First Day Teaching the Speech and Hearing Impaired

Continued from "First Day with Teach India"...

I was really happy that I made it there on the first day. After a small discussion, me and the principal of the school decided I will teach Spoken English to the 5th standard and 4th Standard students. With various apprehensions I informed the Principal that I would like to observe them for some time for which she agreed readily.

I went to the 5th standard classroom and sat beside one of the student and was watching them and the teacher for some 15 minutes. I decided on some methodologies and on invitation from the teacher took the center stage. I was surprised everyone there in the class were already knowing the English alphabets. The strength of the call is 11 if I am not wrong. They were knowing the words related to alphabets, like A for Apple, B for ball. But not all were knowing that and so I started to teach them by writing it on the black board.

It has been years since I had touched black board. My handwriting both English and Tamil were awkward. I wrote the word Apple in English, then its meaning in Tamil and the pronounciation in Tamil. This they red easily and replied. The the next word gave me the first challenge. B for Ball. I did the same as I did for apple for Ball. When I wrote the pronounciation of Ball in Tamil letters alas it created lot of confusion. The way ball is pronounced it sounded like the word meant for MILK in Tamil. I explained to the extent I can, but I hope not all are convinced. Then I did the same for C for Cat, D for Dog, E for Elephant and Egg and F for Fan, Fish and Frog. I made them to say it in their way repeatedly. I informed them that I will come next Wednesday to teach them more. I decided to buy a Alphabet book with picture and carry it with me next week.

Next I entered the fourth standard classroom for the next one hour. I was informed by the teacher there that they don't know even alphabet and were not explained about English as another language. I watched them for more time. Then I went to the board and asked them to write the alphabets which no one was able to do. I completed the alphabets and pronounced it and the time was over. I wrote my name in Tamil on the board and said bye to hem and came back. I decided I will bring a map to explain then about language system and about different region people will speak different languages. And then I have to speak to them in English - word by word.

This is going to be a different experience for me. I decided if I can make a small change in the system and in the kids then I should be a happy man around.

First Day with Teach India

I always had the burning desire of serving the underprivileged. The social initiative by The Time Group - Teach India appeared nice to me. I showed initial interest in the first version of Teach India in 2008 when I was in Pune, but since I relocated to Chennai didn't continue. So I was confident that I should do it this time in 2009.

Teach India is a program where it links willing volunteers with the needing NGOs who are into Education of underprivileged. It will be a 12 week association where we are expected to spend any of our 2 hours per week for those 12 weeks. TOI(The Times of India) leaves it to us whether to extend this 12 weeks or not.

On registering myself in the website http://teachindia.itimes.com/public_teach-india.php as a volunteer for Teach India, I received an invitation in the email stating that I had to attend a Volunteer Induction Program to be help on 18th July 2009 at 02.00P.M at DG Vaishnav College, Aumbakkam, Chennai. I was telling to myself that I should make it this time.

I was there at the venue on that Saturday afternoon and was happy to be joined by another 20 volunteers or so. A small introduction by the co-ordinator from TOI and then we are left with the participating NGOs in that specific area. I had Guild of Service, Bhumi, Disha and Nethrodaya to choose from. After lot of questioning and discussion I registered with both Bhumi and Guild of Service.

With Guild of Service I thought teaching the Hearing and Speech impaired students would add meaning to my life. With Bhumi my all my favorite of mentoring and teaching the children from economically weaker section was the option and so Ireadily opted for it.

One fine afternoon when I was feeling dizzy because of a heavy lunch, received a call from Mrs. Rani on behalf of Guild of Service. Now it is an invitation for the Volunteer co-ordination meet from Guild of Service at the Deaf and Dumb School at Thirumangalam, Chennai. I was informed that the meet is on 29th July 2009 at 10.00A.M. I started to feel it.

I was 10 minutes late for the meeting on 29th July 2009. Others had already assembled there and the introduction session was already over. No issues, I introduced myself and got long with others. A nice group and in the course of the meet it was the time schedule and who is going to handle which subject were decided. I opted for maths, Computers and English. I was informed that they know only one language - tamil and English is not even taught as second language for them. It seems they have one subject exemption even in their 10th S.S.L.C public exam. This school had classes from L.K.G to 10th standard. It had a total strength of 114 students. They provide free lunch for all the students. The lunch is arranged through sponsorship. I was bit bewildered on how to teach English and how to introduce a new language without confusing what they know now in tamil. I opted to visit them every Wednesday between 02.00 P.M and 04.00P.M. There were two girls who opted for computers and I told I will co-ordinate with them.

Election awareness -The Catalyst Trust Press meet

I had the privilege of attending a press meet today at ITM, Chennai. The meet was organized by “The Catalyst Trust” to explain their activities to create awareness about elections. The speakers included Mr.Krishnamoorthy, Mr.Desigan, Mr.Krishnaswamy, Mr.Venkata Subramanian, Mr.Ragavan. The meet was attended by some from print media, NGOs and students. Some observations made at this meet which are really interesting are given below:

1. In the last Lok Sabha Election in the year 2004 in TamilNadu the percentage of Non-voters is more than the voting percentage of AIADMK and DMK put together.

2. The percentage of educated voters is 40% and this 40% normally stays away from the voting process. (This is really a shame on the educated crowd)

3. The details of 49-O and the purpose of using it when you don’t want to cast your vote to any of the contesting candidates.

4. Steps taken to safeguard the anonymity of the voter who caste 49-O.

5. An interesting observation which referred the Politicians as normal humans and we are suggested to meet the politicians and approach them to know that they are also humans.

6. The security issues during elections and vote for money issues were also discussed.

7. The necessity of media participation in this regard is also referred.

My observation:

1. Why not the educated community coming out to cast its vote?

2. What is the way to abolish the Vote for money mentality of the public and in due course that mentality of the politicians?

3. Why these messages are not reaching the voters and not making an impact even after so many intellectuals and many NGOs through them are involved continuously in campaigns of this sort?

So many unanswered questions…

Iam Senthil Nathan. Wish to have a blog where I can post my ideas. So this blog will have more of ideas and suggestions. Let me see how this works out.