25.08.14: A Circle of Voices: Practicing Resourcefulness (Every Thursday)

Today we learned about resourcefulness—using creativity to reuse simple things. and perhaps how we could apply that....

A. THE SUMMARY

The virtual room flickered to life as small boxes filled the screen, each carrying a young face peeking curiously into the evening session.

“Take a deep breath and be relaxed,” said DAV79, his voice calm yet firm. “Speak loud and clear.”

At the center, JFP was tasked with guiding the flow.

JFP shared a short 30-second story about his school life in Singapore. He said that he lives very close to his school, which makes it easy to get there. Right now, he has many exams to prepare for, and since he is in 6th grade, he needs to pass them to move on to 7th grade. He described it as both exciting and a little scary because he worries about getting low marks. He added that his teacher keeps pushing him, which gives him confidence that he will do okay. He also mentioned that his weakest subject is mathematics, but he is working to improve it, and he feels he is getting better in English, maths, and science.

He smiled nervously. “Hello, everyone. Today we will start with some sharing. Jihan, did you play any games today?”

A shy voice answered, “No… I’m study.”

“What did you learn today?” JFP leaned closer to the screen.

“I learn… with my little sister,” replied Jihan, before, after a pause, adding, “My favorite animal is kitten.”

“Chicken?” JFP chuckled, mishearing. The room burst into laughter. “Oh, kitten! Very nice.”

Next, JFP called on Anguma, who sat up straight. “At our school,” he began, “we prioritize academic excellence, creativity, and character development. The students are encouraged to think critically, solve problems, and work collaboratively.” His words carried the rhythm of practice, but behind them lay pride in his learning.

“That’s very clear,” JFP nodded. “Can you call on someone else?”

The baton passed to Tina, who hesitated before speaking. “I live in the village… my school is very big. Three buildings. My class is near the gate. I like it—it is close to the park.” Her voice grew steadier as she described the classrooms, the TV, and even the camera system her teachers used.

“Thank you, Tina,” JFP smiled. “That was wonderful.”

The circle moved on. “Sovia, could you share your favorite food?”

“Spaghetti,” came the quick reply.

“Why spaghetti?”

There was silence, then a shy laugh. “Because… it’s delicious!”

The group chuckled again, and DAV79 interjected: “Remember, don’t just ask why. Add your own story first. For example: I like spaghetti because my mom cooks it with cheese and tomato. What about you? That way, it becomes a conversation.”

JFP nodded, taking notes in his head. He turned to Kino: “Tell us about your hobby.”

“Riding a bicycle,” Kino said softly.

“Me too,” JFP replied quickly, modeling conversation. “I ride in the park on Saturday evenings. When do you cycle, Kino?”

“Sunday evening,” Kino answered with a smile.

“Do you have another hobby?”

“Drawing.”

“What do you draw?”

“Animals.”

“That’s great,” JFP added warmly. “I used to draw lions—they were the easiest for me.”

Slowly, the atmosphere softened into laughter, exchanges, and nods of encouragement.

Then JFP introduced the day’s theme: resourcefulness. “Does anyone know what it means?”

“Creative,” answered Anguma after a pause.

“Exactly. Resourcefulness means creativity. For example, using a bottle as a plant pot instead of throwing it away. That’s repurpose.”

He guided the others through small passages to practice the word, coaxing hesitant voices into stronger ones. “Every time we reuse or recycle, we show resourcefulness,” he explained.

The screen was filled with faces—some eager, some hesitant—but all slowly learning to share, listen, and grow. As the session closed, Ayaz reminded them: “We are not just practicing English. We are building the mindset of global citizens. Speak with respect, share with warmth, and always look for ways to be resourceful.”

Ayaz closed the session by thanking everyone and offering thoughtful reflections. She reminded the group that resourcefulness is about using creativity, even when resources are limited—like finding ways to make party decorations when none are available. She encouraged everyone to “think out of the box” and bring creativity into everything they do.

To JFP, she gave constructive feedback: avoid repeating the same questions, try asking simpler and more creative ones that are easier for members with limited English to answer, and speak more clearly so everyone can follow along. She also suggested that breakout rooms be extended to at least ten minutes, as the current five minutes felt too short for meaningful discussion.

In that circle of voices, the lesson was more than language. It was about courage, connection, and creativity—seeds of resourcefulness planted in young hearts.

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📩 To All Students
Don’t forget to review today’s recap and leave 1 comment under this newsletter:
What idea do you like the most from today?

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C. HOMEWORK

📩 Homework: Find one item at home you can reuse and write 2–3 simple sentences in English about it. Be ready to share for 30 seconds next session.

Stay curious. See you next Thursday!

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🚀 A Story a Night is NOT a program for teaching or learning English.
💡 It’s a mindset-building experience designed to prepare students for future readiness through stories in English. Through engaging discussions and stories, they develop critical thinking, confidence, and mindsets—all while boosting their communication in English naturally.