NEWS

If you are not able to read the content of this blog ,send your mail address to seakeyare@gmail.com .This is a blog with more than 1 million views.Heading for 2 million viewership !. .GUIDANCE TO NEW READERS...IF YOU ARE VIEWING THIS ON A MOBILE PHONE ,CLICK THE WEB VERSION AVAILABLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MENU FOR BETTER VIEWING,.....To read notes on a particular topic ,type the word(s) in the seach page window on the LHS OR GO TO THE INDEXED BLOG http://plustwoenglishkasargod.blogspot.in/..THE LINK IS AVAILABLE ON THE RHS.Happy blogging to all.PLS SEND YOUR ARTICLES TO seakeyare@gmail.com...... CKR

Saturday, December 16, 2023

TEACHING PHONEMIC AWARENESS

 LESSON PLANS  FOR PRE PRIMARY Students AND  STUDENTS WITH LD

 (CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT LD MANAGEMENT)


My sincere tributes to 




for refreshing my knowledge  of phonemic awareness and enhancing my skills in handling classes for students with Learning Disability-Radhakrishnan C K


DAY 1 

NOTES :

1.DO NOT TEACH CAPITALS FIRST.TEACH ONLY SMALL LETTERS FIRST.(because it is small letters which are used often in real life situations )

2.Start teaching   the letter / sounds  /s/, /a/, /t/, /i/, /p/, /n/

......for more NOTES AND AUDIO HELP call Splendio Academy in the numbers given below.














Maths and Malayalam materials available  if anyone need pls contact in the numbes given below

                

Monday, November 13, 2023

Tunnel under construction partially collapses in Uttarakhand, 40 workers trapped

 

 

Tunnel under construction partially collapses in Uttarakhand, 40 workers trapped

A portion of an under-construction tunnel between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri National Highway collapsed early on November 12, trapping around 40 workers inside, officials in Uttarkashi district said.

Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force and the police launched a search and rescue operation immediately after being informed of the accident, Superintendent of Police (Uttarkashi) Arpan Yaduvanshi said.

Quoting officials from National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, which is building the tunnel, Yaduvanshi had initially put the number of labourers trapped in the tunnel at 36.

However, the District Emergency Operation Centre later released a list of 40 labourers trapped inside. They were from Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

Oxygen is being pumped into the collapsed section of the tunnel, which is part of the Char Dham all-weather road project, through a water pipe so that the trapped labourers do not have difficulty breathing, Yaduvanshi said.

The rescue operation has been going on for the past 12 hours but without any breakthrough so far. However, those trapped inside have sent out signals that indicate they are safe, an official at the site said.

About 160 rescuers are trying to reach the trapped labourers with the help of drilling equipment and excavators, the District Emergency Operation Centre said. Some more equipment such as a vertical drilling machine are about to reach the site to assist the rescue efforts.

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

IMPROVEMENT PACKAGE FOR AVERAGE LEARNERS 11 ENGLISH

 IMPROVEMENT  PACKAGE FOR AVERAGE LEARNERS (For Ensuring Passmark to 50)


IMPROVEMENT  PACKAGE FOR AVERAGE LEARNERS 11 ENGLISH (For Ensuring Passmark to 50) 

by SINDHU RAJESH

STEP 1.LISTEN TO THE MALAYALAM NARRATION OF THE LESSON.

https://hseenglish4u.blogspot.com/p/plus-one-lesson-videos.html

STEP 2.READ AND LEARN CAPSULE NOTES.

https://hseenglish4u.blogspot.com/p/xi-capsule-notes.html

STEP 3 :READ AND STUDY THE DISCOURSES WELL

https://hseenglish4u.blogspot.com/p/discourses-discussion.html

STEP 4. GO THROUGH SOLVED QUESTION PAPERS AND STUDY REPEATED DISCOURSES.

https://hseenglish4u.blogspot.com/p/xi-solved-question-papers.html

STEP 5 :GO THROUGH PREVIOUS QUESTIONS AND POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

https://hseenglish4u.blogspot.com/p/previous-question-papers.html

REVISE THE NEEDED AREAS.

Thursday, May 25, 2023

DRAWING A CAT IN A COOL MORNING -A REPORT BY DEVOOS

                                                DRAWING  A  CAT

MY CAT

This morning my uncle told me to draw a cat. Then I began thinking and planning about it.Soon I will draw a cat.Then I will be painting the cat when Appu reaches here.Within 15 minutes I will have drawn and painted it.

Now I am doing as planned. Now I am drawing a picture of a cat.Then I am painting it.I am drawing its eyes and nose.Then I have drawn its tail.I have been drawing the cat for 15 minutes.

This is my report.Half an hour ago I was drawing a cat.First I drew its face.Next I drew its eyes and nose.After that I was drawing its tail.I had finished the picture when appu came here.

Look at my cat.How cute it is !  It has a large face and big ears.The cat has small legs.It has a deceiving look,hasn't it ?.Its tail looks like a hanging bridge,so curved and long.Beware of my cat.It will play so many trcks with you !

-Devapriya M, Alakode 


Saturday, November 19, 2022

ഇന്നത്തെ വാർത്താ ക്വിസ് -രക്ഷിതാക്കൾക്ക് മക്കളോട് ചോദിക്കാൻ

കുട്ടികളുടെ ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് വായനയും ധാരണയും ലോകജ്ഞാനവും മെച്ചപ്പെടുത്താൻ സഹകരിക്കാം .



ഇന്നത്തെ വാർത്താ ക്വിസ്  -രക്ഷിതാക്കൾക്ക് മക്കളോട് ചോദിക്കാൻ  

1 .ഇന്നത്തെ വാർത്തകൾ ഇംഗ്ലീഷിൽ താഴെ നൽകിയത്  കുട്ടികളോട് 2 തവണ  ഉറക്കെ വായിക്കാൻപറയുക .അതിൽ ഏതെങ്കിലും ഒരു വായന  ഓഡിയോ റിക്കാർഡ് ചെയ്തു 9447739033 എന്ന നമ്പറിൽ രക്ഷിതാവിന്റെ മൊബൈലിൽ നിന്നു ഇന്നുതന്നെ അയക്കുക . നല്ല വായനയാണെങ്കിൽ ഒരു സമ്മാനം തരാം . തെറ്റായ വായനയാണെങ്കിൽ അത് നന്നാക്കാനുള്ള നിർദ്ദേശങ്ങൾ രക്ഷിതാവിന് അയച്ചു തരും .

2 . .ഇന്നത്തെ വാർത്തകൾ ഇംഗ്ലീഷിൽ നൽകിയത് വായിച്ച ശേഷം താഴെക്കൊടുത്ത വാക്യങ്ങൾ പൂരിപ്പിക്കാൻ കുട്ടിയോട്  ആവശ്യപ്പെടുക . പൂരിപ്പിച്ച ഉത്തരങ്ങൾ മലയാളത്തിൽ  ( വിട്ടു പോയ ഭാഗം മാത്രം മതി) ഒരു പേപ്പറിൽ നമ്പറിട്ടു എഴുതി (ടൈപ്പിങ് പോരാ ) അതിന്റെ ഫോട്ടോ 9447739033 എന്ന നമ്പറിൽ രക്ഷിതാവിന്റെ മൊബൈലിൽ നിന്നു മാത്രം ഇന്ന് തന്നെ  അയക്കുക . എല്ലാം ശരിയാണെങ്കിൽ  നാളെ ( 20 11 2022  )ഒരു സമ്മാനം തരാം . .

( ഏതു പ്രായത്തിലുള്ള സ്‌കൂൾ / കോളേജ് വിദ്യാർത്ഥികൾക്കും പങ്കെടുക്കാം.ഓഡിയൊ അയക്കൽ ,വാർത്താചോദ്യത്തിന്റെ ഉത്തരം അയക്കൽ  ഇവ രണ്ടും ചെയ്തവർക്ക് മാത്രമേ ശരി  ഉത്തരങ്ങളുടെ  അടിസ്ഥാനത്തിൽ സമ്മാനമുള്ളൂ .)

സമ്മാനം - കുട്ടിക്ക് ആവശ്യമുള്ള ഒരു പഠന ഉപകരണം .

ഇന്നത്തെ വാർത്താവാക്യ ചോദ്യങ്ങൾ  19.11.2022 : RESPONSES ACCEPTED TILL 11PM TODAY

1 .നടപടിക്രമങ്ങൾ പാലിച്ചാണ്നിയമനം നടന്നത്  ; ഹൈക്കോടതി വിധിക്ക് എതിരേ ...................................... - കണ്ണൂർ വി സി 

2 .ലോട്ടറിടിക്കറ്റുകളിൽ   ........ ഏർപ്പാടാക്കാൻ ലോട്ടറി ഡിപ്പാർട്ടമെന്റ് ആലോചിക്കുന്നു.

 3 .പഴയ പെൻഷൻ പദ്ധതി ....................................... - പഞ്ചാബ് മന്ത്രിസഭ അംഗീകാരം നൽകി .

4 .വിദേശകാര്യ വകുപ്പിന്റെ ഡ്രൈവർ ......... ....................... അറസ്റ്റിലായി .

5 .ഐ എസ് ആർ ഒ ബഹിരാകാശ കേന്ദ്രത്തിൽ നിന്നും ഇന്ത്യയുടെ ആദ്യ സ്വകാര്യ പ്രൈവറ്റ്റോക്കറ്റു..............................വിക്ഷേപിക്കപ്പെട്ടു .

6 .വിവര സംരക്ഷണ ബില്ലിൻറെ കരട് രൂപം  ...........................................  വീണ്ടും കൊണ്ടുവരുന്നു .

7. ....................... എയർവെയ്‌സ് അതിന്റെ ജീവനക്കാരെ ശമ്പളമില്ലാത്ത അവധിയിൽ പറഞ്ഞു വിടുന്നു .

8 .മസ്കിന്റെ അന്ത്യശാസനത്തെ തുടർന്ന് നൂറുകണക്കിന് ജീവനക്കാർ........................എന്ന  സ്ഥാപനത്തിലെ ജോലി ഉപേക്ഷിക്കുന്നു .

9 .   2022 ഫിഫ ലോകകപ്പിൽ ...........................ഫുട്ബാൾ കിറ്റുകളും എത്തി  .

10 .നോഡ്   സ്ട്രീം  എണ്ണക്കുഴലുകൾക്കരികെ ...................... കണ്ടെത്തിയതായി സ്വീഡൻ


HeadLines 19.11.2022#1188, Saturday  : ( ഇത് ഹയർ സെക്കന്ററി അദ്ധ്യാപകരുടെ ഒരു കൂട്ടായ്മ കഴിഞ്ഞ 3 വർഷമായി ക്ളസ്സ്മുറികളിലും  സ്റ്റുഡന്റ് ഗ്രൂപ്പുകളിലും ഉപയോഗിക്കാനായി ദിവസേന  തയ്യാറാക്കി അയക്കുന്നതാണ് .)

Our student reader  ANJALI's AUDIO AVAILABLE for practice

1. Selection made as per procedure; won't appeal against HC verdict: Kannur VC.

2. Lotteries department may go for QR codes on tickets.

3. Punjab cabinet approves implementation of old pension scheme.

4. External Affairs Ministry driver arrested for ‘leaking’ confidential information.

5. Vikram-S, India’s first private rocket, lifts off from ISRO spaceport.

6. Govt reintroduces draft Data Protection Bill for public comments.

7. Jet Airways sends staff on leave without pay.

8. Hundreds of workers said to have opted to leave Twitter over Musk ultimatum.

9. All 32 football kits at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

10. Traces of explosives found at Nord Stream pipelines, Sweden says

ശരി ഉത്തരങ്ങൾ അറിയാൻ  നാളെ ഇതേ പേജ് വായിച്ചാൽ മതി .

*****************************************************

പ്രിയ വിദ്യാർത്ഥികളെ , രക്ഷകർത്താക്കളെ ,അധ്യാപകരെ 

ഒരു പത്രം മാത്രം വായിച്ചാൽ പോരാ .ഒരു ചാനൽ മാത്രം കണ്ടാൽ പോരാ .വിശദ വാർത്തകൾക്കായി എന്നും പല പത്രങ്ങൾ  വായിച്ചു ,പല ചാനലുകൾ കണ്ടും ചിന്തിച്ചും  സ്വന്തമായ നിഗമനങ്ങളിലെ ത്തുക .-രാധാകൃഷ്ണൻ സി കെ 


ഉത്തരം അയച്ചവരുടെ ലിസ്റ്റ് 

........................................................



Extracted from the following news portals:-

Manorama Matrubhoomi TNIE The Hindu TOI BBC Al-Jazeera The Guardian

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=342906461175183&id=100063674962630

Headlines Vocab by Lalji Daniel

Consolidated and organised by Nishad Abdulkareem

READ BY OUR STUDENT READER :  ANJALI . AUDIO AVAILABLE


മറ്റു ഉള്ളടക്കം 

2 years of news reading  in English by a student 

1000 DAYS OF HEADLINES IN ENGLISH




COMMENTS ON THIS WORK

( IS THIS WORK USEFUL ? PLS COMMENT .ഇത് ചെയ്യാൻ  എനിക്ക് 2 മണിക്കൂർ വേണ്ടിവന്നു . നിങ്ങളുടെ പ്രതികരണങ്ങളാണ് എനിക്കുള്ള  പ്രതിഫലം . അതുകൊണ്ട് പ്രതികരണങ്ങൾ അയക്കുക )

1.CREATVE- NISHAD ABDUL KAREEM, HSST ,......19.11.2022

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

USED TO

 He used to live in Calcutta.He used to be a great speaker.

There used to be a temple here.

I used to live nearby.

My health is not what it used to be.

Also ‘used to’ expresses the contrast between the past and the present. ‘Would’ refers only to habitual past action.”

“Who is a gate crasher, sir?”

“A gate crasher is ‘an uninvited intruder at a party’. He crashes into the party without any invitation. Gate crashers also try to force their way into athletic and similar events without payment. The term ‘gate crasher’ was originally applied to those who tried to get into concerts or sports events by smashing down barriers. To ‘gate crash’ means ‘to engage in gate crashing’.

He gate crashed into the wedding.

He is a professional gate crasher.”

“What is the meaning of ‘He drove home the point effectively’, sir?”

“ ‘To drive home something’ means ‘to cause something to be understood fully’.

He drove home the message that the company wasn’t doing well.

He drove home the point that she was thoroughly inefficient.

He drove home the fact that he was thoroughly unpopular.”

“What is the meaning of ‘advisedly’, sir?”

“ ‘Advisedly’ means ‘intentionally’ or ‘deliberately’. ‘He did it advisedly’ means that he did it deliberately. It does not mean that he did it after taking or seeking advice.”

“How do you pronounce ‘exist’, sir?”

“It is pronounced ‘igzist’. The ‘e’ in the word is pronounced like the I in ‘bit’ and X is pronounced ‘gz’ and the ‘g’ is pronounced like the ‘g’ in ‘give’. So the pronunciation is ‘igzist’. The stress is on the second syllable ‘zist’. Well, let’s call it a day. Goodbye.”

-CREDITS TO  THE HINDU

Saturday, August 6, 2022

Oldest Muslim woman in Malabar to get English education

 Mariyumma Mayanali who blazed a trail passes away

Oldest Muslim woman in Malabar to get English education

Mariyumma Mayanali of Maliyekkal House at Thalassery, perhaps the oldest Muslim woman in the Malabar region to have received an English education, passed away at the age of 98 here on Friday evening.

Born in 1927, she was the daughter of the late Vazhail O.V. Abdullah and Mayunma. Abdulla, who realised the importance of education, secured an admission for Mariyumma at Sacred Hearts Medium Convent in 1930. In her pursuit of education, she is known to have braved criticism and lack of support from several quarters at that time.

Her father, who could not tolerate the harassment from the conservatives, arranged facilities for prayer and food in the school itself for his daughter. This encouraged her to continue her education.

After she completed her fifth form (today’s SSLC), she got married to V.R. Mayanali, who also encouraged her to continue her studies.

Recalling his interaction with Mariyumma, CPI(M) leader P. Jayarajan said: “She was of the view that there should be no discrimination between male and female and she stood for equality and rights of all.”

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condoled the demise. In his message, Mr. Vijayan said the State has lost someone who had left her footprints along with the history of Thalassery. “She was a guide for others. She worked for the upliftment of women and their educational rights,” he said.(CREDITS TO THE HINDU 6/08/2022)

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

2 years of news reading in English by a student

Let me announce with immense pleasure that ANJALI B NAIR completed  2 years of news reading  in English without any break today , the 2nd August 2022. It was on 3.8.2020 she sent me the first audio which was shared to the student fraternity through this blog and through our whats app groups .Anjali of HSS KOTTARAKKARA  has been doing this( reading the news aloud and recoring it, listening to the audio for self verification , and sending it to us ) everyday   as part of her morning routine without  break ,even on her exam days,  though she has been  busy as an industrious student of higher secondary.She has passed her high secondary exams with distinction and is planning to continue her studies doing  B Com . Let us  thank her for the ardent love shown towards our favourite language , English.Congrats for this great effort , Anjali and thank you once again.

 TO LISTEN TO ANJALI RESPONDING  TO THE ACHIEVEMENT 

1000 DAYS OF HEADLINES IN ENGLISH FOR CLASSROOMS

CLICK HERE

HeadLines...02.08.2022#1071, Tuesday

1. Amid Protest Sriram Venkitaraman removed as Alappuzha District Collector.

2. Kerala Rain | Red Alert in 7 districts; flooding, landslips reported in several places.

-Holiday declared for educational institutions in 7 districts today.

-CM expresses concern over heavy rains, says arrangements in place to handle emergency.

3. Four killed, 9 injured in hospital fire in MP’s Jabalpur.

4.NTR’s daughter found dead at her residence .

5. 5G spectrum auction ends with record bids worth over ₹1.5 lakh crore; Jio top bidder.

6. Myanmar military extends emergency rule until 2023.

7. Russia-Ukraine: Kyiv, Moscow hail Odesa grain shipment.

8. Oil tumbles after weak factory data sparks demand concerns.

Headlines Vocab

1. hail (verb)

 /heɪl/   വാഴ്‌ത്തുക     to describe somebody/something as being very good or special.

 "The conference was hailed as a great success."

2. tumble (verb)

 /ˈtʌmbl/   വിലയിടിയുക/   വീഴുക    to fall suddenly and in a dramatic way

 "World records tumbled at the last Olympics."

Extracted from the following news portals

Telegraph India ,BBC, Manorama, Matrubhoomi ,TNIE ,The Hindu, Al-Jazeera, Reuters

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02iyq1qF5cPPA5VtFb71THV9mqVWodFZSRjrba56aSZubHAu2apXphkn2YDpN2bZvvl&id=100063674962630

Headlines Vocab by Lalji Daniel

Consolidated and organised by Nishad Abdulkareem GTHSS Sholayoor

Today's news WITH GVHSS KARTHIKAPURAM 07102020

Saturday, July 30, 2022

1000 DAYS OF HEADLINES IN ENGLISH

 1000 DAYS OF HEADLINES IN ENGLISH FOR CLASSROOMS

CLICK HERE AND WATCH 



ANJALI B NAIR 

 SPEAKING ABOUT THE HEADLINES PROJECT AND THE ROLE THIS BLOG HAS BEEN PLAYING ON IMPROVING BETTER COMMUNICATION

THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO GET "HEADLINES EVERYDAY "ON OUR PHONE , INFORM US ON THE PHONE NUMBER 9447739033 .

HEADLINES TODAY

1.1. Prof M Kunhaman refuses to accept Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for his autobiography 'Ethiru'.

2. No re-investigation in Balabhaskar case, death accidental, says court.

3. SilverLine a burden on Kerala, Indian Railways: Ashwini Vaishnaw.

4. Adhir apologises to President Murmu for his 'rashtrapatni' remark.

5. NEP rooted in 'Bharatiyata' while assimilating global perspective, says Amit Shah.

6. Russia and Ukraine trade blame over prison blast .

7. CWG 2022: Shiva Thapa beats Pakistan's Suleman Baloch 5-0 in round one.

8. France’s Macron talks energy with Saudi Crown Prince MBS in Paris.

9. Ireland targets 25% cut in agriculture emissions but farmers voice anger


Headlines Vocab

1. NEP  -National Education Policy

2.Trade (verb)  /treɪd/ to exchange something that you have for something that somebody else has.                                      "Cabinet colleagues traded insults over the future of the rupee."

3. CWG   -Commonwealth Games


Extracted from the following news portals,Manorama Matrubhoomi TNIE The Hindu Telegraph India BBC Al-Jazeera CNN

https://youtu.be/3CnYMHDyQU8

Headlines Vocab by Lalji Daniel

Consolidated and organised by Nishad Abdulkareem

HeadLines 1000 ദിനങ്ങൾ പിന്നിട്ടപ്പോൾ ലോകത്തിൻറെ വിവിധ കോണുകളിൽ നിന്നും വായനക്കാർ സംസാരിക്കുന്നു CLICK HERE TO READ 


It was Sophia teacher who began reading the news headlines  aloud ,recording and publishing the audio.Soon  Lalji Sir and I also joined in  and both the audios were   published everyday with the script of the headlines in the blog and in our in our whatsapp groups "SPEP" and " Speak English Everyday since March 2020.
 TWO YEARS AGO , On 1.8.2020 we began the campaign "AUDIOFEST AUGUST "(https://ckrenglishclass.blogspot.com/2020/08/audio-august-campaign-to-make-you-read.html) for encouraging the student community to start reading the headlines aloud.THIS was the post we published which compelled many student readers to read the headlines and send the audio to our blog. The first audio we received was from ADARSH AK , GHSS VENGAD published  next day .Then the next day on 3 .8.2020  came the audio from ANJALI B NAIR which was published the same day on the blog and  in our whatsapp groups "SPEP" and " Speak English Everyday  .I am glad to note that our stunet reader , ANJALI ,has been reading  the headlnes since then without break for even a day.I would also like to point out  that many students, parents and teachers have found this project valuable.  Students of even 4th std to 12th std ,and those of the universities ,from various schools and colleges  across Kerala and from some institutions outside the state , and even a few srudents from students outside our country  used to send their audios and videos  based on the news headlines every day. The work done by the teacher JIJI KURIAKOSE and the high school students of GHSS KARTHIKAPURAM based on the headlines is also  highly commendable .These audios and videos were shared through our whatsapp groups and the blog , ckrenglishclass .blogsot.com.Thus the project Headlines continues to be very meaningful and effective programme to improve our English, the way we speak and read English as well as our GK. 

English Teachers can confidently make use of this blessing as I would like to call this carefully prepared resource which is unbiased and meticulously prepared - in the beginning of every class to make the students interested in the language ,to  improve their vocabulary and get them acquianted with the day to day events happening around the world .

Let me congratulate Dr.  Nishad, Lalji Sir and Sophia teacher  along with  ALL THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PROJECT on the tremendous  achievement of 1000 days of publishing the Headlines and I would like to add a suggestion that a few news items on sports achievemnets must be made a compulsory part of the collection every day.

classroom implications .

English Teachers can confidently make use of this package every day in their classrooms - I would like to call this carefully prepared resource which is unbiased and meticulously prepared,  a blessing for every teacher - in the beginning of every class to make the students interested in the language ,to  improve their vocabulary and get them acquianted with the day to day events happening all around the world .
 
1.This can be shown on screen in the class using the high tech facilities and a few students could be encouraged to read a few items .and the new words could be explained.
2.Students may be given these headlines in the student whatsapp groups and asked to read aloud , record and send them to the teacher.The teacher can suggest some topical corrections if required.Audios and videos of student newsreading can be shared with the student community through social media .
3.  A copy of the headlines may be taken in print and posted on the news bullettin board in the class / reading corner in the school varandah.
4.Headlines may be read by a student in the school assembly every day /through the announcemt system/school radio  after the prayer every day.
5.Weekly GK QUIZZES BASED ON THE HEADLINES  may be conducted by the English clubs 
 Thus  this package we get everyday can be used in many ways to learn english and enrich our wisdom.I wish the headlines team all the best and hope that the project goes on without any hiccups anymore.

AUDIOS BASED ON THE HEADLINE S

AUDIO NEWS HARVEST 28092020 

WEEKLY NEWS BY ARUN LAKSHMANAN

videos based on the headlines 


Monday, July 4, 2022

Effective steps FOR BETTER COMMUNICATION IN CLASSROOOMS

 Drama in the classroom-Viney Kirpal

The best teachers use effective drama techniques to recreate the magic of a concept and leave telling to the books : Generations of students remember two professors from Pune for their teaching. Both are gone, but students have commemorated them and their teaching styles.

Hoshang Moogat used to teach Math at Nowrosjee Wadia College in 1964. Though young, he commanded attention and taught his students the subject he was a master of, with passion and enthusiasm. He sang formulae while writing them on the board to enable easy recall. The students sang in a chorus. His explanations were simple. He introduced permutations and combinations using the example of pairs of socks, kerchiefs, and shirts arranged in a drawer.

The other professor was the Head of the English Department at what was then called Poona University. Prof. S. Nagarajan had a formidable reputation as a researcher and teacher. He had a Ph.D. from Harvard. His most memorable classes were his reading of Shakespeare’s King Lear. He read the heartbreaking scene of Cordelia’s death, pouring his heart and soul into it as if it was his story. He would modulate his voice like a Shakespearean actor, whispering and whimpering, as if he were the grief-stricken 88-year-old mad king, carrying the body of his beloved daughter, tottering over the heath, raging wildly against human nature.

Professor Moogat and Professor Nagarajan taught, motivated, engaged and inspired their students to study their subjects. One was a comic genius and the other, a giant among scholars.

Making a difference

Both teachers came to mind during my first workshop on effective teaching for Computer Science professors from across the country. The coordinator, a senior professor at IIT-Bombay, received a complaint that I expected teachers to become actors. I invited him to join the next session, where I asked, “Who said you are not actors as teachers? We are all actors who have to make our students experience a subject, not just teach it. Do you think your students like your class when you wear deadpan faces, playing the part of teachers, meaning someone superior?”

They got my point when I showed them the difference between teaching through class-friendly body language, and without body movement.

“Positive body language in a classroom setting has the ability to motivate, inspire and engage,” says Brittany Williamson in her article, The importance of body language in teaching’. “It can not only give you the confidence you need to teach but can also reassure your students that you actually know what you’re talking about.”

When a teacher uses body language effectively, students feel safe and eager to take part in the lessons. Teachers need to shed the fear that students will not respect them if they are dramatic in the classroom. Actually, they become more effective. Why? Because, they recreate the magic of the concept and leave the telling to the books.

Effective steps

Simple changes in using body language can help teach a subject in a lively manner. Here are a few suggestions:

Make eye contact: Look at the students one by one, with a small smile, and converse with them about the subject and watch them understand it.

Stand upright: Don’t slump or stand against the wall or table. A good posture makes you look confident and alert.

Make gestures: Gesture with your hands periodically, as we do in real-life situations, for, they can lend extra meaning to a word when you use it.

Voice modulation: Use your voice to emphasise certain expressions so that the meaning is communicated. It is surprising how students associate a concept with a well-modulated voice.

Enunciate: Do not mumble, speak too fast or slow. Students might miss some words if you speak fast, or fall asleep if you speak too slowly.


Can dramatic teachers complete their syllabus? Yes, ours did. Any teacher can, if they teach the most important concepts and inspire the students to read the rest on their own. Students love the challenge and respect you for having trusted them. 


[ The writer is a former professor of English, IIT-Bombay. ceogiit@gmail.com]-(FROM THE HINDU)