AndreaWilson

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VolunteeringatMaduraiSeedJuly2018

InJuly2018Ivolunteered,forasecondtime,asanEnglishteacherwiththeeducationalcharityMaduraiSeed.IcametoknowtheorganisationthroughJohnPottsandhavebeeninspiredbytheworktheydointheslumareaofKarumbalai,inTamilNadu,India. I thoroughly enjoyed both my visits, and was extremely well looked after. The following is a brief summary of myexperiencesandashortdiaryofmydailyroutine.Ihopeitwillbeuseful.

Classesandteaching:

Theschoolisrunbythefounder,Karthik,hiswifeElaaandformervolunteerArunandoffersclassesandactivitiesprettymuchsevendaysperweek.Allclassesareheldintheevenings,soIwasoftenfreeinthemorningstovisitsightsandexplorethecityand surroundings, sometimes accompanied byMadurai Seed volunteers for conversation practice. Afternoons were usuallyspentavoidingtheheatandplanninglessons,andintheevenings,Iwenttoschool.

KarthikandElaaarekeenforthestudentsatMadurai toexperienceadifferentkindof learningtowhattheygenerallyknowfromthestateschoolsystem.Theywantclassestobefunandcreativetokeepthechildrenandyoungpeople,especiallygirls,inschool,offthestreets,andforthechildrenwhoattendtheirclassestohaveaccesstoideasandactivitiesbeyondtheirlimitedenvironment,tobringtheworldtotheirclassroom.Apartfromthestandardschoolsubjects,MaduraiSeedorganisesart,musicanddanceworkshops,filmevenings,holidaycamps,theatreproductions,visitstomonuments,excursions,festivalsandvariousotherprojects.

Thepremisesarerented,oftenaccommodatinguptothreedifferentclasses inonesmallroom.Classroomshaveblackboardsandone larger roomhas awhiteboard (andpossibly a flipchart). The school alsohas a librarywith coursebooks at differentlevels,readersandEFLteachingbooks,laptopandiPadIbelieve.ItookmyiPadwithmebutdidnotuseit,orotherelectronicequipment,foranylessons.

Iwasaskedtofocusonconversationclassesforaspeciallyselectedgroupofaroundfifteenpromisingstudentsfromdifferentlevels.Ifoundthegroupimmensefuntoteach,but“conversation”wasatallordergiventhatthelevelofEnglishisverybasic–I`dsayA1.Thestudentshave littleopportunitytospeak in largeschoolclassesandthey lacktheconfidenceand languagetoexpressthemselves.Consequently,Iendedupdoingmostofthetalkingintheclasstobeginwith.

Pronunciationisalsoamajorissue;manystudentshavedifficultyproducingtheaspiratedconsonants/p/and/t/,insteadusing/b/ and /d/. Also /j/ is often inserted before vowels at the beginning of a word, especially /e/ and /ei/ leading tomisunderstandings where I hear yearly instead of early or yet instead of eight. Speakers seem to understand each otherperfectly,buttonon-IndianEnglishspeakersthismakeslisteningchallenging.

Iabandonedthe“just talk” ideaandreadastorywithmyclass.The ideawas toprovide interest throughthestory,workonvocabularyandpracticepronunciation,hopefullybuildingconfidenceandresultinginlisteningandspeaking.Theclassseemedto enjoy reading aloud and working on frequently mispronounced words and sounds. It also offered practice in extendedpassagesoflanguageasopposedtostudents`standardone-,two-ormaximumthree-wordutterances.Ifeelthisworkedquitewell as the learners didn`t have to worry about building grammatically correct sentences themselves, but could simplyexperiencereading,listeningandideallyrespondingtomeaningful,longerpassagesofEnglish.Wefolloweduponreadingwithcomprehension tasks, vocabulary and pronunciation activities and games – hangman was a massive hit as were all playfulactivities!

Iwas told thatpupils in school areused tobeing calledonby the teacher to respondandwere initiallyquitequiet. For thisreason,Ifounditusefultotrytolearnthechildren`snames,althoughIdidn`tmanagetomemoriseall,andofcoursethemorevocallearners’namesweremoreeasilymemorable.Iwouldhavelikedtoworkwithsongs,andIthinkthiswouldworkwell,butIranoutoftime.

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I also leda Sundaymorningworkshopon job interviews for the volunteer teachers. Iwouldestimate volunteers’ productiveEnglishlevelataroundA2(althoughtheyseemtoknowaboutsomequiteexoticgrammarbeyondthislevel),sothiswasagainquite an ambitious undertaking. We especially wanted to practise being interviewed by a panel, rather than one-to-oneinterviews,asthisreflectsreality for job-seekers.Wefirstlydiscussed interviewsituationsandtheirchallengesandheretoo Ifoundvolunteers`confidenceandabilitytouseEnglish,ataverysimplesentencelevel,quitelimited.Movingonfromthis,wegatheredabankofusefullanguageandexpressionsfromprevioussessionsandworkshopsonthesubject.Thisworkedverywellandthenthefinalpartoftheworkshopinvolvedroleplayasinterviewpanelandinterviewees.Theroleplaysweredefinitelythehighlight!

Gettingthereandgettingaround:

OnbothvisitstoMaduraiIhaveflownSwisstoMumbai,spentthenightinahotelneartheairportandflownonthenextday,arrivingearlyafternoon.Ifeelthisisthemostefficientandleastcomplicatedwaytogetthere,especiallyifyouarelimitedfortime,anditwasnotsignificantlymoreexpensive.

InMadurai,ImostlywalkedtotheschoolandasIwasalone,wasusuallychauffeuredhometothehotelatnightonthebackofamotorbikebyoneofthevolunteers.Whenexploringfurtherafieldinthecity,Ioftentookauto-rickshawsandagreedthepricebeforegettingin–fromtheNorthgatetothecentreoftownorthetemplearound80rupeesasfarasIcanremember.FortripsoutofthecityIusedtaxisandwasusuallyaccompaniedbyvolunteers,sotheynegotiatedfees.AcoupleoftimesIusedbuses,notthemostcomfortableofjourneysbutfineovershorterdistancesandquiteanexperience.

Accommodation:

I stayedat theNorthgateHotelboth times I visitedMadurai Seed,but thereareplentyofotheroptions. TheNorthgate is areasonably-priced,mid-rangeIndianhotelwithineasywalkingdistanceoftheschool,onceyou`vemasteredtheartofcrossingthemainroad–(thereisactuallyacrossingfurtheruptheroad).Theroomstothefrontonthemainroadareverynoisysoit`sgoodtoaskforaroomtothebackofthebuilding.Thefoodinthehotelisgood;howeverIdidn`tenjoythewindowless,over-air-conditionedrestaurantandoftenoptedtoeatinmyroom.SometimesIaskedforapicnicbreakfastandwenttotheEcoparknearKarumbalai.ThehotelpackedafeastofdifferentdishesandthereareplentyofgratefultakersofbreakfastleftoversalongtheGandhiMuseumRoad,sothisworkedwell.Ialsofrequentlyatecookedsnacksfromstreetvendorsandkiosks,andthiswasusuallyexcellent.Iliketherestaurantfurtherupfromthehotelonthecorner–agoodplacetodrinktea,Ifound.OnbothtripsIhadnosignificanthealthproblemsbeyondaslightstomachbuglastyear,probablybecauseIinadvertentlydranktapwater.

DIARY

Thursday19.07.2018:

IflewdirectfromZürichtoMumbai,spentthenightinanairporthotelthere,arrivinginMaduraiintheearlyafternoon.Karthik,ElaaandArunpickedmeupattheairportandaccompaniedmetotheNorthgateHotel,myhomeforthenext2weeks.Afterabriefrest,IhadmyfirstmotorbikeridefromthehoteltoKarumablaiandMaduraiSeed.Wediscussedgoalsforthe2weeksofmystay–conversationclasseswithvolunteersandstudents tobuildconfidence,andalsoaweekendworkshoponbasic jobinterviewskills.ThenIdidaquicktouroftheeveningclassestosayhellotoeveryone–suchawarmwelcome!

Friday20.07.2018

VisitedSriMeenakshitempleat5.30amwithAnand,ViggiandElaa–acompletelydifferentatmospheretodaytimeoreveningsthere,calm,quietandrelativelyunpeopled.IwentbacktothehotelforbreakfastandthenwentforawalkinGoripalayam,themarketareabehindthehotel.IntheafternoonIalsovisitedtheAmericanCollegeandwasgivenpermissiontowanderroundthecampuswithaguide.

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IntheeveningIhadmyfirst lessonwithgroupofstudentsfromdifferent levelsthatElaaandKarthikselectedforsomebasicconversation classes – “just talking”. This is difficult, as I remember frommy last visit. Students lack basic vocabulary andstructure,aswellasconfidence,soconversationisalotofmyquestions,mostlyfollowedbyverybrief,orone-wordanswers.

Saturday21.07.18

Got up early and went with a group of volunteers to visit Varichiyur, a cluster of small Jain temples outsideMadurai. Thevolunteersareseriously into filmandphotographyso therewas lotsofposing, selfiesandendlessphotostudiesof feathers,butterflies,blossomsandlandscapes.Butmostlyselfies!Theyclearlyenjoyescapingfromthecity.

ThisafternoonIpaidavisittomyfavouritetailorfromlasttime,closetoMeenakshitemple.Iorderedsomesalwarkameez–lovely block print fabrics and much cooler and more comfortable than western clothes in this climate. I can collect themtomorrow.

ThiseveningIwatchedaconversationclasswithArunandElaa.

Sunday22.07.18

TodaywereturnedtoVarichiyuraround5.30thismorningtofilmatheatreproductionthattheschoolwroteanddevelopedatone of their summer camps. I saw many familiar volunteer faces. Everyone chipped in to prepare the actors for theperformance,fromcostumesandmake-uptodirection,filmingandevenrefreshmentsforthewholecrew.Wehadawonderfulopen-airbreakfastof tea, idli, sambarandcoconutchutneyservedonbanana leaves. Ofcourse, therewasmuchdiscussion,everyone had their ideas to contributewhichmeantmany takes and retakes.Whenworkwas done therewas time for thechildrentoenjoybeingoutofthecityandaflurryofselfies,portraitslotsoflaughterensued.WetookthebusbacktoMadurai.

Thiseveningwasfilmevening–aHindifilmaboutcaste,corruption,goodandevilinaruralvillagesetting.Ofcourse,therewastheobligatoryhandsome,stronghero!

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Monday23.07.18

ThismorningKarthikandIvisitedthegovernmentschoolwhereArunworks.Hisclassconsistedofabout10youngboysin8thstandard,mainlyfromlow-caste,labourerfamilies.Theyhavelittleparentalsupervisionastheirparentsarecompelledtowork,andschoolisverydifficultforthem.Somealsoliveinhostels inMaduraiasit istoofartotravelfromtheirvillagesonadailybasis.

IntheafternoonIwanderedaroundthemarketareaclosetothetemple. I lovethehardwarestorespackedwithcopperandaluminiumkitchenequipmentandornaments. Iboughtapicniccaddywithseveral layersofcontainers– I`vealwayswantedone.Alsoboughtsomesmallgiftsforbackhome.

ThiseveningIworkedwithmymixedclassagain–we`rereading“TheAdventuresofSinbad”.Iincludedsomevocabularyandspeakingactivities,morecontrolledconversationwhere Icanensuretheyhavethe languagetoanswerquestions.Agameofhangmanattheendbecameariot–greatfunandnoinhibitionshere.

Tuesday24.07.18

This morning I went with Karthik to see the Kaleidoscope centre, a small centre for alternative culture on the roof top ofProfessor Prabhakar’s offices. The constructionof a roof and furnishingswere largely funded, I believe, by Keith, oneof theSwissFriendsofMaduraiSeed.ThisspaceofferslotsofpossibilitiesthatMaduraiSeeddon`thaveinthetinyroomstheyrentinKarumbalai.Theyholdworkshopsandotheractivitieshere.

ElaaandKaarthik tried to talkme intoanovernight trip toChennaibut I reallywant to stayandworkwith thechildrenandvolunteers.Iwouldactuallyliketobebusier.

ThiseveningIcontinuedwithmoreofSinbad,vocabularyandpronunciationactivities–typicalproblemsarethe“y”studentsinsertbeforealotof/e/and/ai/sounds,andalso“p”,“t”,“b”and“d”.Studentsseemtoenjoysomeplayfulpronunciationdrillsandwehadtheobligatoryhangmanriotattheendofthelesson.

Wednesday25.07.18

IgotupearlyandwentforaswimatthePandiyanswimmingpool–smallpool, lotsofmen,youngdaughtersswimmingint-shirtsandleggings,andnoadultwomenswimmers.Stillnicetobeimmersedinwater.ThenImetupwithKarthiktovisittheTirumalaiNayakPalace.Ihadbeenhereonmyownbefore,butthistimeKarthikwasmyguide,tellingmesomeofthestories

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behindthefiguresandsculpturesondisplay.PartsofitareabitneglectedbutitisnonethelessastunningpalaceandremindsmeofthearcadesofTurin(IbelievethereisanItalianarchitectconnectionsomewhere)-andit`salsocoolerthanmanyotherplacesatthistimeofday.Apparently,therearesometimesculturaleventsandconcertshereintheeveningandthatmustbeanexperience,tobeenjoyedwithplentyofinsectrepellentI`mtold!

Then home byway of a coconutmilk stall and I also sampled the famous jagarthanda, a very sweet ice cream drink and aspecialityofMadurai.

My lesson continuedwith Sinbad this evening and therewasmore very active participation in pronunciation drill activities.We`remaybegettingabittooloud!

Thursday26.07.18

Upat5.00 tovisit somemore JaincavesatKeelaKujilKudioutsideMaduraiwithElaa,Arun,Vindya,ViggiandAnand.Somebeautifulcarvingsandsculpturesabouthalfwayuptherock.OnthewaybackwestoppedoffatafishmarketinMadurai–quitechallengingonthenoseandIwasfeelingabitqueasyanyway,sothevisitwasbrief.

Friday27.07.18

Felt better thismorning,metwith Elaa and startedpreparing for the interview skillsworkshop. This eveningwill be the lastlessonwithmyclassastherearevariouseventsoverthenextfewdays.

WeworkedonSinbadandhadafinalhangmanriot.Ithinktheideaofworkingonastorybooktogetherhasbeenworthwhile.Students met the target vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation repeatedly so were able to speak about the story andovercomesomeinhibitions.Andbasically,theyhavebeengreatfunandanabsolutejoytospendtimewith.

Friday28.07.18

Thismorning Ididsomemoreprep for theworkshopandthenwent fora fantastic lunchpreparedbyElaa`smotherat theirhome in Karumbalai.Mid-afternoon Imet Arun, Karthik and Prof. Prabakar andwe drove out past Cessi to the professor`s“garden”,aplotwherehe`dliketobuildasmallculturalcentre.Itwasarelieftoescapethesmogandnoiseofthecityandthisareaisverygreenandlusciouswithlotsofpalmandmangotrees.

Tonight,MaduraiSeedperformed theirplayata theatre festival inahostel forprimary school children fromvillagesoutsideMadurai.Therewasalsoaperformancebyaclownwithamessageaboutlookingaftertheenvironment.Apparently,hehasalsodealtwithmanysocialandenvironmental issuesincludingplasticpollution,amajorproblemhere.MaduraiSeeddancersalsoperformedatraditionaldanceandteaandsnackswereprovidedforall.ThenWassanledafinal,excruciatinglylouddancewithallthechildrenjoiningin–crazy!

MaduraiSeedseemtobeactiveacrossthecity,involvedwithanetworkoflikemindedpeople,invariousprojectsworkingforabetterfutureforchildrenfromunder-privilegedbackgrounds.

Sunday30.07.18

ThismorningweheldtheinterviewskillsworkshopatKaleidoscope.Therewasagoodshowofvolunteers–admirableontheirfreeday!Thingswereabitquiettostartbutthepace liftedastheworkshopprogressed,especiallywhenitcametotheroleplays. My experience here has been that the “just talking” conversation approach favoured by Karthik is not the mostproductive,andthatmorestructuredactivitiesgeneratemoreactualspeaking.ButthatismyveryEuropeanperspective.

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Monday31.07.18

ThismorningElaaandAruntookmetoaVishnutemplecarvedintothebaseofElephantHill,outsideMadurai.Fromtherewejoined the rest of Madurai Seed at a local school for another performance of the play. This school has relatively goodinfrastructureandagoodreputationapparently.

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Aftertheperformance,thechildrenweretreatedtolunchatasmalllocalrestaurant.Then17-yes17–ofuspiledintoanauto-rickshawandtravelledhomewards,dodgingpolice.AtvariousstagesofthejourneyAnand,whowassharingthedriver`sseat,hadtojumpoutandwalktoavoidusbeingstoppedandfined!

ThiseveningIwenttoatalkatKaleidascopegivenbyoneofthepeopleImetatthetheatrefestivalonFriday.Therewerequiteafewpeoplefromcommunity,educationalandsocialorganisations.Elaatranslatedforme.

Tomorrowismylastdayatschool.

Tuesday31.07.18

IspentthemorningwithKarthikvisitingthetempleofGoripalayamandalocalcoffeeshop.Ihavethoroughlyenjoyedmystopsatvariousstallsfortea,coconutmilkandarangeofdelicioussnacks.

Thisafternoon I revisited theGandhimuseum.Within thegrounds,andslightly to the left, I found theMaduraiGovernmentMuseum.InfrontoftheentrancearevariousancientsculpturesofHindudeities,andtoweringoverthem,anenormousGodzilla–bizarre!

Wehad icecreamatschool tonightand Iwasshoweredwith tokens, rings,hairclips,artworks,nailpolishandthank-yous. Ihavefeltincrediblywelcomehereandhadsuchenjoyable,funlessonswithmyclass.Iwon`tmissthesmogandtrafficnoiseofthecitybutalreadymullingoverwhenIcouldcomeback.