Association of New Generation Authors trains young communicators

The nationwide training on effective communication baptised 'Becoming a Magic Communicator' which started in Yaoundé, Buea, Dschang, ended on the 30th and 31st of August 2025 at the University Campus of Bamenda. 

The training aimed at enlightening young individuals, particularly university students, on the importance of effective writing, public speaking and good practices for nation building was an excellent training that offered knowledge on the necessary skill of communication, which cuts across every field of life. 

In this article, I share my experience and some takeaway messages from this impactful training. The training began with an interesting opening which highlights a clear difference between two main words that are usually juxtaposed because of the thinking that they mean the same thing. 

The trainer, who doubles as the secretary general of the association, adumbrated the discrepancy between the two terms by making us understand that talking is an expression of words in a haphazard manner, and it's always done in informal settings like the street, neighbourhood, "Njangi houses", beer parlours, etc. 

He added that talking is done using the pidgin language; as a result, everyone can talk, not only because they have a mouth, but also because the language involved in talking doesn't warrant academic certificates or academic experience before gaining knowledge in the use of the local language. 

On the other hand, saying is a formal way of expressing words in a well-arranged manner, usually forming ideas. It is commonly referred to as speaking, and it's done in formal settings like classrooms, seminars and conferences, board meetings, interviews, etc. 

The languages utilised here are the official languages, that is, English or French. The speaker, Marks Abaiko, emphasised the importance and necessity of being sayers or speakers but not talkers. 

What really got my complete attention was the emphasis he made: “No one gets rewarded for talking.” This really penetrated me because I realised that most youths pass their time talking, but when it comes to saying, they go dumb, and that is why most youths have difficulties in expressing themselves out there in public gatherings when they are caught up in a scenario to address a group of people in formal settings. 

As the session proceeded, I noticed almost all university students find difficulties in an open presentation or public speaking, not because they can’t but because they spend their entire time talking rather than saying. 

I did an introspection and discovered that I personally have spent my whole life talking rather than saying. He advised us to learn how to participate or speak in formal settings in the following ways: (1) Do not leave without asking a question, (2) Do not leave without responding to a question, (3) Do not leave without giving a suggestion or a contribution. 

He recommends that we shouldn't leave a formal setting without making our voice known by using either of these proposals. He insisted that if we do that, we will not only be provoking our mind to release the hidden knowledge in us, but we will also be gaining confidence gradually to speak in public gatherings each time we do so. 

After making such emphasis, he interludes this topic by adding a pertinent quotation which says, “Most people fail in life not because they don’t know, but because they refuse to apply what they know.”

This was an ardent reminder to me about the fact that no one really cares whether or not you know, but everyone acknowledges the outcome of the application of what you know. 

Delving into another topic, we were taught by this voluble speaker the importance of using polite words in our conversations. This, he explains, among others, is what will make us become pleasant personalities in our society and nation. 

The polite words he encouraged us to use consist of 'I desire to know', 'I request', 'I would like to know', 'May I', 'Can I', etc. He added that instead of saying, “I want”, we should rather say, “I wish”. 

He gave the importance of using these words by holding that these words are capable of attracting people's attention towards us because everyone likes someone who is polite. 

As if that wasn't enough, he added the following words, which should be used in our daily conversations: (1) Always say 'please' when requesting something, (2) Always say 'thanks' whenever a service has been rendered to you, whether free or paid, (3) Always ask 'Why?' And 'what' happened? (4) Always say 'I am sorry' when necessary. 

After explaining the key importance of these words, which he terms 'magic words', he recommended us to his book titled The Magic in Communication, which contains a detailed explanation of these words and more. 

He epilogues his presentation by drawing us to performance communication, which is public speaking. He adumbrated and expanded on the foundations of effective public speaking. 

He provided us with a complete rudiment of a public speaking presentation, which entails: ✅ Introduction: in which he talked about sharing a brief real-life story about the topic or a briefly researched story. After the introductory story, you introduce your topic, define key terms and introduce your body.

He interludes by opining that before mounting the stage, your appearance must be attractive and appealing. ✅Body: stating points and supporting them with a realistic story, quotations, or statistics. 

✅Conclusion: He said it contains a brief summary of all you have presented and should end with either a quotation, guiding principle, or a short, impactful story. In addition to the above, he informed us that a good public speaker must be eloquent and confident. 

The training ended with a general agreement by all attendees to adopt polite and respectful communication in all settings and an encouragement from the speaker, Marks Abaiko, to practise questioning, appreciation, and humility. 

We the trainees thank the members of the Association, notably the President and the supporters, noticeably Mr. Mutuela Samuel and Mr Martin Ngwefuni, without forgetting the journalists from both the broadcast and print media who are bringing the activities of the Association into light.

BY KEKOH JOEL IN BAMENDA 

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Cross section Association of New Generation Authors and trainees