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Why talking to strangers is a skill we can’t afford to lose
In an era dominated by screens, face-to-face conversations are becoming increasingly rare. It’s time to step out of our comfort zones.
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In a world of cell phones and social media, opportunities to talk to strangers face to face are becoming scarce.
PHOTO: UNSPLASH
Julien Cayla
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I gave my Singaporean students a new assignment recently: Come up with ideas for a new bubble tea shop on campus. But there was a catch. They had to walk around campus, talk to strangers, and come back with insights about what people their age think about bubble tea. To my surprise, many students didn’t rush out to do this timed exercise.
Instead, they opened their laptops and started making PowerPoint slides. I had to gently nudge them towards the exit and encourage them to talk to strangers.
