English Workshop: Facilitating Participatory Learning through Reverse Planning

Dated: 31^st July’15

An English workshop for teachers was organized by Next Education India Pvt. Ltd. at Mayur Public School on 31^st July, 2015. Two English teachers of Arwachin international School became a part of it. The workshop was presided by Mrs Sunmita Shinde, an experienced academician who has been regularly conducting workshops on CCE, Experiential Learning, and Writer’s Workshops for CBSE and ICSE schools. The aim of the workshop was to empower teachers and enable them to create and sustain participatory environment in a language classroom, and help them gain a new perspective on lesson planning called reverse planning.

The workshop started with an activity which stressed not only on comprehension of the correct usage of grammar but also helped all teachers to introduce and coordinate with each other.

It was then followed by making the teachers understand about reverse planning which is defined as “To begin with an end in mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination.” It also emphasized on the dire need of reverse planning in today’s scenario as we need to reckon the results.                                                                                                                                                                              

 A practical demonstration on a drama titled ‘The Bishop’s Candlesticks’ was given along with the handouts which showed the way of planning a lesson through reverse planning. It also included the planning of various pre –reading, reading and post – reading activities to be conducted while teaching the lesson. The activities like Dramatic play, Conscience Alley, Hot Seating, Debate, Watching Visuals and   Four Square Writing were conducted which focused on the active participation and enrichment of  all the essential skills in the language i.e. Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking, and Thinking. At the end the teachers were engaged in the group task of preparing their own lesson plans based on reverse planning followed by sharing and discussing their ideas with the other groups.  

The workshop was an informative one. It was inspirational, motivational and an eye opener for all the teachers. Such workshops help not only in updating the knowledge of teachers but also become stepping stones in making the teaching learning process cordial.

Mrs Prabhjyot Kaur & Ms. Khilan Sawhney

“Jodo Gyan” Mathematics Workshop

A workshop on “Project Based Learning” was organized at Sanskriti School in Chanakya Puri on 13^th July 2015.Mrs.Grover, Mrs. Sangita Sharma, Mrs. Anindita Banerjee, Mrs. Shweta Bhageria, Mrs.Alaka Misra and Mrs. Menon attended it. It was conducted by Mr. Brennan Greg.  The programme was coordinated by The Achievers Programme (TAP).

The teachers of Delhi Public School, Heritage, Sanskriti School, Father Agnel School etc participated.

The main objective of this workshop was to train the teachers to engage all the students in the learning process through projects. It would also cultivate a sense of responsibility for their actions in the learners. It will further enhance their self esteem and self confidence.

Various videos related to the whole brain teaching were shown to the group and discussions were held on them. The videos stressed on the need of using sensory organs to create interest amongst the learners.

The teachers were oriented to segregate the group of students according to their strengths and weaknesses. The need to engage all the learners in a project after delegating duties to each one of them was highlighted.

Various  dilemmas of the teachers were discussed and everybody worked on their  solutions.

It was an enriching experience to interact with the teachers of other schools.

Mrs. Priya Grover “Jodo Gyan” Mathematics Workshop"

A workshop on “Project Based Learning” was organized at Sanskriti School in Chanakya Puri on 13^th July 2015.Mrs.Grover, Mrs. Sangita Sharma, Mrs. Anindita Banerjee, Mrs. Shweta Bhageria, Mrs.Alaka Misra and Mrs. Menon attended it. It was conducted by Mr. Brennan Greg.  The programme was coordinated by The Achievers Programme (TAP).

The teachers of Delhi Public School, Heritage, Sanskriti School, Father Agnel School etc participated.

The main objective of this workshop was to train the teachers to engage all the students in the learning process through projects. It would also cultivate a sense of responsibility for their actions in the learners. It will further enhance their self esteem and self confidence.

Various videos related to the whole brain teaching were shown to the group and discussions were held on them. The videos stressed on the need of using sensory organs to create interest amongst the learners.

The teachers were oriented to segregate the group of students according to their strengths and weaknesses. The need to engage all the learners in a project after delegating duties to each one of them was highlighted.

Various  dilemmas of the teachers were discussed and everybody worked on their  solutions.

It was an enriching experience to interact with the teachers of other schools.

Workshop on “Project Based Learning”

A workshop on “Project Based Learning” was organized at Sanskriti School in Chanakya Puri on 13^th July 2015. Mrs.Grover, Mrs. Sangita Sharma, Mrs. Anindita Banerjee, Mrs. Shweta Bhageria, Mrs.Alaka Misra and Mrs. Menon attended it. It was conducted by Mr. Brennan Greg.  The programme was coordinated by The Achievers Programme (TAP).

The teachers of Delhi Public School, Heritage, Sanskriti School, Father Agnel School etc participated.

The main objective of this workshop was to train the teachers to engage all the students in the learning process through projects. It would also cultivate a sense of responsibility for their actions in the learners. It will further enhance their self esteem and self confidence.

Various videos related to the whole brain teaching were shown to the group and discussions were held on them. The videos stressed on the need of using sensory organs to create interest amongst the learners.

The teachers were oriented to segregate the group of students according to their strengths and weaknesses. The need to engage all the learners in a project after delegating duties to each one of them was highlighted.

Various  dilemmas of the teachers were discussed and everybody worked on their  solutions.

It was an enriching experience to interact with the teachers of other schools.

Result of Japanese Language Proficiency Test(JLPT)

We are glad to announce that M. Somanath of class XII-A has cleared the Japanese Language Proficiency test Level N4, Chandni Dhawan of Class X-C and Anisha Saxena of class XI- B have cleared JLPT level N5, conducted in July 2015. JLPT is an international examination that takes place twice a year. It is helpful for students to take admission in the Japanese universities, and acquire jobs worldwide. Once again our students made us proud. Heartiest congratulations!

MY TRIP TO JAPAN

BY-  NISHTHA KAUSHIK

A trip to Japan was organized by the JAPAN FOUNDATION, KANSAI, JAPAN from 18^TH JUNE TO 2^ND JULY in which students of Japanese language from TOP TEN COUNTRIES were given a golden opportunity to visit their dream country, Japan. Three students represented India on the global platform and one amongst them was NISHTHA KAUSHIK OF 10-C from our school. She cleared a national level interview conducted by the Japan foundation and made us proud by grabbing this glorious opportunity to visit Japan for 15 DAYS. Students from countries including Philippines, Russia, Brazil, Mongolia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, china, and Honkong were part of this wonderful programme.

The programme aimed to deepen the understanding of Japanese language, society, and culture, and to assist the participants in further study of the language after they return to their home country. Further it encouraged the students to establish friendly relations with the overseas students. No doubt the kansai kokusai center where these participants stayed for 15 day gave them an aura of authenticity of Japan and instilled in them an ardent desire to visit this country once again. During this 15 days trip the participants visited numerous renowned tourist places of Japan like Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Nara etc. They visited the tourist spots like todaiji, kinkakuji, genbakudomo, Kyoto tower, yumetown, miyajima, kiyomizudera, and many other places. Also they got a wonderful chance to experience world famous shinkansen or popularly known as the bullet train worldwide. Participants were awe stricken by the jet speed of this amazing train. In addition to it the team of 29 students attended informative and interesting classes of yukata {summer kimono}, aiki jujitsu, shodou {Japanese calligraphy}, and wadaiko {Japanese drums} at the kansai center and participated in them with great zeal and enthusiasm.

As stated by our school pride Nishtha, “ I was completely mesmerized by the ancient culture, tradition and captivating view of Japan. Wearing yukata twice in Japan was an immense pleasure. Also entering “ofuro” for the first time in my life was a soothing and an appeasing moment for me. I am unable to forget my trip to Hiroshima where we stayed at ryokan {Japanese styled hotel} at night. I was astonished to discover that Japan being one of the most advanced and flourishing nations of the world remains rooted to its culture. I was blown away by seeing the sky rocketing skyscrapers but nevertheless the verdant and the grassy view of Osaka still remains alive in my soul…. Not to forget the humble and the modest look of the natives there touched my heart. Ah! I miss Japan.”

Apart from this the participants got a delightful chance to experience Japanese ferry ship ride, and also there they were encouraged to cook the Japanese dish, okonomiyaki on their own. Nishtha of our school outshone everybody by preparing the tastiest okonomiyaki for which she was given presents too. Also there the students for the first time tried their hands on yuzenzome which is the traditional art of dyeing kimonos in Kyoto. “It was fun creating magnificent, attractive and prepossessing designs on the cloth bag’’ as told by Nishtha. But the most awaited part for her and the other participants was the 3 day home stay. Before that the students were taken to sumiyoshi high school, one of the leading schools of Osaka where they were welcomed whole heartedly by the Japanese students. Later the students were picked up by their home stay families and went to their respected allotted families. “I was really nervous regarding home stay as I had to manage myself alone without my friends there. It was really a hard nut to crack on the very first day but gradually with the course of time I found this part of the trip to be the best one. I adjusted very well and conversed with my home stay family whom I presented a collage on India that I had taken to Japan confidentially. When I recollect the priceless moments I had spent with them, tears roll down. The family was really caring, lovable, helpful and understanding. With my local family I toured Osaka and visited numerous tourist spots like the Osaka castle, tsutenkaku, umeda sky building, etc. Late night I even burst crackers with them. Also the next day I visited the Tennoji zoo where I was spellbound to see animals from different countries. I saw polar bears and penguins in such a humid and hot weather.’’

No doubt this program THE 2015 JAPANESE LANGUAGE PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS was a pleasure to attend. Also the participants were awarded with a prestigious certificate for their outstanding efforts which was handed over to them by the executive head of Japan foundation MR. OSAMU AKAGI. Finally this trip came to an end on 2^nd July when the flight landed at the IGI airport. Nishtha says “I have come back home taking everlasting memories and unforgettable experiences to cherish over. I enjoyed my best part of the life to its fullest…… I want to visit the land of the rising again and again………..’’