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CONVERSATIONS WITH THE TELUGU TEACHER (T.T)
Me: What do you think about the Telugu language? And how much do
children like to hear
Telugu? Do you have any childrens writings in Telugu? Nowadays
lots of dialect stories,
regional language stories are coming, so what do you think about
that? Will you read them forchildren?
T.T: Dialect may be in speaking but not in writing. I feel that
Telangana language is
somehow not spoken in a correct and respectable manner. If
children write that form I
dont like it.
We should follow the standard language.
Me: What is standard language?
T.T: In my opinion children should write in a correct form. Like
I speak and like I learnt. I feelthat is the correct form.
Me: Like how and what?
T.T: See when they speak, I feel it is very mannerless. I feel
that they are not giving respect
to others, and language. Language should be used in a
respectable manner.
Me: But dont you think that it is their home language and they
may like to speak and write in
their own language.
T.T: Yes, that may be true. But I feel speaking in dialect is
ok. But in writing I dont like it andmost of the time I wont allow.
If they write as they like then why I am here? I have to teach
them the correct form and good language which is acceptable to
the majority of people.
They are doing it because nobody is there to correct them. So if
they are coming to school
to learn they should know the nice and good mannered language.
And I should teach them
what I feel is correct.
Me: in what sense? Can you give any example? What is good
mannered language?
T.T: See, they tell for comingvachindu, pooindu, these words I
feel dont have manner,
Instead of these words if they use.vachinaru, poenaaru. If we
want to tell cheruwu kadiki
cheruwu dhagariki. So like this. Somehow I feel this is the
educated language. Vachindu,
poeindu is not an educated language. And I am telling this is my
own opinion. And if I read
those kinds of stories they laugh, they only make fun.
Me: So how will you correct children?
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T.T: I will read out what they wrote. Then I will tell some
words, then I will ask children
which is looking better sense and which is ok for all? When I am
reading loud they will
laugh at their own words and are ready to use what I suggest
putting. I wont force them
but they will take it. Only one child Hari some time argues but
now he is also taking. I
should correct them and make them to write how lots of books
have been written and how many
good writers (ex: Devulaplli Krishna Shasthri.one of famous
writers in Telugu literature). I
also wont read if it is not in good language I mean the kind of
language I like. If we see one
book we should feel to read. So I like Krishna Shasthri or other
old peoples writings they wrote.
Like in those language books I read and like to read. If it is
in some kind of dialect I wont feel to
read. It should be in a good language. I feel my children also
should learn to write like them, and
I have to teach that.
Q. Do you have a habit of reading? Have you ever done writing on
your own?
A. I have never written anything but I read a lot. I only tell
stories to children that are
related to education and children. I do not read nor narrate
stories that have sad things. Ipersonally do not read such stories
as I cannot bear the sorrow.
Q. Do you have creative writing classes in your school? Do you
make them write their own
experiences regarding anything?
A. Not much.
Q. Do you remember anything particular that children shared with
you?
A. No.
Q. What is your opinion about language? Do you know the
differences with a language?
A. Spoken language can be in any form but it should be good in
written form; the sentence must
be complete. It should not be chesa but chesanu (did).
Similarly, not vella but vellanu
(went). There are different. I want to teach them they way they
have learnt. There should be
respect in the language. Telangana dialect is not proper; it
lacks respect. People should use
Meeru (Aap in Hindi) and not Nuvu (tu in Hindi) as it seems
disrespectful. I will teach
children to speak properly. I will teach them to say Nana ocharu
(Daddy aaye) instead of
Nana ochadu (Daddy aaya).
Q. How do the children feel about it?
A. The children take it well. I tell them the difference between
the two and leave it. I am satisfied
if they write a sentence without grammatical mistakes. Sometimes
I let it go if they make
mistakes; they tend to write the way they like, so I do not
force them too much. But I do try to
correct them as far as possible.
Q. What do you think about the childrens own language?
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A. I do not insist on anything. On the other hand, I dont leave
them to their own means. I
share with them all that I know; those who wish to learn it,
learn it. If we leave them to
themselves, outsiders will think that they are learning such
language at school.
Q. How many children are able to read the stories in their
textbooks? Do they relate to these
stories?
A. Most children do not understand what they read. They mostly
read just for the sake of
reading. They generally ask the teacher to read it for them.
They do not relate much with the
stories.
Q. Generally what kind of values you are able to give children?
What kind of values do you
think is important to teach children?
A. I teach them the importance of education, sharing with
others, team work, how to behave with
others. It is wrong to tease others. I tell them the importance
of cleanliness, how to keep objects
in their correct place. I also teach how to talk to others,
behaving well with elders and helping
others.
Q. What are skills, attitudes, interests that you wish to impart
to children?
A. I give them story books and teach them songs. I think it will
be a good idea to discuss
some topic with them. I think writing is not a very easy task
and so do not give much work
related to writing. I believe that it takes a lot of experience
for a person to be able to write
creatively.
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