041/366 Signing Snake

Here in the Edspire household we are still working hard on our signing. One of our favourite ways to spend half an hour is to watch videos on You Tube and sign what we see. Some of our favourites are … Continue reading

Maidstone MiniSigners: BSL for Babies

For the last six weeks Esther, William and I have been learning to sign using BSL with Louise Perry in Maidstone. Her company MiniSigners teaches babies and parents to communicate using BSL signs. When Esther and William were younger we … Continue reading

Do you prefer to talk, text message, or a different communication method?

4th January 2010

Do you prefer to talk, text message, or a different communication method?

I used to use texting as my communication of choice but now I mostly use Facebook and email.  I think that this is because it allows me to say more, to more people.

I am not very good at talking.  I never have been.

I hate talking on the telephone even to close family and friends.  I don’t really know why but I avoid telephone conversations as much as I can. 

I find face to face chatting with people I don’t know very hard and people often think that I am rude when really I am actually quite shy of conversation.

I find it hard to say what I mean clearly when talking but find that I can write well with good expression and creativity even humour at times but I cannot say the same of my speech.

I can perform a script well with intonation and character.

I just don’t like to talk.

And yet I am a teacher and when put in front of a classroom of 30 children or even an entire school the words flow freely and coherently and the things I say are well listened to.

When Esther and William were born and had to stay in hospital I sent updates to people by text at first and then by email.  It was only on a very rare occasion that I would talk to someone on the phone and only then if they called me.

In spite of my fear of chat I would say that I am a people person and with my closest friends I do have much to say.

Friendship needs no words

True friendship comes when silence between two people is comfortable