Recently I started volunteering to teach English to children
of I Std. in Nivedita Vidyapeetha, a charitable school that seeks to educate
the underprivileged. And as is done, I try to minimize Kannada and speak only
in English to them most of the time, of course generously using all other signs
and symbols to make them understand what I am trying to communicate.Over the
last 3 weeks, I would hear a child say on and off “English baralla..english
gothilla”. And I would in turn tell them that my very purpose of being among
them was to teach that and hence they should start saying “I am learning English”.
The child would nod, more out of respect, than out of conviction.
The last few days, they have been learning to write their
names in English, and today, all of them got it. The look of happiness and
sheer glee on their faces I can never forget !
One boy, after class came running to me with a
semi-toothless grin and said “Akka,
nanégé English banthu” (I know English) and that he would write his name in
English at home and show it to everbody.
Fulfilling, and at the same time made me realize knowing how
to express one’s name in a language gives
a true feeling of accomplishment in learning a language!!
