Thursday, July 5, 2018

THE BEGINNING (TFN FELLOWSHIP)


Moin Uddin, Teach For Nepal, Sixth Cohort (English Fellow)
Shree Terse Secondary School
Talamarang, Sindhupalchowk

Schools are usually normal but the activities and the encounter that I come close to are unusual. It takes more energy from me. It consumes more time. It drains my courage but then again I have to get up and work for the better days – for my students and myself. The poem, which I wrote below, will explain how often I motivate my kids to keep going to improve their English.

It’s okay

It’s okay that you don’t understand lessons
It’s okay that you make mistakes
It’s okay that you find yourself behind
But it isn’t okay that you stop trying your best.

You’re hero
Hero of mankind
You can do anything
As long as you believe in heart strings
As long as you believe in heart strings

You’re creator
Creator of anything
You can make everything
As long as you can imagine and can go to extreme
As long as you can imagine and can go to extreme

It’s okay if someone laughs at you
It’s okay if someone teases you
It’s okay if someone bring more marks than you
But it isn’t okay that you feel and dive into their thoughts to bring the low side of you.

You’re power
Power of surrounding
You can inspire
As long as you can respire and bring the life in
As long as you can respire and bring the life in

It’s okay if someone laughs at you
It’s okay if someone teases you
It’s okay if you don’t understand lessons
It’s okay that you make regular mistakes
But it isn’t okay that you stop trying your best.
But it isn’t okay that you feel and dive into their thoughts to bring the low side of yourself.

I worked in media for almost a decade. I completed my post graduation in Business Studies and have opportunity to work in any better place. But, then I chose Teach For Nepal, as I felt one teacher can bring changes in students lives. As I have had realized early in life that teacher is someone who can bring track to one’s life and can pave a way to climb up the ladders of opportunities in this chaotic rife. I know every kid is talented. I know every kids has same aura. I know every kids has almost same caliber. But what they don’t have is the same teachers who can motivate them, guide them, provide exposure and most of all believe in them relentlessly. And I want to be that kind of teacher.
My journey, which I chose, is not easy. Motivating and keeping theirs and mine spirit high is challenging. To show hope for these kids that one day you will do your best is not something that can happen in one or two classes’ settings. This has to be done every day with much passion and rigor and here I am doing the same.




I am happy. I am sad. I am anxious. I get frustrated. I am energized. I am tired. I lose hope. I gain hope. I smile. I frown. I sigh. I go high. This is how my Teach For Nepal fellowship is going by.


Usually when I return to my room in late afternoon, I am exhausted. I place my bag, put off clothes and go straight to the bed to take a nap. The weather here at Sindhupalchowk is getting warmer day by day and it depletes energy quickly.  The day sometimes does not work according to my plans. I am worn out to think of all those and want to eat something sweet and spicy. I go into flashback where my mom would come to my room with juice when I would just step into my home and later with delicious cuisines that she has prepared for me. I would eat and relish my cravings. And suddenly someone from outside knock on my door and calls my name, “Moin Sir, open the door?” Then I realize this is not my house and this is not my place, these sounds are not of my mom. I open the door and the little kid Lakpa looks up to my face and asks, “Did you just returned from school?” I look at his face and smile, caresses his hair, take him by arm, kiss on his cheeks and say, “Yes, I just returned from school. And he asks, “Where is Tek sir?” I say that he is in school, playing football.

He then slides down from my arm, turns his back and goes to lawn.  I am hungry and most of the time I go into flashbacks and eat the foods prepared by my mom. However, for how long can I eat into those imaginations as life has breath to take in and out? And stomach most of the times makes sounds. After coming into fellowship, I have hardly eaten snacks. As no-one has time to prepare and I am someone who never in life stepped into the kitchen, back in home, nor in this fellowship and I know I am the one to suffer but then again for me books, writings, study and these days  how to improve English of my students are my ultimate cravings. I settle with dinner – Dal, Bhat, Soyabean and allu ko tarkari prepared by my co-fellow and this has been my staple food. I thank god for everything as I am getting food to stay good.

I remember, the first day of my school was normal, but I was nervous at heart. I had wrote a chant on the chart paper “We are students” that what we had learnt during our 42 days residential training at Hotel Royal Safari, Chitwan. I made every class sing the same chant. It went good and slowly I introduced myself and asked students to do the same. Then I made them play the games and this continued for almost three days. From fourth day, I took my step into introducing units. I first tried to drive my classes in full English but when my students who mostly are Tamang feels difficult even to understand Nepali were unable to understand English properly, I tried to explain the lessons in Nepali. Though my students try to converse in English and write accordingly, however, when I check their copies I get disheartened. I wonder why they are not able to make simple sentences! Their reading is poor and pronunciation is terrible.

My days just go by thinking much, on how to improve my kids in such that can help them to improve their talking, speaking, writing English to make them move above. I keep on wandering into thoughts. I sleep with same contents and wake up with similar sentiments. It has been my daily routine to make lesson plans at around seven in the morning.  My kids are weak. But how can I let their mindset to stick, that English is not an alien subject but of our everyday life, that can make a huge changes, if learnt in an early age. I have been motivating them from day one and here my journey has crossed few months. But again, I motivate them every day, in every moment, in every class, in every context, in every example, I say them the importance of learning and improving English as not in exam but in life – English is something that can help you to succeed. No-matter wherever your life will lead, English in any form will only ease you swing life better if your write and read. I go to their class even in leisure period and in breaks and talk with them and ask again, “How will you improve your English?” And leave them to think to discuss in teams.

They seem motivated in the present time, the sun rises following the present day, the story chimes, and there I am again speaking in loud rhymes, “Don’t you want to pass your exam? If yes, why didn’t you do your homework? Why are you making noise? Am I here just to shout at you? I do not want anyone to talk and muse. One, two, three, eyes on me and in reply class echoes, one, two, eyes on you.”

For a mere second it seems silent, but again as I turn to the board to write something and the whispering increases. I feel like shouting at them, but then I go into flashback of my school days. Though, I was silent, but my friends were same – like the students here in my class seven, eight, nine and ten.   I show my angry face, they seem fearful but my smile glee again, they smile back, and this is how my class travels slowly with unit one, two, three and four. I check homework in between and move with determination that I will do my best for them to learn more by showing them movies, make them play games, make them practice their readings, writings and speaking. That is how I am luring. I even write poems and present into class to motivate them to study hard. Among many poems, here I present two poems, which I wrote recently. The first one is:

It’s possible to achieve

It’s possible to achieve
Any dreams that you have seen
You just need to try your best
It’s gonna be hard
But you’ll figure out the rest

Just keep on dreaming
And keep on working
Sooner or later you’ll be achieving
And living all your dreams with full of creams
Oh oh oh oh with full of creams

The book that you will read
Will help you to succeed
The things that you will write
Will help you to ignite
Literature, science, mathematics and social studies

Keep loving reading and writing
Keep loving words and rhyming
Don’t ignore as you’ll be falling
Far behind which can be devastating.

Just keep on dreaming
And keep on working
Sooner or later you’ll be achieving
And living all your dreams with full of creams
Oh oh oh oh with full of creams

It’s possible to achieve
Any dreams that you have seen
You just need to try your best
It’s gonna be hard
But you’ll figure out the rest.

The next poem:

I’ll learn
It’s a new day
It’s a new beginning
I’ve to get up
And study

I’ve to learn
I’ve to go ahead
I just can’t sit
And lay on bed
As I don’t want to waste my day.

I know it’s not easy
I know it’ll take time
But I’ll learn
And read it everyday
As I don’t want to stop in life anyway.

No matter how difficult it’s
I’ll try my best to read
The success lies in education
It’ll light my imagination

No matter how far behind I might be
I’ll go ahead and practice
As the difficulty of now
Will be the blessings of tomorrow
And it’ll pave a way for me to succeed.

It’s a new day
It’s a new beginning
I’ve to get up
And study

I’ve to learn
I’ve to go ahead
I just can’t sit
And lay on bed
As I don’t want to waste my day.

These days I have made a rule for every student in class seven to come to the front in the class to say their speech in English and made them to write their daily journal. This has helped them to write daily in English and has boosted confidence to speak in English.
I have started my extra classes to move with the basics to improve and make them fall in love with English.

I would like to end my reflection with the poem, which describes my daily routine of my fellowship.

The clock was fourteen

When lights are turned off
The darkness surrounds
I go to bed
And cuddle into the blanket
The tiredness surrounds
And eyes slowly closes
And soon dream welcomes into her amuses.

The scene was serene
The environment was marine
The closeness was clean
The clock was fourteen
The talk was calming
And we enjoyed raining
Seeing from the cuddle warmth of esteem

When clock was 5:00 in the morning
The dream smiled and went in
The hand rose above
Mouth sighed
Fingers caressed eyes
The snuggled bedding agonize
I chuck out and apologize.

The chirping birds fly over the sky
Making me wonder what shall I fry
I clean my face and rub my back
I splash the water and listen to music track.

I come with ideas
And wear my dress
Eat some breakfast
And come out of door
And talk with self.

I go to work
Life in a tick tock
Do my job
Oh oh oh oh
There I see above – seventeen
Arrange my stuffs and move from there in

I come inside
Take off my dress
Wear pajamas
And splash my face
Pour some snacks
And stomach acts
Oh oh oh twenty facts
I make meal
And eat a deal
Lay on the bed
Listen to the music
And dive into the ocean
Come out chill.

When lights are turned off
The darkness surrounds
I go to bed
And cuddle into the blanket
The tiredness surrounds
And eyes slowly closes
And soon dreams welcomes into her amuses.

It's possible to achieve (Poem)

Moin Uddin






















It's possible to achieve
Any dreams that you have seen
You just need to try your best
It's gonna be hard
But you'll figure out the rest.

Just keep on dreaming
And keep on working
Sooner or later you'll be achieving
And living all your dreams with full of creams
Oh oh oh oh with full of creams.

The books that you'll read
Will help you to succeed
The things that you'll write
Will help you to ignite
Literature, Science, Mathematics and Social Studies.

Keep loving reading and writing
Keep loving words and rhyming
Don't ignore as you'll be falling
Far behind which can be devastating.

Just keep on dreaming
And keep on working
Sooner or later you'll be achieving
And living all your dreams with full of creams
Oh oh oh oh with full of creams.

It's possible to achieve
Any dreams that you have seen
You just need to try your best
It's gonna be hard
But you'll figure out the rest.

A version of this poem appears in print on July 1, 2018  of Republica

Forever in la la land (Poem)

Moin Uddin















I just keep wondering
That you are my lovely queen
Where we will just live in
And arrange all those stories
That often we share to bring the life in.

We shall just live in each other's arms
And sing a song that bring the charms
We shall just hold eachother every time
And kiss gently to live a love forever in la la land.

Your eyes is all I look into
The dreams that we see is all I believe into
You know how strong is your love
That gives me the inspiration to bring the best to reach above.

Far above the unknown land
The host welcomes and request us to stand
We are all in joy and surprise
When fairy lady brings the present and in delight we all go high.

The nightingale just waves it feathers
And asks us to board the carriage together
We just follow the orders and sit to be surrounded by the wonderful scene.
That was the only moment when I was living my life with you in the cinema screen.

I just keep wondering
That you are my lovely queen
Where we will just live in
And arrange all those stories
That often we share to bring the life in.

A version of this poem appears in print on June 27, 2018 of Republica

EID GREETINGS (Poem)


Moin Uddin
















Eid Ul Fitr marks the new beginning
After the moon is seen at the end of Ramzaan in the evening.
Eid Ul Fitr marks the end of Ramadan
Bringing merriment in lives with the almighty's blessings with caravan.

It's a  first day of new month of Islamic month Shawwal
As it's a gift from Allah to his people
For fasting the entire month of Ramadan with enthral.

Muslims around the world get pious
By bathing and wearing new clothes Going for morning prayers with joy and bonus.

The children gets gift and eidi in form of money from seniors.
It's celebrated with enjoyment, forgiveness and feasting with nearer and boosters.

People invite and accept invitation to meet each other
Also it's a day when no one is left to be hungry
Which is why fitr charity is given to the deserving with Allah's mercy.

When war strikes it's stopped
Just because it's a festival to be together Leaving every aspects at side bringing brotherhood and sisterhood candour.

It's a must that people celebrate this by praying in the special prayers and by feasting.
Making the most of the Allah's blessings shining with rays greetings, feasting and living enjoying.

Eid Ul Fitr marks the new beginning

A version of this poem appears in print on June 17, 2018  of Republica

Friend in creams (Poem)

Moin Uddin






















You just need to think and move
Education is all that makes you groove
You can dance in words and chords
Oh oh my student
You can do anything
If you think, write and move above.

You just need to laugh out loud
The things which you study makes a cloud
You can built your own school
And read on Neptune and write on moon.

You just need to love your books
English is easy oh my lilliput
You can read, write and sing
Oh oh my soldiers
Your guardians will be proud
Just do your best
Sly on the swing, read and ping.

You just need to focus on your dreams
Listening, speaking and reading is your friend in creams.
Just give a loving call to them and talk
They will come running to you
And bring you toffee with full of love.

A version of this poem appears in print on June 9, 2018  of Republica