Process of Identifying One’s Natural Talents – JSS1 Civic Education Lesson Note (First Term)

Talents are natural abilities to do things well. A person is born with them, and each person’s talents are unique. You can identify your talents by noticing what you do naturally, checking your performance in school subjects, asking people close to you and reading books. You can then nurture them by constant practice and reading.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. describe talents;
2. state ways of identifying one’s natural talents;
3. state ways of nurturing one’s talents.

What are talents?

Talents are natural abilities to do things well. They are natural gifts a person is born with and are identified by the owner.

Each person’s talent is unique and enduring. A person’s greatest room for growth is in the areas of his or her greatest strength (natural talents).

How can you identify your natural talents?

The talents of most people are hidden in plain sight. They are so interwoven with everyday life that they can be hard to detect. However, they leave tracks and can be identified and developed.

Think about yourself. You will find that you have many abilities, including things you do easily or without effort.

You can identify your talents in the following ways:

1. Natural abilities: these are things we can do naturally. One should be able to identify things one can do with ease. For example, some people are good at taking care of pets, others have the skill to impart knowledge and others are good money managers.
2. Academic abilities: one’s performance in the various subjects offered in school can be used to judge one’s talent. Some students are good at vocational subjects and others at languages.
3. Asking people: one’s talent can be identified by asking one’s friends, parents, teachers or other people close to us.
4. Reading books: reading gives knowledge, and knowledge removes ignorance and gives one strength. Therefore, read. By doing so you can identify your talents and find ways of developing them.

How can you nurture your talents?

1. Constant practice: practice makes perfect, so practise your talent every day.
2. Reading books relating to your skills: this will introduce you to higher skills in your abilities or talents.

Evaluation

1. What are talents?
2. State four ways of identifying one’s natural talents.
3. Give two examples of natural abilities.
4. How can reading books help you to nurture your talents?

Assignment

1. Describe talents.
2. State ways of developing one’s talent.