Stories from Sirohi- Hush! It's Hindi.

Soon after I walked out of induction after a heavy reading of Hindi paper. I reasoned myself that Hindi on paper is tough but, not when you speak.  I told myself maybe people use colloquial language. Just like the suggestion in the Hindi paper mentioned. Contextual learning.  Learning through colloquial languages and interpreting from those words. It can help. 

 

Soon after Induction, I attended the Basic Numeracy, Literacy Workshop. Before I gather all the curiosity, enthusiasm, I was dismayed by the way the session was held.  Everyone is into the session sharing their ideas, doubts. The problem is not the participation but, the language. It's all Hindi. I gave my full attention and understood a few things contextually just like how Mahender Ji in the session was mentioning. " Through contextual learning, children learn the language." Yes, Indeed I'm learning and understanding Hindi through context language.

 

4 hour session got ended I'm dumbfounded to be able to understand a few words and be clueless about a lot of things. I tried asking for the translations who sat beside me. Once, twice, they bore me.  At a point, I couldn't disturb them beyond a point.

 

Maksad. Never heard in the lifetime and I was told, it means Objective. Objective of learning a language.

I knew my objective of being there and tried hard to understand a few things.

 

Comes the next day, where Maksad has been stated right at the beginning of the session and it was all about Maukik. Another new word which I heard for the first time. After inquiry, I got to know, it's oral learning.

 

And I'm there learning the language orally. The basic literacy session was more than the Maukik and also seemed to be a lot of objectives covered.  I learned a few other words and tried discussing with people during breaks on what was being told.

 

The worksheets helped me a bit but, nevertheless, it was Maukik learning that I had good time understanding the language  a bit.

 

I'm here to teach the basics of the English language, while I'm struggling to learn Hindi. It seems a great advantage to be the learner and also the teacher.

 

Learning the language with all the difficulties. I'm acknowledging and reflecting on all the difficulties I'm facing and trying to relate to how kids would go through the same phase.

 

I've backed out many times when I couldn't understand at all. And I can assume when kids would back out.

 

It's interesting to be the learner at first and understand all the issues. It's gonna be interesting to teach the kids trying to acknowledge all the problems that may be faced by children.

 

 and yet, a doubt flashes. I am not a child and children can't be adults. Is it right to compare and assume that I understood the children's problem? Only the time and experiences can answer my questions.