Well my poems I have decidedto keep them off this blog for the time being as most are too personal and then I end up defending myself or clarifying my feelings. Most people do not seem to understand that it was a moment in time that I have recorded and not my whol ephilosophy of life!!!!!!!!
So you are stuck with my rambling prose pieces if you are checking this blog. So what is it that I ramble about today? Well old topics in a new bottle work mighty well for me. So here goes.
I was thinking of getting my students to perform skits in class. Impromptu ones, where I give each a role to adhere to and they improvise as they are performing. Except that the information I would give to each roleplayer might be contradictory. For example, I tell student A that she was interested in purchasing a state-of-art laptop for her tech crazy kid brother and the she should be asking the salesperson loads of uestions in order to make up her mind between two models, I tell student B that this customer is wasting the time of your juniors by haranguing them for details of some product or the other and then not purchasing it and that this has been goin on for more than a week and that Student B needs to be firm with the customer. Given these roles the students have to adhere to them and develop their dialogues while they are interacting with the other roleplayer.
While the roleplay was fun and they had to polish their language skills as well in the course of this activity (the objective of the activity is language enhancement), I realised that this activity can get out-of-hand for students aged 17-19 and especially in a mixed group. It worked really well with my TISS students who are more mature, but these kids seem to be more involved in how rude the other person was or how weak instead of focussing on the role given to them. Too many clashes led me to cancel this activity in this particular class.
I did have fun while it lasted, but the after class tension was actually firing the class rivalry system. I was there to promote communication efficiency and not develop exisiting tensions. The post class conselling for mitigating rival faction problems was too exhausting. I do not know if this makes me a poor teacher who is not interested in trying to work out solutions for the class. It is just that there are so many other activities that were easier to introduce to the clas to enhance their language skills that I did away with this one. Yet, a doubt lingers. Did I give up too easily? Should I have continued the activity and hoped that students would learn to interact better even in conflicting situations?
I don't know if I gave up too easily this time. I do know that my class runs more smoothly and I have less post class complaints about how students are teasing a particular roleplayer. I also know that next year I am going to introduce this very same activity to another batch and hope I would have learnt from my mistakes and improve students' communication skills and teach them the art of negotiating not through case studies but though their own situations.
If you guys have any ideas, please do let me know.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
I love this life
Well many would be surprised. I usually live the good life and crib about the bad life :)
So what have I been upto huh? Well a lot of things actually.
I learnt a lot about apertures and zoom lens and linear editing and non linear editing and ENG and script writing and what not. I also learnt to teach using the LCD as a primary resource. I learnt you can shout at your students and cough a lot and the coughing is more effective in getting them to jump to do your bidding.
I learnt that watching movies - 6 a day at times can be very tough, especially, if you are also battling a bout of bronchitis.
I learnt that watching your friends on TV is not 1/1000th as good as hugging them in person. I got many of my friends to accept that facebook and orkut be damned, meeting your friends on the road is way more exciting and makes you feel way more connected. I learnt that when you do meet your friends you are not the least interested in harping on that point, you just wanna hug them and talk to them. I learnt that friends arriving to pick you up to get to Khala Ghoda festival and then dropping you home make you feel that this life is the best life there is. I learnt that seeing 29 year olds enjoy making a pot of clay is more exhilirating than all the movies and books in the world.
I learnt that teachers retiring - (this academic year made me realise there were quite a few Independence year babies in the academic world I inhabit) - anyway, I learnt that teachers retiring means that a a new chapter has begun, not that the book's conclusion has been reached. I learnt that these so-called retirees had more zest left in them than most of us applauding them.
I learnt that I could actually singlehandedly feed a cabbie his daily wages as I travelled from home to college 1, then rushed to college 2, proceeded to college 3 and then 4 and then with a brief stopover in the library trudged back home in a cab or auto, too tired to fight the hordes on the more public tranport systems like buses and trains. That I also lugged chunks of assignments that students handed me and managed to correct them in the taxi is but a corollary. I also learnt that trians are fast and cheap and the IRTC food is not half bad when I am famished.
I learnt that Mumbai could get as cold as Delhi. Colder even. I learnt that I could still make it to the 7a.m. lecture and what is more students made it as well!!!!!!!!! I learnt that doctors are human and they can leave your bronchitis untreated if you do not raise a hue and cry and it almost develops into pneumonia (again).
I learnt that students are often much more clever than you give them credit for and you need to push them to stretch their limits which means you need to stretch yours and for me that was a lot of sweat. I learnt that many of friends were involved in organisations that I had never heard of, but all sound so exciting that my head is still reeling from trying to decide which one I can dedicate my time to. I learnt that it is damn easy to get on the executive committee of certain groups. I should know, having been inducted in one.
I have learnt that I am not bad at liasoning have ing found people for 15 or more jobs. I have also learnt that my mobile company can squeeze more than 300 bucks per month from me. Said liasoning has led me to pay nearly double that. Furthermore, I have learnt that people take me for granted now and expect me to have miracles under wraps just awaiting their call. Calling them back, aplologising is another thing I have learnt. I additionally learnt that people are very sweet and are very quick to forgive me.
I have also learnt that I have this uncanny ability to put on kilos whenever I take antibiotics and that means I have added on oodles to my preexisiting oodles. I have learnt that it makes no difference to those who see me everyday and those that see me never. As for the rest, I have learnt to say - 'Dem don't matter' ;) I have relearnt that cooking is still a pain and that stitching more so and shopping the worst by far. I have learnt that books are getting expensive and so is travel but film festivals are galore and are free of cost. I have also learnt that cousins are good for things more than irritating you by pushing you to better yourselves. They actually publish blogs, which are free of cost, and provide great reading (and looking) material forcing you to look at the everyday life with a fresh perspective and making you take off on tangents thereby ensuring your constant entertainment. (For reference read Easwar's blog).
I have learnt that when people come visit you they actually do come to visit you and not your not so clean home. I have learnt that redoing your bathroom (getting it redone actually) is a royal pain. I have learnt that kabbadiwallas may not accept your loft things - that is how outdated my family can be.
I have learnt that using the scanner can be a pleasure, even when you have scanned a book of 200 pages and just when processing the 200th page your solution centre pops a message that there is some error and your file cannot be saved.
I have learnt that sooner than later your friends from different circles seem to meet each other without you around to facilitate the meeting making you wonder what your purpose in this world is. I have learnt that humility is a virtue that I sorely lack, but false (actually even true) confidence is a vice that I don't possess in abundance either.
I have learnt that learning is going to be lifelong process, especially if I keep having to relearn things I have already learnt.
I have learnt that there is actually some blessed soul on this earth who read through this rambling.
So what have I been upto huh? Well a lot of things actually.
I learnt a lot about apertures and zoom lens and linear editing and non linear editing and ENG and script writing and what not. I also learnt to teach using the LCD as a primary resource. I learnt you can shout at your students and cough a lot and the coughing is more effective in getting them to jump to do your bidding.
I learnt that watching movies - 6 a day at times can be very tough, especially, if you are also battling a bout of bronchitis.
I learnt that watching your friends on TV is not 1/1000th as good as hugging them in person. I got many of my friends to accept that facebook and orkut be damned, meeting your friends on the road is way more exciting and makes you feel way more connected. I learnt that when you do meet your friends you are not the least interested in harping on that point, you just wanna hug them and talk to them. I learnt that friends arriving to pick you up to get to Khala Ghoda festival and then dropping you home make you feel that this life is the best life there is. I learnt that seeing 29 year olds enjoy making a pot of clay is more exhilirating than all the movies and books in the world.
I learnt that teachers retiring - (this academic year made me realise there were quite a few Independence year babies in the academic world I inhabit) - anyway, I learnt that teachers retiring means that a a new chapter has begun, not that the book's conclusion has been reached. I learnt that these so-called retirees had more zest left in them than most of us applauding them.
I learnt that I could actually singlehandedly feed a cabbie his daily wages as I travelled from home to college 1, then rushed to college 2, proceeded to college 3 and then 4 and then with a brief stopover in the library trudged back home in a cab or auto, too tired to fight the hordes on the more public tranport systems like buses and trains. That I also lugged chunks of assignments that students handed me and managed to correct them in the taxi is but a corollary. I also learnt that trians are fast and cheap and the IRTC food is not half bad when I am famished.
I learnt that Mumbai could get as cold as Delhi. Colder even. I learnt that I could still make it to the 7a.m. lecture and what is more students made it as well!!!!!!!!! I learnt that doctors are human and they can leave your bronchitis untreated if you do not raise a hue and cry and it almost develops into pneumonia (again).
I learnt that students are often much more clever than you give them credit for and you need to push them to stretch their limits which means you need to stretch yours and for me that was a lot of sweat. I learnt that many of friends were involved in organisations that I had never heard of, but all sound so exciting that my head is still reeling from trying to decide which one I can dedicate my time to. I learnt that it is damn easy to get on the executive committee of certain groups. I should know, having been inducted in one.
I have learnt that I am not bad at liasoning have ing found people for 15 or more jobs. I have also learnt that my mobile company can squeeze more than 300 bucks per month from me. Said liasoning has led me to pay nearly double that. Furthermore, I have learnt that people take me for granted now and expect me to have miracles under wraps just awaiting their call. Calling them back, aplologising is another thing I have learnt. I additionally learnt that people are very sweet and are very quick to forgive me.
I have also learnt that I have this uncanny ability to put on kilos whenever I take antibiotics and that means I have added on oodles to my preexisiting oodles. I have learnt that it makes no difference to those who see me everyday and those that see me never. As for the rest, I have learnt to say - 'Dem don't matter' ;) I have relearnt that cooking is still a pain and that stitching more so and shopping the worst by far. I have learnt that books are getting expensive and so is travel but film festivals are galore and are free of cost. I have also learnt that cousins are good for things more than irritating you by pushing you to better yourselves. They actually publish blogs, which are free of cost, and provide great reading (and looking) material forcing you to look at the everyday life with a fresh perspective and making you take off on tangents thereby ensuring your constant entertainment. (For reference read Easwar's blog).
I have learnt that when people come visit you they actually do come to visit you and not your not so clean home. I have learnt that redoing your bathroom (getting it redone actually) is a royal pain. I have learnt that kabbadiwallas may not accept your loft things - that is how outdated my family can be.
I have learnt that using the scanner can be a pleasure, even when you have scanned a book of 200 pages and just when processing the 200th page your solution centre pops a message that there is some error and your file cannot be saved.
I have learnt that sooner than later your friends from different circles seem to meet each other without you around to facilitate the meeting making you wonder what your purpose in this world is. I have learnt that humility is a virtue that I sorely lack, but false (actually even true) confidence is a vice that I don't possess in abundance either.
I have learnt that learning is going to be lifelong process, especially if I keep having to relearn things I have already learnt.
I have learnt that there is actually some blessed soul on this earth who read through this rambling.
Blogging after a long long time
Hey Folks!
My cousin, a while back was chastising me (AGAIN!!!!!! ) for not being regular enuff at posting my thoughts.
I offered him many many excuses ofcourse. It just that it is a tad difficult to sound convincing when you know he works much much harder than you and for longer hours, yet manages to post regularly not on one but two blogs!!!!! Furthermore, he manages to chat with you, respond to your emails, is in touch with friends, sightsees, helps out galores... well, perhaps, I should have just pleaded 'intimidated'. Except that I am not that either. Takes too much energy to be remain intimidated for long.
So why do not blog regularly? Especially when I ideate so often. I even write on scraps of paper- a lot of crap. How much time could it possibly take to type a few of them down? I seem to have no qualms remarking on various things and people. Why not just post them? Some of my mails, that go on and on much to my friends' disgust could have been posted, especially, since the said friends never would make the mistake of revisiting my page.
So why have I been so lackadaisal? Well I have to be honest, Easwar. Plain and simple laziness. I just can't think of any other reason that sounds reasonable enuff. Of course my net was not working and I was saving download bytes but other than that - sheer laziness. You will just have to live with that and be happy that I comment on your blog at times. Other than you most of my other online treasures are not as prompt. Give me a lot of company, they do. Will try and post a few more thoughts.
Yours lazily,
:)
My cousin, a while back was chastising me (AGAIN!!!!!! ) for not being regular enuff at posting my thoughts.
I offered him many many excuses ofcourse. It just that it is a tad difficult to sound convincing when you know he works much much harder than you and for longer hours, yet manages to post regularly not on one but two blogs!!!!! Furthermore, he manages to chat with you, respond to your emails, is in touch with friends, sightsees, helps out galores... well, perhaps, I should have just pleaded 'intimidated'. Except that I am not that either. Takes too much energy to be remain intimidated for long.
So why do not blog regularly? Especially when I ideate so often. I even write on scraps of paper- a lot of crap. How much time could it possibly take to type a few of them down? I seem to have no qualms remarking on various things and people. Why not just post them? Some of my mails, that go on and on much to my friends' disgust could have been posted, especially, since the said friends never would make the mistake of revisiting my page.
So why have I been so lackadaisal? Well I have to be honest, Easwar. Plain and simple laziness. I just can't think of any other reason that sounds reasonable enuff. Of course my net was not working and I was saving download bytes but other than that - sheer laziness. You will just have to live with that and be happy that I comment on your blog at times. Other than you most of my other online treasures are not as prompt. Give me a lot of company, they do. Will try and post a few more thoughts.
Yours lazily,
:)
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