They told me that if I could get through the CELT course then I could get through anything. I certainly felt that way after successfully completing the course last June 2009, but for all the ups and downs and near failures during the teacher training, nothing could have prepared me for life as an English teacher........in India. 
It helps to have been here before but that isn’t to imply that first-timers to India shouldn’t consider applying for this scholarship. It is not only great teaching experience, but also a great life experience.
Everybody here in SPPD is super-friendly and will go out of their way to help you, not that you need much help with anything. It helps if you like Indian food (I do) and despite the repetition, I have grown very fond of staple breakfast favourites like idlis (rice cakes) or dosai (rice pancakes) with their various accompanying chutneys............yummy..........
Sorry, got carried away there thinking about groundnut chutney (my favourite). I am supposed to be writing about English teaching. Well, where can I start? As a rookie English teacher (this is my first ever teaching job), this has probably been the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Ever. Even harder than the CELT course.........or maybe not. Can’t decide on that one I’m afraid. But I don’t want to put people off ! It has also been one of the best things I’ve ever done and opened my eyes as to how other people live and what they use English for.
The big hurdle here is the fact that the students have to do quite a lot of ‘unlearning’ of the English they have been taught in school. A lot of their teachers have poor communicative English skills themselves which are inevitably passed onto their pupils. My pupils. So it is a difficult process to explain to grown adults that they are in fact saying something incorrectly, something they may have been saying for years in English-speaking India and being perfectly understood. But it is important to stress to them that the English I am imparting to them is different to what may be accepted in India, and not to dismiss what they may have learnt before as being incorrect. SPPD staff need to improve their English communication skills as a large amount of their necessary fundraising is dependent on foreign English speaking countries.
Aside from that small problem of ‘unlearning’, the students are very keen to learn and everyone really enjoys the various games employed to make their lessons more fun. Children’s classes are divided into teams, each competing to win the ‘English Games League’ for which I still have to decide on a prize. These kids are so competitive that if they are losing by too many points they can get very dejected and upset, akin to throwing in the towel. It calls for another skill altogether to slightly manipulate the scores to keep them on a level pegging. This is done by deducting penalty points if teams speak too much Tamil in class (not allowed!) or if they speak out of turn.
I am tempted to mention the confusion which arises from the often ridiculed unique Indian ‘head-wiggle’, but let’s just say that it doesn’t take very long before you can tell a wiggle (meaning yes), from a rotating shake (meaning no).
Spare time is spent keeping fit. You have to do this in order to counter the inevitable weight gain from a diet of so much rice. You can go cycling or running in the surrounding countryside and some of my jaunts have turned into 'Rocky' moments, with streams of kids chasing the only white man they've probably ever seen. There is even the occasional autograph hunter. Really. Okay, there was only ever one autograph hunter, but it's still a first for me...........
Finally, Annalivia have constantly been at hand to help with lesson planning and advice. I couldn't have done it without them. Like I said, this is probably the hardest thing I've ever done and I am dying to start my holidays in 10 days time, but I would recommend this position to all experienced and newly-trained teachers out there who may be looking for a new challenge.
David Purdy, SPPD, Musiri, Tamil Nadu 01/12/2009.
It helps to have been here before but that isn’t to imply that first-timers to India shouldn’t consider applying for this scholarship. It is not only great teaching experience, but also a great life experience.
Everybody here in SPPD is super-friendly and will go out of their way to help you, not that you need much help with anything. It helps if you like Indian food (I do) and despite the repetition, I have grown very fond of staple breakfast favourites like idlis (rice cakes) or dosai (rice pancakes) with their various accompanying chutneys............yummy..........
Sorry, got carried away there thinking about groundnut chutney (my favourite). I am supposed to be writing about English teaching. Well, where can I start? As a rookie English teacher (this is my first ever teaching job), this has probably been the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Ever. Even harder than the CELT course.........or maybe not. Can’t decide on that one I’m afraid. But I don’t want to put people off ! It has also been one of the best things I’ve ever done and opened my eyes as to how other people live and what they use English for.
The big hurdle here is the fact that the students have to do quite a lot of ‘unlearning’ of the English they have been taught in school. A lot of their teachers have poor communicative English skills themselves which are inevitably passed onto their pupils. My pupils. So it is a difficult process to explain to grown adults that they are in fact saying something incorrectly, something they may have been saying for years in English-speaking India and being perfectly understood. But it is important to stress to them that the English I am imparting to them is different to what may be accepted in India, and not to dismiss what they may have learnt before as being incorrect. SPPD staff need to improve their English communication skills as a large amount of their necessary fundraising is dependent on foreign English speaking countries.
Aside from that small problem of ‘unlearning’, the students are very keen to learn and everyone really enjoys the various games employed to make their lessons more fun. Children’s classes are divided into teams, each competing to win the ‘English Games League’ for which I still have to decide on a prize. These kids are so competitive that if they are losing by too many points they can get very dejected and upset, akin to throwing in the towel. It calls for another skill altogether to slightly manipulate the scores to keep them on a level pegging. This is done by deducting penalty points if teams speak too much Tamil in class (not allowed!) or if they speak out of turn.
I am tempted to mention the confusion which arises from the often ridiculed unique Indian ‘head-wiggle’, but let’s just say that it doesn’t take very long before you can tell a wiggle (meaning yes), from a rotating shake (meaning no).
Spare time is spent keeping fit. You have to do this in order to counter the inevitable weight gain from a diet of so much rice. You can go cycling or running in the surrounding countryside and some of my jaunts have turned into 'Rocky' moments, with streams of kids chasing the only white man they've probably ever seen. There is even the occasional autograph hunter. Really. Okay, there was only ever one autograph hunter, but it's still a first for me...........
Finally, Annalivia have constantly been at hand to help with lesson planning and advice. I couldn't have done it without them. Like I said, this is probably the hardest thing I've ever done and I am dying to start my holidays in 10 days time, but I would recommend this position to all experienced and newly-trained teachers out there who may be looking for a new challenge.
David Purdy, SPPD, Musiri, Tamil Nadu 01/12/2009.
If you feel you might be up for the challenge, would like to become a qualified English CELT teacher then please check here for more information.
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4 comments:
Hi David
Well done for (nearly) surviving your first teaching post- and what a challenging one! What you are doing with them is wonderful- and think ho good a bacon butty's going to taste!
Hi David!
Congratulations on your dedication, experience and kindness!
Sounds like, although it's been hard work, it's been worth it. I have found that when you challenge yourself, the rewards are so much better because you know you have really worked hard for it.
Truly an inspiration.Well done!
Elena.
Brilliat stuff,
I feel all inspired after reading your blog. It's so good to hear how, even though such a challenge, you're really appreciating all that you've learnt and experienced. Precious. Thank you for inspiring me.
Christopher
Ah, brilliant stuff Daivd. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. It's amazing to see how you're attitude towards a very challenging experience is so positive, and how you've embraced your time in India as a person and as a teacher. Thank you for inspiring me.
Christopher
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