15
Developing our abilities: what is an ability?
Textbook pp. 36–37
GoalUnderstand what an ability is and how to develop it.
New words
ability · qobiliyattalent · iste’dodprofession · kasb
Explanation
An ability is a personal quality that helps a person do some task well. For example, a good memory is something many people have, which is a general ability; a musical ear is not found in everyone, which is a special ability. Each profession needs several abilities: a doctor must be attentive, patient and honest. Whether we are girls or boys, and whatever people we come from, each of us has abilities. Talent is like a seed: to grow, it must be “watered” with interest and practice. There is no person without any ability: what matters is trying different things to find what is ours.
Worked examples
“Trying out”. Lola tried drawing, football and chess. In football she could not control the ball, but everyone liked how she thought through every chess move. The coach said: “You have attention and patience.” Lola joined the chess club and began to practise twice a week.
Class activity
“Tree of abilities”: children draw a tree, write their abilities on the branches and on the roots what they will do to develop them.
Practice
1
What is an ability?
A personal quality that helps one do something well
2
Give one example each of a general and a special ability.
General: good memory. Special: musical talent
3
What is needed to develop an ability?
Interest, trying out and regular practice