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Hello and thank you for joining us today. Tell us a bit about your background and how you got interested in teaching per se.Well I belong to a family of teachers. My grandfather, great grandfather, father all were teachers. So thats what I always wanted to be. When i came to JNU I was sure that I will remain in academics. Most importantly I always observed keenly my teachers and used to imitate them.And what does teaching mean to you? Who is a teacher according to you?For me a teacher is a demonstrator. S/he shows ways to how to do things.And what does teaching mean too youeacher is not one who teaches but helps the learners to find a way to understand this world- thereby to understand themselves. Basically it is to impart the most basic skill to learn how to learn. If one is taught how to know and how to learn that skill building, capacity building and enhancing self-reliance.

What inspires you?Many things, first of all it is nature. Nature is all around us and within us. Nature is communicating to us constantly in the form of images, sounds, colours, light, and smells. But most of us ignore its cues and tend to think that communication is only a human domain. The complexity that exists in the way nature communicates to us is emulated the way we communicate with each other. Since we fail to understand this connection, we fail to connect meaningfully with nature and with our fellow human beings.

And do you bring this inspiration to your class teaching?Yes. Since i am a language teacher, my domain is communicationHow do you do that?I start by developing a feeling amongst learners regarding the primordial process of communication i.e. communicating with images, senses, body languages without uttering single word. Then slowly I bring them to human communication.

Hmm that sounds very interesting! Tell us about your classroom context. What is unique and special about it?So I proceed like this. Feeling- sensing-thinking and communicating. Suppose I have to teach a sound I ask them firstly to close their eyes, listen to it, then I ask them what do they feel about it, what other sound that they can connect with it. Once they talk about that then I make them hear similar sounds and then ask them, how they sense the particular sound I introduced at first. Once they are able to sense the difference i ask them to think about ways that they can make combinations

So what you are saying is that it all boils down to the emotions, feelings and hence we need to start from there?Finally when they become conditioned then they can communicate. See combination of three is important. Why I start with feeling is that way they can engage with a given thing. It doesnt become an external thing. Knowledge is no more externalised but internalised. I just show them the way of this process.

As I gave you the example I dont want to impose them. They only will engage with things that they want to internalize or engage with, or can feel. If I tell them, they will forget, hence the purpose is defeated. I make them feel the language and think in the language this way.Hmm that sounds very interesting! Tell us about your classroom context. What is unique and special about it?Various teaching aids that i use, interaction and democracy. My learners are part if decision making.Which classes do you teach? Where do you teach?I teach B.A. Hons, M.A. and diploma in Foreign Language Education in the Dept. of Germanic and Romance studies in DU.What are the unique challenges in teaching a foreign language to BA/ MA students?Class size - 40 students/group. Plus the heterogeneity

And how do you navigate these challenges?I do so by way of extra teaching. When I am assigned 12 hrs /week, I teach about 17-18 hrs. By way of remedial classes, extra classes, tutorials. I have one to one session with special need groups. Otherwise there is no way you can do what i explained with 40 learners together.How has teaching impacted you as a person and your life in general?I am a better person, more tolerant, understanding and accommodative. Most importantly I have learnt a lot from my learners. I learn everyday new feeling, new ways to address special needs, new life stories, challengesOn this 5th September which is celebrated as Teacher's Day, what is your wish for the community of teachers?I wish that the whole community takes part in learning reaching, not just learners and educators. More infrastructure and flexibility guaranteed to education system so that there is scope for experiment and innovation.

Thank you so much Ena! It's been awesome to chat with you. We wish you the very best for your future.

Teacher Tales is an inspirational interview series conceptualised by Shreyanka Basu. The idea of Teacher Tales comes from Shreyankas personal belief about teaching.

The goal of Teacher Tales is to be a witness to the passion that drive teachers to take up this profession. It touches upon the things that inspire teachers and how they bring the same to their classrooms. It focuses on the evolving narrative of what it means to be a teacher in the larger context of learning and education. . Its ambition is to raise a toast to the great human beings behind the inspiring teachers. It celebrates both young and experienced teachers.

If you know a teacher who has inspired you and others like you please do write in to us at teachertalesinterviews@gmail.com with the subject line Teacher Tales Recommend a Teacher. https://www.facebook.com/TeacherTales