US graduates enjoy new teaching experience in South India

Chennai: While teaching English language to students in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, the six young graduates from the US also are finding out more about local culture including the art forms like “Koothu” to make their stay worthwhile. These Fullbright-Nehru English Teaching Assistants are teaching conversational English through activities and word games at the schools in Chennai, Kanchipuram and Puducherry. Cathryn Roberts, who is affiliated with SSKV Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Kanchipuram has started a drama club in her school. “I have introduced them various roles in drama like the stage manager, lead actress and so on to my students. They are very eager to find out various aspects of drama. I am sure it will continue even after I leave,” she said.

When asked about the difference between the Indian and American school system Conor Coleman said, “The classrooms here are very structured. We have a very fluid system in the US.”   
“After coming here I realised that everything I know about is north Indian and not from south India,” said Sarah Lamade. She is affiliated with Vidhya Niketan Higher Secondary School, Puducherry. She also involved in cultural heritage preservation with INTACH. “I worked for ‘PondyCAN,’ a non-governmental organisation which is working on coastal protection and conservation,” said Stephen Gay, one of the graduates affiliated with the New Modern Vidhya Mandir Higher Secondary School, Puducherry.

“I watched the movie Kabaali in a theatre. The noise of the crowd has been just unbelievable,” he said. The scholars arrived in August 2016 and will remain until their fellowship ends in March. “The purpose of this program is to strengthen the English language abilities of Indian middle-school students and to provide an opportunity for young American professionals to engage with Indian students and experience life in India,” said  Eric Lund, Cultural Affairs Officer, U.S. Consulate General, Chennai.