Find out why some young people are taking social skills classes.

Synopsis: Join Natasha Ann Zachariah at The Usual Place as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests.

Some young adults are struggling with everyday conversations and other basic forms of social interaction.Whether it’s making small talk with strangers, holding eye contact, or just answering a phone call (just text me please!), Gen Zs and millennials are declaring that dealing with other people isn’t always their vibe.

They need help to fix their awkwardness.

That’s where the School of Yapping by social impact organisation Friendzone comes in, reported The Straits Times in July. Over four workshops, participants aged 20 to 35 practise how to be “confident, connected, and comfortable” talking to others.

In this episode of The Usual Place, I will chat with Tham Jun Han, the 32-year-old co-founder of Friendzone; Nur Haziqah Mohd Yazib, a 25-year-old case worker who took part in the workshop recently; and Savanna Tai, a 22-year-old university student who has had to change the way she communicates as she wants to become a journalist.

We discuss why social interactions are harder now for young adults than ever before, whether the Covid-19 pandemic made things worse, and what we stand to lose if we don’t find a way to connect again.

Highlights (click/tap above):

4:46 Understanding group dynamics and how to start conversations

15:02 Haziqah and Savanna on their experiences in changing their skill sets and approaches so far

19:41 On personality tests

24:10 Could the Covid-19 pandemic have affected the way a generation communicates?

27:09 What will young people lose if they don’t know how to communicate well or are not socially confident?

Read ST’s article on courses in yapping: https://str.sg/d82q

Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah (natashaz@sph.com.sg)

Read Natasha’s articles: https://str.sg/iSXm

Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://www.instagram.com/theusualplacepodcast

Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN

Filmed by: Studio+65

Edited by: Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh & Natasha Liew

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

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