GLOBAL EDUCATION PRACTICUM

Teaching in India

2016

“The memories of 30 pairs of big brown twinkling eyes, are so much stronger than the

30 hours of cumbersome weekly class preparations. Some days, I recognize the wit of

Harsh in my brother's, Shalu's laugh in my sister's. Though what I do not recognize in

Dutch children, is the inspiring determination of our students in Varanasi.”

Jan-Paul, AUC participant 2015

Teaching is a lifelong process of learning, changing and improving. EFKF project gives the students

(trainees) a unique opportunity to leave a mark on their personal as well as their professional

development. Three-week long EFKF project in Varanasi, India, gives the trainees insight into the

education system in India by being directly integrated and working in the system. The main

challenge is how to successfully teach rhetorical skills to the students who are coming from a

different social background, different circumstances, with existing language barrier with a creative

and innovative approach with the limited funds available.

Participants get to know Indian culture through afternoon workshops, activities and trips around

the country. They gain real experience of the culture and everyday life by living with an Indian host

family. EFKF project is a win-win situation for both the trainees and the students at the Varanasi

host school. Students at the host school are introduced to a new learning style in English, which

broadens their knowledge and learning capabilities. Trainees, on the other hand, learn new

abilities, strengths and even become aware of their weaknesses to take on their next life challenge

through this unforgettable adventure.

Global Education Practicum is a project developed by English for Kids Foundation,

The Netherlands. The programme aims to offer eight students and teachers the opportunity to

gain practical teaching experience in the field of English as a Second Language.

The project will take place in Varanasi, India during the period 2-22 January 2016. The registration

deadline is 15 October 2015.

Participants teach at Little Stars School (LSS) and AshaDiya center in Varanasi. They have the

opportunity to experience both, group and individual teaching. At LSS students and teachers work

in pairs. They teach from Monday to Saturday. They work on their lesson plans and materials

development, and they manage their respective classrooms. Twice a week (Monday and Thursday)

students and teachers give individual English lessons to girls in Disha center. Participants also run

English teacher training from Monday to Friday for teachers at Little Stars School.

Each afternoon, students and teachers participate in compulsory and optional activities and/or

workshops. Compulsory classes include Hindi and Indian culture. Students and teachers choose a

further two optional workshops (Indian cooking, Bollywood dance, traditional Indian dance,

Ayurveda medicine, singing, or instrument instruction). They visit different schools and NGOs in

Varanasi.

Students and teachers work on their teaching portfolios: they are required to complete weekly

evaluation of their work in the school and center; they write and add lesson plans from the previous

week; they complete their teaching progress file; and eventually write a final report about their

experience in the Indian school.

COURSE BRIEF

Aim of the program: Teacher training and alternative teaching experience for participants

in a different environment and learning the culture of said environment.

Dates: Place:

2 – 23 January 2016 Varanasi, India

“What began as an incredible

opportunity turned into an

indescribable experience.

What a wonderful journey! It

is simply unbelievable that I

have learned so much and

met so many amazing people

in the course of just three

weeks. It was amazing to

teach our wonderful class. I

really miss them. I sincerely

hope that I will be able to

return someday and I am

very grateful that I could

experience this.”

Julie, UCR participant 2015

Accommodation:

Accommodation for duration of the course is

available with a host Indian family, including

a breakfast and dinner. Lunch is provided in

Little Stars school.

EFKF Coordinator:

Katarina Kilibarda, EFKF projects coordinator

The coordinator is in charge of the project and is available to participants 24 hours per day. She

collects a group at the airport and provides an introduction with the host family. She runs

theoretical part of education system in India and provides assistance with teaching. She prepares

teachers and students, orientation to the city, and accompanies them during activities, trips and

workshops. She is available for help and advice.

Global Education Practicum Assignments

Once selected by EFKF, participants are required to fulfill preparation tasks:

- attend a teacher training;

- attend a group meeting where the practical information are given (Visa, vaccinations, rules of

behavior in India, packing list, etc.);

- attend an Anglia members meeting on 13th November in Utrecht where the final Global

Education Practicum group is presented;

- sign the contract, Informed consent to participate in the project and Waiver of liability, complete

the Personal and General risk assessment.

HOST SCHOOLS

Little Stars School

Little Stars School was started in 1996

with 10 children by Mrs. Asha Pandey.

Nowadays is a school for more than 850

underprivileged children as well the

home for 30 orphaned or abandoned

girls. LSS provides education to all

children regardless of their financial

situation and thus it can only exist

thanks to the people who support it

with their work and resources. These

children mainly come from slum of

Nagwa and the nearby neighborhoods

of Samneghat and Bhagwanpur. LSS

not only provides education to these children but also gives their other talents an opportunity to

flourish. Interested students can participate in singing, dancing and art classes as well vocational

courses like sewing, hairdressing, computer work and more.

AshaDiya Center

The house welcomes, protects and raises 25 young girls aged

between 6 to 17 coming from difficult areas (train station,

slum) and who were facing danger and abuses. AshaDiya

Foundation provides shelter, schooling, healthcare, support

and various activities to help the girls to blossom and find a

new path to build a different life, an independent life.

STUDENT / TEACHER TRAINING

EFKF Training

Teachers and students attend the EFKF teacher training before going to India. During the training,

they are introduced to their host schools (Little Stars School and AshaDiya Center), and learn about

the Indian school system and its curriculum. Students and teachers then familirise themselves with

the Anglia teaching materials that have been developed for use in the Indian classrooms.

Participants develop joint lesson plans and identify the materials needed for three weeks in India.

Teachers and students will work in pairs all three weeks in one class at Little Stars School and twice

a week give individual English lesson to girls in AshaDiya Center.

Required work for participants

During the project in Varanasi, teachers and students work

on their Teaching portfolios:

- weekly evaluations;

- lesson plans;

- teaching progress file;

- final report.

Group meetings

Team has group meetings from Monday – Saturday at 8.30

in the Little Stars School, where they reflect on previous

day and talk about any issues they might have. Every

Sunday there is a group meeting in local continental

restaurant where participants hand out their weekly

reports, lesson plans, and get the detailed schedule for the

following week.

»On 3 January the India project

team left for India for an

inspiring three weeks' teaching

experience. During those three

weeks we taught different

groups of kids and we focused

on learning English in a fun way

i.e. by means of games, group

work and interaction. It was very

rewarding as the kids'

enthusiasm made us forget the

sometimes hard circumstances.

We also had teacher classes in

which we helped the teachers of

Little Stars School to improve

their English. We had a great

time in India and it is a project I

would recommend anyone

interested to take part in.»

Bernie, teacher participant 2015

ACTIVITIES AND WORKSHOPS

Participants get to know Indian culture through afternoon workshops, activities and trips around

the country. Each afternoon there are compulsory and optional activities and/or workshops.

Compulsory classes are Hindi and Culture. Participants can choose a further two optional

workshops. Students and teachers visit different schools and NGOs in Varanasi. On weekends

there are organised trips to Sarnath, nearby village to get familiar with rural lifestyle, visit Benares

Hindu University and silk factory.

»India was an unforgettable experience. We stayed with a host family so we were able to

experience life from the inside. We had breakfast and dinner with them and talked about life

in India. We learned a lot about the Indian culture, partly through the workshops we got about

the language, the various religions, yoga, music and Ayurveda medicine. We travelled to

Sarnath, the place where Buddha held his first sermon and visited the museum there. You can

imagine this was very interesting. We also went to a traditional Indian wedding in our newly-

bought sarees. Our coordinator did a great job introducing us to people and a totally different

way of life..»

Joleen, teacher participant 2015

Hindi classes

Participants have Hindi classes once per week (1,5 hours) where they learn basic Hindi for street

communication and it helps them in their

teaching lessons at schools. The lessons are

held by Indian professor Binit Kumar Mishra

who has experiences teaching Hindi to groups

of students from various countries and

universities (Harvard, Princeton), individual

students and runs online classes with

Universities in Europe and USA.

Indian Culture classes

Indian culture is very special and different. A group has an opportunity to experience the culture

by teaching and living there, but also to have classes organised by local Indians. Participants get

familiar with Indian caste system, arrange marriages/family life and different religions.

Practising Yoga

Participants have yoga classes three

times per week in evening time with

Indian yoga instructor. The yoga takes

place in the Little Stars School.

Optional workshops

Program provides workshops twice per week. Participants can choose which workshop they want

to participate in. They choose workshops beforehand. They can join more than one workshop and

we can adjust the schedule later on. They can choose from following: music (instruments, singing),

Boollywood or classic dance, Ayurveda medicine, Indian cooking, yoga/meditation.

Guide tour of Varanasi

The second day, participants will have a guided tour in Varanasi by Walking Tours organisation. A

guide will accompany them to introduce them to the city, its history and give them some advice.

»Three weeks in India is a short time. But it is enough to experience and taste some of its

culture. It is such a colourful and vivid country. Indians are very hospitable and friendly people,

the students at the Little Stars School were eager to learn and enjoyed the material we brought

from the Netherlands. It was so rewarding to see so many smiling faces when we sang an

English song with them or they could write a story in their little coloured notebooks. The

students didn't have much, so they appreciate every small gesture or gift. It was also

enthralling to see them advance, if only slightly. I miss those happy faces and I would wish that

more children would get the opportunity to study English. Since it is such a global language, it

would make them able to succumb poverty. It felt good to be able to help these kids by

teaching them English.«

Richard, UCR participant 2015

GLOBAL EDUCATION PRACTICUM 2015

Ann-Cathrin, UCR student

»3 weeks of crazy riksha-rides, 3 weeks of Yoga-night, 3 weeks of spicy food, 3 weeks of

wearing no shoes.

I have had a lot of pain in crossed leg positions to get more flexible and to become a real

warrior. I have felt like an elephant in Bollywood-class and I will have a lot of luck due to all

the monkey and cow shit. I have made so many incredible experiences in those 3 weeks –

not even leaving out a real Indian (butt and oily hair) massage. What I have learned most of

all is that in India there is kindness and support for everyone – no matter whether human or

cow and no matter how poor one might be. & that children’s' smiles are worth a looot of

extra work and nerves. I would not want to have missed out on a single class – even if it was

just for that one pair of sparkling eyes, that one newly learned, correct English sentence or

that one thankful look in their eyes….Oh, and I learned that one can make fantastic fires

with cow shit – just in case you want to give your clothes the »real« Indian smell. Thank you,

Varanasi and everyone that was a part of those incredible 3 weeks!! I will miss everything

(except for the spicy food). :)«

Bernie, English teacher

Michelle, UCR student

»To me teaching in India was a great

experience. The kids were amazing and

even if it was very cold in the classroom

their enthusiasm was breathtaking. They

worked really hard to improve their English

and we very proud to see some results, and

so were we. We played a lot of games and

the kids were clearly not used to this sort of

activities but they got more and more

excited about games every day. It was also

a lot of fun to work with the teachers. They

were eager to learn, very competitive and

enthusiastic. I do hope we have inspired

them to use some of the material we used

in their own classes as well. All in all: three

weeks of my life I will never forget.«

«Varanasi: what a beautiful city. I

cannot believe that I have been here

for three weeks already. It seemed

ike yesterday that I stepped out of

Varanasi Airport in the sun. But on

the other hand, it feels like I have

been here for ages. I saw so many

great things, met so many lovely

people, all these impressions. They

made my stay in Varanasi a great

one, I will never be able to forget it. »

Joleen, English teacher

Julie, UCR student

»Three weeks have almost gone by. What can I

say? It has been a mind blowing experience being

in a country so far away, not only in kilometers

but also in culture. The people I have met are

loving and kind. The pupils and teachers at the

little stars school ) they should call it the big stars

school) are so friendly and optimistic, even when

the circumstances are harsh: it was cold but we

have experienced warmth. The host families

welcomed us into their homes and treated us like

part of the family, we have learned a lot about

the Indian way of life. I would not have missed

this for the world. Tomorrow it will be time to say

goodbye. Please ma`am, do not go! I am glad to

say we were able to make a difference. »

»A wise man once said: »even a

journey of a thousand miles

begins with a si gle step« and so

did this one. And what a journey!

I have done and learned so much

that I can barely believe its been

only 3 weeks. I have met a lot of

wanderful people and I am really

going to miss everyone. This has

been an absolutely wonderful

experience.«

Jan Paul, ACU student

3 weeks gone by, tomorrow away.

A blink of the eye, after that first day.

We start at school, the students hectic, the classroom a mess,

How not to be quiet, ask class 5, they’ll know a way,

But those sparkling eyes make you come back next day,

Today those sparkles turned in tears after a while,

There we stood; swallowing tears, forcing a smile.

Thank you Ann Cathrin, I was paired with the best teacher of

all,

And next to you, I did look extra tall.

Thank you to all 7 warriors, we fought hard and strong,

Except for our stomachs, they didn’t last so long.

Indian food, I love it, not all of us do,

Because of ginger, pepper, or how it made us …

Thank you mr. Parle G, the savior of our bowels.

On behalf of the group, we hope you are enjoying your

second house.

Speaking of second houses, thank you Muna Ji, for letting us

sparkle tonight,

Aur dhanyvad Binit Ji, I hope I’m saying that right.

Manish Ji, Reema Ji, my Indian mom and dad,

Thank you for your kindness, your warmth and my bed.

Ashi Ji, for 900 little stars you’re the leading light beam,

Nothing but respect for you and your team.

Dominique thanks, for making us bend and sweat,

For your sweet smells of peach in our shivassana bed.

The biggest thanks are for our Guru Ji, Katarina, mama cow,

She did it, 8 survived, don’t ask her how.

Our personal Slovenian tourguide in Varanasi,

Flavors, McDonalds, and twice Blue Lassi

Well, a job, a family, clothes, language; only 1 thing short in

my Indian life.

Unfortunately, still no Indian wife.

Thanks all for looking, but that’s one thing I lack.

Ah, you know, I think I’ll have to come back.

Richard, UCR student

Anouk, UCR student

»Three exhausting, exiting and

turbulent weeks are closing,

India, you have shown and taught

me a lot. Teaching at the Little

Stars School has been an

amazing experience, all students

were amazing, I will miss that. I

am also really grateful of my host

family, they helped me through

my illnesses and made me part of

their family for the 3 weeks I

stayed here. Goodbye India, I

hope to see you soon.«

»Unbelievable three weeks have gone by so

quickly, though on the other hand my life in

India feels so familiar, I could have been here

for ages. Probably also because we've

collected so many memories in such a short

time. Never will I forget the sparkly eyes of

the pupils, the sound of dog fights waking me

up at night, the streets full of cow shit fires,

the overwhelming orchestra of honking

horns, the many many layers we slept in to

(unsuccessfully) fight the cold or the dances

at the rooftop. We will always have the many

pictures to look back at and from what I've

heard going to Varanasi is addicting, so who

knows, I might come back one day. Until then

these quotes from my pupils cover my feeling

perfectly: »India is great country. India is the

best country. I love my India.« »I'am very-

very-very mish you« (class 8th, LSS).«

Costs of the programme: €975

(€250 EFKF Scolarship)

Including:

Excluding:

- accommodation - plane ticket

- food - VISA

- pick up / drop off the airport in Varanasi - travel insurance

- transfer in India - personal expenses

- teachers‘ fee for activities and workshops

- trips

- tour

- EFKF teacher training

- EFKF coordinator

- EFKF certificate

Application procedure

- Teachers and students must apply to participate in the program before 16th October 2015.

They should do so by sending an email to projects@efkf.org. EFKF will send them an

application form with further instructions. - If shortlisted, teachers will be interviewed soon thereafter. - Once selected by EFKF, teachers receive a scholarship from EFKF to the value of €250. The

scholarship must be applied to the programme fee (€975), which covers the in-country

costs of the India teaching practicum: accommodation, meals, workshops and classes,

trips, visits NGO’s, transport in India. It does not cover plane fare, health insurance, Visa

and personal expenses.

Agenda

16th October registration deadline

20th – 25th October interview

31th October teacher training in Roosendaal

11th November Anglia Members meeting in Amersfoort

Contact

projects@efkf.org

www.efkf.org

Facebook: English for Kids Foundation