Language is certainly a powerful tool, before during and after USMLE. Through it, you can alter the opinions of people, make them accept your ideas, inspire them or make them feel good about themselves. But through it also, you can destroy relationships, stir negative reactions among your listeners thus flunking your chances for medical school or excellent residency training or demolish others' self-esteem. This is because language does not only convey meanings. It also conveys attitudes, beliefs, prejudices, principles and feelings.

A basic principle in developing an effective oral style is KISS which means "Keep It Short and Simple." What are the characteristics of this K.I.S.S. style of speaking?

• Direct communication. This is achieved through the use of personal pronouns such as you, I, we, us. You can also achieve directness through immediate reference to your listeners. It is vital that you make the interviewers feel your subject matter concerns you and them. This is one advantage of oral communication over written communication. You are in the presence of your listeners, thus through a skillful choice of words, you can win their attention and interest, thus increasing your chances of approval for your medical residency application.

• Use simple, short, familiar words. Your main purpose in delivering a speech or answering the panel of enquirer is to bridge the gap between you and your listeners. If you use familiar words and straightforward sentences, your message will be easier to understand. Your listeners cannot go back to a phrase or sentence they do not understand.

• Avoid wordiness. To achieve this, use precise words to express your ideas. You must avoid being repetitious as well as giving too many details.

• Be clear. You can achieve clarity by using concrete and specific words. For instance, instead of saying office equipment, you can say computers and copiers. Or instead of saying reading materials, why not say books and magazines. Do not say thing when you mean problem, people when you mean students and institution when you mean school.

It is said that speech is the index to the personality of a person. Your choice of words will tell your listeners what kind of person you are. It is important therefore that your choice of language be guided by your knowledge that words are only representations of ideas, objects and feelings. Your choice of words depends upon the meanings you attach to them to represent your ideas.