Moin Uddin,
Teach For Nepal, Sixth Cohort (English Fellow)
Shree Terse
Secondary School
Talamarang,
Sindhupalchowk
Pre
Placement
We learned
and practiced so many things during the training institute, which held from Feb
04, 2018 to March 16, 2018 at Hotel Royal Safari, Chitwan. The training was
intense and we hardly got any time for us to do personal endearments. From
learning to teach to make lesson plans, in between went to Dang to do
Shraamdaan and to be acquainted with the community on how village scenario
would be like if placed during their placements was worth in many levels. Also,
the sessions were diverse. Learned to manage class and some interesting
energizers to grab the attention of the students was meaningful. The subject
session was important. Our subject mentor Sophia Cameroon did her best to teach
many aspects of teaching English and gave us an insight on how to make it interesting.
We made
presentations on various topics and practiced to build confidence and to use it
later after being placed to the schools. The trainers made us play games to
know about the scenario and hunger banquet was something out of the box that we
could ever imagine to face just in the second day of our institute. One can
imagine how most of us felt –tears rolled down like a waterfall. I was like what
is going on and did not find any meaning to it, but could relate it only after
going for Shramdaan and practice teaching. The eggs that we were given to
protect it during our training were delicate to us. My egg broke in fourth day
of institute, which I thought I had kept safely on my coat’s pocket. I was
afraid. I did not knew what to do, and if asked, what to answer. Later when I
came to know some of my co-fellows eggs were broken too, I was bit relieved. “I
was not only the one,” I said to myself (Ha Ha). Later, I told about the
incident to LDM’s.
Many guest
lecturers of diverse field came to give us an insight on education, which was
helpful. The institute ended with much enthusiasm in me and felt that now I
have so much of knowledge that I can apply when I go to my school. I was
determined.
Post
Placement
When I
first came to my School “Shree Terse Secondary School” at Talamarang,
Sindhupalchowk on April 14, 2018, I had mixed feelings. The environment was
new, the room that I was staying was new, people here were new to me and even
foods and moods. I met the headmaster, Krishna Dhungana and he said that the
school would start from April 22, 2018. I returned to room. In the evening went
with Tek to go around the Talamarang Baazar to meet some teachers and to buy
groceries.
The next
day with Tek, my co-fellow, I went for community visit for admission campaign
with two other teachers of the school. That was the first time that I had gone
to most of the students house, up in the hills. I never felt that this kind of
situations would exist in Sindhupalchowk where students would have to walk for
almost 2 to 3 hours to come to school. Few days ago, I went to Upallo Gaun,
which is uphill from Talamarang and hardly any buses go there, it took me
almost three hours to reach there. There I saw few of my students and I felt sorry
for them and realized that how lucky we were to study in the comfort of our
home, back in Kathmandu, where anything you want can be bought or ask someone
to deliver into your doorsteps.
I was
amazed to know despite Sindhupalchowk being so near to Kathmandu there are no
any newspapers. I was like we were kept in doom as these companies claim that
they are national newspapers and can be available anywhere in Nepal, but just
few hours’ drive from Kathmandu, you can’t get any is such a woe scenario. Just
imagine that if you cannot get any, here, than what would be the scenario of
other parts of rural Nepal.
When I
first went to take my formal classes at my school from class seven (Nepali) to
ten (Nepali), as being an English teacher, I talked with them in English. They
were just looking at my face. I felt like did I talked fast or they didn’t
understood what I was saying, but later came to know that they hardly
understand, so I had to talk with them in Nepali. However, I could see their
passion for study. They would say, “Sir, Nepali ma bujhaununa, English ta garo
lagcha.”
One day
while I was teaching unit two (An Expedition) for class eight and gave them
homework of page 21, question number 3, only one or two did. I asked others why
did not you do it and they said, “Sir, garnai aayena.” I said them that
I had explained them properly the day before and they were quite. And when I
explained them again in Nepali they were answering, I was amazed. Then I said
them to write it on their copy, they looked confused. I explained them again
and said them to write and one student stood and asked looking at me and on the
book, “Sir, tyo bhaneko kun chahi ma lekney ho?” indicating from his
eyes on which question to write answers. Later, I realized that they didn’t
know the words in English in spite of knowing the answers.
My students
are attentive and they are willing to learn with few exceptions. As I am the
class teacher of class seven (Nepali), there too my students are weak. Except two
or three, all of them are active. They would participate in every activity, but
still their English is weak. And if told them to write from Nepali then they
would just jump out of excitement.
Though I
tried to implement in every class to write a daily journal, however, here in
class seven I made them compulsory to write it and whosoever does not write,
have to pay a fine of Rs 5, which one of the students collects. I did not want
them to pay a fine but these kids were not writing, so I discussed with the students
themselves on what to do and they came up with this idea.
I just want
them to improve and cultivate a habit of writing so that every day they can
learn something as this is one of the important skills that they will have to
use it throughout their lives. Reading skills is also poor among my students
and I am trying my best to do everything possible to make them improve.
But, how?
This is the major question as no any newspapers are available here, which is a
major source of knowledge for them to know about national and outer world. I
went to the library and was sad, as there were not any English books for my
kids to study.
I just keep
on thinking every time that how shall and what shall I do to make them improve
and give them exposure. I get panicked. Worry surrounds me thinking there are
so many things to do in so little time. I keep thinking how I can take my every
kid in the same level to move forward. I just question to self and ask my
students how we shall move forward together as only few students are active.
Shall I wait for the weak ones to catch up and leave my active students
stagnant or go with the flow with active student’s level? For how much shall I
wait for my weak kids despite telling them to try as I’ll help them, but the
next day they just do not do any task given and the scene continues every other
day.
I do not
know how I will motivate kids to improve their English as they try to run far away
from it. When asked, “Who else really wants to improve their English?” everyone
raises their hands. My next question would be, “So what have you done to
improve your English?” They would say, “Kei pani gareko chaina.” I get
dumbstruck. Lately, I have tried to get close to them by going in a recess time
to learn Tamang language from them and they are so willing to teach. I am amazed
to see enthusiasm on kids who rarely speaks on class, coming and showing
interest to teach me English. I am figuring out on how to use this tactics to
connect them to improve their English.
I know it
is just a month and 23 months are still there for me to work relentlessly to
bring some changes in my students’ lives and mindsets. I will just keep on
moving with the determination that I had, I have and will have to improve
lives, skills, talents and aspirations of my kids. I know it is not going to be
easy but how can I let my hopes to shatter as hopes is something that keeps us
alive. And I truly believe in our vision that “One day every kids in Nepal will
get an excellent education” and people like us should keep on doing the best
no-matter how shattering the scene might be in present. There are immense
possibilities and opportunities to improve and bring changes and I will do my
best.
