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 [email protected]. 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
www.efkf.org
Facebook: English for Kids Foundation