Stanfords University, Assignment 3 - Protype and test

1. Assignment 1
Design Thinking Action Lab
Stanford University
Submitted by: Anoop Sethi

2. • A young Computer science engineering
graduate is looking for a opportunity into the
corporate world as a JAVA developer

3. •Communication skills are not up to
mark . Specifically English speaking
•Relocation is eminent as most of the
jobs are in in southern part of India.
For instance Bangalore, Hyderabad
and Chennai and so are the future
opportunities
•Updates resume on a regular basis
•Approach head hunters
•Approach seniors and relatives
who can help him with referrals
•Works on his english speaking
skills by reading newspaper, watch
TV etc
•Competition is becoming tougher
day by day as larger number of
qualified engineers are coming to
market
•Need to work on English speaking
skills
•Relocation may be a challenge
•Customizing resume is a big
challenge
•Preparing for technical
questions
•Practicing coding skills
SAY THINK
FEELDO

4. • Reliable and cost effective methods to
improve a student’s communication skills in
English

5. Assignment 2

6. 1. Read news paper
2. Watch English channel
3. Read ticker while watching news
4. Watch english movies with subtitles
5. Download self learning apps on smart phones
6. Take help from Rapidex english speaking course
7. Write short sentences
8. Participate in theatres
9. Think in english rather than translating
10. Migrate to english speaking country
11. Read articles online
12. Enroll yourself to an online class
13. Join a training institute
14. Invest on Wren and Martin book for improving grammar
15. Give commentary while watching anyone performing an act
16. Download translation app on your Smartphone
17. Download Lyrics of popular english songs (POP genre) and sing along
18. Keep a pet and give all instructions in english
19. Join a call center
20. Write short passage
21. Become story teller to kids
22. Video graph yourself
23. Do news reading
24. Speak without hesitation
25. Create a rule amongst fronts to speak in english
26. Gossip in english
27. Enroll yourself to ANN COOK series
28. Join British / American library
29. Join Toast maters’ club
30. Create an interaction script
31. Watch Peter Russell show
32. Watch Dora / Thomas engine series
33. Reward yourself when you feel growth in confidence
34. Enroll to Tata Interactive channel for quick learning
35. Hire a translator
36. Join an intensive personality development program
37. Teleport yourself to Canada
38. Join Elementary class
39. Copy best of the English orator
40. Imitate Jason Statham
41. Subscribe talkenglish.com
42. Practice pronunciation with the help of Dictionary.com
43. Slow your speed of speech
44. Carry pocket english dictionary wherever you go
45. Listen to Westlife / Robin Williams
46. Buy Barron educational series
47. Buy English guru CD pack and practice
48. Don’t hesitate no one is perfect
49. Practice makes a man perfect
50. Try singing in a pub with Karaoke series
51. Explain movie review in english to your GF/ BF
52. Take online pronunciation test
53. Ask your best buddy to rate you
54. Join domestic call center
55. Participate in group discussion
56. Ask an expert to evaluate you periodically
57. Be motivate; people might laugh at you but hey! You are
improving
58. Get into reading habit
59. Pick any 5 words for the day and try implementing them the
whole day
60. Use simple words

8. • Most practical idea: Give commentary while
watching anyone’s performance
• Most disruptive idea: Migrate to English
speaking country like USA, UK
• Favorite idea: Participate in Theatres

9. • English has been recognized as the mostly used business language becomes a challenging
bottle neck to placement and career growth. Being a non-native language in India, people
over a period of time develop a habit of thinking and then responding in the vernacular.
Leading to active translation and MTI while communicating in the interview or otherwise.
• To counter this, quite a number of people resort to reading newspaper and watching english
programs. It has not only been my observation but experience as well that people most of
the times get engrossed in the news (as in case of newspaper reading) or the entertainment
(as in the case of TV watching)
• Through this idea, we are trying to counter the basic reasons, because of which people
translate and don’t do a genuine thinking and speaking in english
• Merits:
– Student have enough words in their vocabulary to create a language
– They will be their best judge
– Develop self confidence
– Practice thinking and responding in english
– Remove hesitation

10. • It is a disruptive idea, indeed; look at the merits it offers:
– A Compelling environment: Best way to learn a language is to change your
environment. An environment that compels the aspirant to respond in english.
– Transition from Thinking in vernacular and responding in english to Thinking in
english and Responding; will be much faster
– Every second will be a moment of truth followed by introspection for a reality
check (how well am I doing)
– Faster reduction in MTI as aspirants will try to imitate the native speakers

11. • This idea emanates from the concept that the low self confidence in speaking
english is due to lack of practice and self belief. That’s where theatres come
in, participating in theatres is a great way to counter hesitation and building
confidence.
• Initially a person may cram language from the script but with practice may start
creating sentences and speaking; replicating success in regular communication
• While watching the recording an aspirant has an opportunity to do self reflection;
can even take the recording to others’ for a feedback

12. Prototype and Test

13. Translating news for
someone who
understands both native
language and english
Local guide : facilitating
A foreigner (Don’t think
in terms of earning but
the amount of exposure
Group Discussion
Be a part of environment
moment
Start from creating
captions / punch line for
local or college events
and then building
capacity to write at
length
Explain local traditions
to those who do not
understand local
traditions

14. Rejected
Time consuming
Challenging as it
may hamper
studies
Translating news
for someone who
understands both
native language
and english
Local guide :
facilitating
A foreigner (Don’t
think in terms of
earning but the
amount of exposure
Group Discussion
Be a part of
environment
moment
Start from creating
captions / punch line for
local or college events
and then building
capacity to write at
length
Explain local traditions
to those who do not
understand local
traditions
Accepted
Can be done at
home
Need like minded
people Time consuming
Can be explored
Can be explored

15. College theatre
/
competition
Nukkad natak / Street
shows

16. • Both ideas discarded as they will
consume significant amount of
time (away from studies)College theatre
/
competition
Nukkad natak
/ Street shows