrases and vocabulary. It’s the lazy way to feel smarter! And when I’m in the mood to challenge myself, I watch a news broadcast to see if I can pick up the main ideas. And if I’m in the mood for some fun, I watch a movie and try to pick up some slang and idioms.

    That cultural insight is one of my reasons for learning a language. You’re not just memorizing vocabulary—you’re discovering how people think, what they value, and how they see the world. Languages like French classify words as masculine and feminine. Languages like Japanese have different ways of counting things that are flat vs round vs people. Languages like Chinese create compound words, such as electric+brain = computer.

    From a practical point of view, I’ve also noticed jobs that list a second language as either a requirement or a strong asset. I wish I had spent more time learning languages when I was still in school so I could have more job options today! 

    There’s also a brainy side benefit: learning languages is great for memory. Picking up new vocabulary is like a memory exercise, especially when it comes to Asian languages that don’t use alphabets. It’s also fun to watch a movie and see how much of it you can piece together from the actions and the words that you do understand.

    Starting as an adult might mean learning at a slower pace, but I appreciate what I’m learning more. I get to practice what I’m learning by watching movies, talking with people who speak the language, and relating to people that I meet (I’m learning that language too!). Also, there isn’t the pressure of getting letter grades like you do when you’re learning a language at school!

  • What Emojis Do You Use to Express Yourself?

    What Emojis Do You Use to Express Yourself?

    Daily writing prompt
    What are your favorite emojis?
    View all responses

    So much of our communication happens online now—texting, emailing, messaging through apps. It’s convenient and quick and you can look back on the conversation if you can’t remember the details (like where and when you’re supposed to meet). But one of the biggest challenges with written messaging is tone. 

    You can’t always tell if someone is joking, being serious, or just confused. That’s where emojis come in handy for clarification. I love using the 🙂 happy face to share good news, 😢 sad face for not-so-great news, and 😂 the laugh emoji when something is very humorous.

    Especially in group chats where you don’t always know everyone well, emojis can clarify your tone of voice. Not everyone uses “LOL” or “hahaha” to show laughter and clarify that you’re in a good mood. In other cultures, people might write “jajaja,” “wwww,” or “hehehe” instead. Emojis are a universal way to show laughter or emotion without needing to explain ourselves as much.

    Even at work, emojis are making their way into our messages and emails. They help show intention, so there’s less room for misinterpretation. A 🙂 with a message adds a friendly tone. 🤔 shows you’re thinking or unsure. 😕 for disappointment or bad news. It makes digital messages feel more human.

    I like to try new emojis, but it depends on the tech. On some devices, scrolling through all the options takes longer. You can also call up an emoji just by typing the word. For example, type “cat”—and the 🐱 emoji pops up. Super convenient!

    Sometimes I wonder if it’s possible to speak in full emoji sentences. It could be faster to type, though that could get confusing fast. Something like: 😅📅⏰➡️☕💻👀🤯 could mean “Woke up today when the alarm went off, so I got coffee, went to work and saw my messages, and felt overwhelmed.” Or it could mean “So embarrassing I forgot to remind myself to go get more coffee. Got an email. Read the news. So shocked I’m awake now.”

    Some people are more advanced—they’re using memes and GIFs, not just emojis to express themselves. I have enough of a challenge just picking emojis that aren’t just faces. I’ll stick to emojis. They’re simple, fun, and expressive enough. 😊

  • 6 Ways to Get People to Remember You

    6 Ways to Get People to Remember You

    You can make lasting impressions when you are easy to remember and hard to forget. Whether it’s a social situation, a job interview, or a business situation, people will want to speak with you because they like you, and you create a strong initial impression. To help you achieve that goal, here are six ways to get people to remember you.

    1 Say and Spell the Other Person’s Name

    After you meet someone new, say their name during your conversation as soon as possible. Repeat their name at the end, closing with, “It was nice meeting you, (name).” People like to be remembered, and if you make an effort to remember this person, they are more likely to remember you as well. For me, it also helps to mentally spell that person’s name in my mind because it’s a visual attempt to associate their name and face in my memory.

    2 Radiate Positive Energy

    People associate you with what you say. If you complain a lot about the news, the weather, or other people, you may be perceived as negative. If you compliment others and speak positively about people, places, and events, others will associate you with this optimism. Make positive energy your brand, and that is what people will remember about you.

    3 Be a Great Listener

    People appreciate it when you show that you’ve been listening to what they say. If you repeat part of the last point they made or summarize what they’ve been talking about, it shows that you are a good listener. It also gives the impression that you value what the other person has said.

    4 Share a Story

    People remember stories. If you have a name that is difficult to remember, an anecdote about your name makes it easier to recall. Something catchy is as simple as an adjective + name: smart Sam or adventurous Alex. Then they will remember your name and something about your personality.

    5 Give a Gift

    When someone gives you something, you feel obligated to give them something in return. This is the Law of Reciprocity. You see this often when you go shopping. A staff member gives out free food samples, increasing the chances that the shopper will reciprocate by buying an item from the store. Similarly, when you open the door for someone, buy a coworker a coffee, or share useful information (like telling someone about a 2-for-1 deal you heard about), that person will view you more positively.

    6 Be Vulnerable

    One way to get people to remember you is to be vulnerable. When you make mistakes, others see you as more human and relatable. When you meet someone for the first time, share a quick anecdote about an embarrassing moment. For example, share how you ate the spicy green wasabi because you thought it was mint ice cream. People like people they can relate to.

    Key Takeaways

    Sometimes our first interaction with someone is brief. To create a lasting impact, try one of these six techniques to make yourself more memorable. As the saying goes, you have one chance to make a lasting impression.

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  • How Do You Conquer Your Fears?

    How Do You Conquer Your Fears?

    Daily writing prompt
    Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech?
    View all responses

    If you’ve ever searched for the answer to the question “How do you conquer your fears,” you know there is no perfect answer. Everyone has a different level of courage, and a different level of ability to conquer what intimidates them.

    If you’ve read my previous blogs, you know that I conquered a common fear – public speaking. It wasn’t achieved overnight. It took a lot of effort and practice (and I had no choice – speak in front of an audience or don’t have a job).

    I would say the best advice for conquering your fears is to face them head on, but from a safe distance. (So, if you have a fear of heights, I’m not suggesting that you jump down from a high rise.) Start with something small. For example, in an actual experiment, a boy named Peter got over his fear of white rabbits through repeated exposure, first from a distance, and eventually desensitizing him to his fear of the rabbits.

    Another example of facing your fears is my experience performing on stage. I was part of a music group. I forgot my lines and froze in the middle of a song. Not my best moment, and not a perfect performance, but the point is, I got on stage in front of several people I knew at school. If you try something once, and you survive, it is easier to do it again. (And you set the bar a bit lower: first time, get on stage, make a mistake and look silly; next time, get on stage, do a better job.)

    To conquer your fears, don’t be afraid to make mistakes and don’t be afraid to be less than perfect. Also, don’t be afraid of embarrassing yourself (such as forgetting your lines). Every little step counts as progress. 

    Thanks for reading!

  • What If You Couldn’t Lie?

    What If You Couldn’t Lie?

    What if you couldn’t lie? I just read an article asking the question, what would you get rid of from the world? There was a range of answers, from hatred and greed to prejudice. These aren’t pet peeves, but one answer from the question stood out because it could be a pet peeve. It’s lying. 

    Now imagine if lying were eliminated from the world. This would eliminate some false friends: those who pretend to care about you when they don’t. For example, they’ll say they’re excited about going to your party, but they’re waiting for the right time and a last-minute excuse to cancel.

    On a more global level, this would eliminate false claims from politicians who do not intend to keep their campaign promises. It would also put an end to false advertising. No more claims that a product can make you slimmer if you eat it.

    Of course, not being able to lie could cause issues as well. For instance, your spouse cooks a dish that tastes terrible. Your spouse knows the salty, flat cake isn’t delicious. But it’s still edible, so you take a few bites. “Good,” you say to your spouse in encouragement. 

    Not being able to lie can cause bigger issues. For example, if you live in a dangerous situation, not being able to lie can jeopardize your safety. If you have an abusive spouse, you can lie and say that you’re going shopping for groceries when you are in fact, planning your escape by finding a safe place to move to and getting professional help and resources.

    Overall, I think people lying can be a pet peeve. If a close friend lies, it is disrespectful and can destroy your trust in that friend, and make you question your trust in all friends. On the other hand, removing the act of lying from existence isn’t wise either. A child with an abusive parent can lie about going to the library while they go to a friend’s house where they feel safe until it’s time to go home again.

    Should lying disappear from the world? Hard to say. It depends on the reason for telling a lie.

    Daily writing prompt
    Name your top three pet peeves.
    View all responses