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Basic 4 · Our World and Our People · Myself

Strengths, Weaknesses and Getting Along

In this topic you will identify your strengths and weaknesses and learn how to build good relationships with others.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Identify personal strengths and weaknesses
  • Explain how to improve weaknesses
  • Show skills for good interpersonal relations

What you already know

  • Valuing ourselves and others

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Strand
All about us
Sub-strand
Myself
Indicator
B4.1.2.1.1 – Identify one’s strengths and weaknesses and how to promote interpersonal relations

Introduction

Adwoa is good at mathematics but finds it hard to speak in front of the class. Kojo speaks well but forgets his homework. They help each other.

1. Strengths and Weaknesses

Strength: Something you do well.

Weakness: Something you find difficult or need to improve.

Examples
StrengthsWeaknesses
good at sporteasily angry
kind and helpfulforgets homework
neat writingshy to speak in public

2. Improving Weaknesses

  1. Admit the weakness honestly.
  2. Set a small goal to improve.
  3. Practise and ask for help.
  4. Celebrate progress.

3. Interpersonal Relations

Interpersonal relations: How people get along with each other.

Skills for getting along
SkillExample
listeninglet others finish talking
sharingshare books and food
cooperationwork together in groups
forgivenessaccept apologies
politenesssay please, thank you and sorry
Two pupils helping each other: one with maths, one with reading aloud
Figure 1: Helping each other Draw yourself helping a friend.Illustration: Sirbus

New words

strength
Something you do well.
weakness
Something you need to improve.
interpersonal
Between people.
cooperation
Working together.
goal
Something you aim to achieve.
apology
Saying sorry.

Summary

  • Everyone has strengths and weaknesses.
  • We improve weaknesses by setting goals and practising.
  • Listening, sharing and cooperation build good relationships.
  • Friends can help each other improve.

Class activity: Strength Swap

  1. Write two strengths and one weakness on a card.
  2. Find a partner whose strength matches your weakness.
  3. Plan how to help each other this week.

You need: Hand mirror, Printed photographs of Ghanaian children, Adolescents, Manila paper

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. Something you do well is a…

    • A. Strength
    • B. Weakness
    • C. Mistake
    • D. Problem
    Show answer
    Answer: StrengthThat is a strength.

  2. 2. Which skill helps interpersonal relations?

    • A. Listening
    • B. Shouting
    • C. Ignoring
    • D. Fighting
    Show answer
    Answer: ListeningListening shows respect.

  3. 3. What is the first step in improving a weakness?

    • A. Admit it honestly
    • B. Hide it
    • C. Blame others
    • D. Give up
    Show answer
    Answer: Admit it honestlyYou must know it first.

  4. 4. Everyone has some weaknesses.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueNo one is perfect.

  5. 5. Weaknesses can never be improved.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalsePractice helps improvement.

  6. 6. Working together is ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: cooperationThat is cooperation.

  7. 7. Write one strength and one weakness you have and how you will improve the weakness.

    Show answer
    Answer: Answers will differ.Set a goal to improve.

  8. 8. How can two friends with different strengths help each other?

    Show answer
    Answer: Each teaches the other what they are good at.Strengths complement each other.

Homework

  1. Set a small goal to improve one weakness this week and record your progress.