KOCHI: Teachers-turned-students attend classes with zeal. They take down notes, air queries and answer the questions posed to them. The common notion that teachers should only teach and have nothing to learn, has been proved wrong.A group of 14 teachers from Grace Upper Primary School, Edavanakkad in Vypin attended spoken English and basic grammar classes under a master trainer for the last two weeks. The teachers’ group, engaged with kindergarten (KG) to Upper Primary classes, consists of graduates as well as non-graduates. Some have BEd, TTC certificates as well. “We feared speaking in English due to the common notion that we will fault. We also thought that others speak English better than us. After the class module, we gained confidence to speak English even if its breaks mid way,” said Jesla A A, a teacher who attended the class.Being located in a remote area, with parents and wards mainly from lower socio-economic background, the teachers do not get ample opportunity to communicate in English with them. ‘We understood the relevance of ‘practice makes perfect.’ Now, we have started talking in English among ourselves, even if there is a hitch,” said Remya Himesh, a Hindi teacher. “We cannot afford to go to a premiere spoken English institute in the city as we neither get time or have exposure,” she added.“My class module starts with teaching tenses in English, as it is an integral part to master the subject both in spoken and written forms,” says Sali Thomas, the trainer. He has been in news as he used to conduct Spoken English classes over mobile phones to those staying in various parts of the country. He has taught in several spoken English classes at Kochi. He runs a spoken English institute named ‘Clutch’ at Vypin.The 25-40 hour class spans for 4 to 8 weeks, depending upon the availability of teachers to attend. Since the teachers cannot spare time while teaching students, they appear for class mainly during noon intervals and after the school hours at 4pm. “In a remote hamlet like Edavanakkad, teachers as well as students are shy of speaking in English. Now teachers themselves have started speaking in English and are persuading the students to follow. We practise English in our homes also,” said Shilda Biju, a teacher.“Although the classes were conducted for the teachers, it will in turn benefit our students as well. What we learnt in the classes can be passed on to our students. We now persuade them to air their queries and speak in English,” said Sreekala M L, another teacher. It has became evident that it is not the qualification that dictates mastering English, both to speak and write, said Sali Thomas. His module consists of teaching by giving stress on tenses. He emphasises not only on the affirmatives, but negatives, interrogatives, modals are taught in detail. Exercises are done in the class itself. “I ask them (teachers) questions and persuade them to reply in English. After the replies, the errors are pointed out and corrected. Then they will be asked again to answer correctly,” Sali said. “Our education revolves around the curriculum. All the examinations are result oriented. No importance is given to daily practical purposes like spoken English. By undergoing short-term classes in English, teachers can train their students effectively,” Sali added.Sali Thomas has also brought out a DVD titled ‘The clutch of English.’ He can be contacted at 9349216321.
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