January 23 • Cultural Insight

National Handwriting Day

The death of the ink. Celebrating the birthday of John Hancock, this day is a debate on cognitive connection. We explore whether our brains are losing a vital link by typing instead of writing and if your signature is the last piece of unique identity you have left.

Speaking Discussion

Is handwriting an essential life skill, or is it as obsolete as riding a horse to work?
What does your handwriting say about your personality? Is it messy, precise, or artistic?
Should schools stop teaching cursive (joined-up writing) to make more time for coding?
How does the speed of a keyboard change the depth of our thoughts?
If you received a hand-written letter today, would you value it more than an email? Why?

Activity 1: The Graphologist

The Task: Write the sentence: the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. Look at your writing. Is it slanted, upright, or mixed? What does this vibe suggest about your mood today?

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Debate

Is efficiency destroying personality?

Key Vocabulary

Obsolete (Adj) No longer produced or used; out of date.
Cognitive (Adj) Relating to cognition (the mental action or process of acquiring knowledge).
Signature (N) A person's name written in a distinctive way as a form of identification or authorisation.
Retention (N) The continued possession, use, or control of something; also, the fact of keeping something in one's memory.
Distinctive (Adj) Characteristic of one person or thing, and so serving to distinguish it from others.

Fluency Catalyst

Native Phrase: When discussing impact, use: "To put pen to paper."

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