Category: Learn Kannada Language

Kannada Language is my mother Tongue,and I would like to teach you Kannada, if you want to learn. And if you kannada and would like to discuss about the same, you are welcome here.

Mono and Bilingual Learners

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Mono and bilingual learners refer to students who are either monolingual (speak only one language) or bilingual (speak two languages) in the context of ESL (English as a Second Language) education. Understanding whether a student is mono or bilingual is important because it can influence how they approach and experience the process of learning English.

Mono Learners: Mono learners are individuals who speak only one language fluently. For them, learning English is often a journey of starting from scratch. Their primary language may not have much in common with English in terms of vocabulary, grammar, or phonetics. This can present both challenges and advantages:

Challenges:

  • Limited Linguistic Connections: Mono learners may have fewer linguistic similarities between their native language and English, making it harder to draw on existing language skills.
  • Pronunciation Struggles: English sounds that do not exist in their native language can pose challenges for accurate pronunciation.
  • Conceptual Adjustments: Understanding grammatical structures and idiomatic expressions unique to English may require more effort.

Advantages:

  • Fresh Perspective: Mono learners might approach English with an open mind and fewer preconceived notions about how a language should work.
  • Focused Learning: Since they don’t have to balance the nuances of multiple languages, mono learners can focus more intently on mastering English.

Bilingual Learners: Bilingual learners, on the other hand, have a head start due to their familiarity with two languages. They already possess language learning skills and may draw upon similarities between their native language and English. However, being bilingual can also present certain challenges:

Challenges:

  • Interference: Bilingual learners might experience interference from their native language, where structures, vocabulary, or pronunciation differ from English.
  • Code-Switching: There might be a tendency to mix languages, leading to code-switching in speech or writing.
  • Cultural Implications: Bilingual learners might have to navigate differences in cultural expressions and linguistic norms between their languages and English.

Advantages:

  • Transferable Skills: Bilingual learners can apply their understanding of language structures and vocabulary from one language to another.
  • Enhanced Cognitive Skills: Being bilingual can enhance cognitive abilities like problem-solving, multitasking, and focusing attention.

Overall, whether a learner is mono or bilingual affects their learning experience in terms of the initial challenges they face and the unique advantages they bring to the learning process. Teachers can tailor their instruction to address these differences, helping students leverage their strengths while addressing specific areas of difficulty.

Before you decide to Volunteer

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Its more than five years since I moved to America and I have volunteered at various organizations. Even though I have done various roles as a volunteer, most of it was and is teaching. There are some lessons I have learnt during this period. You might as well ask what is there to think before we volunteer? We all volunteer for a good cause and nothing should hold us back. But there are some factors which you better consider before jumping to volunteering for any organization or project.

First and foremost, we need to understand why do I want to volunteer for this project or organization? Do I understand the goals and purpose of the organization and are my values and visions in line with that of decision makers of the organization? It might be better idea to discuss with the decision makers what are the future goals of the organization. How is it going to operate in the long run? Are the rules and regulations which are true for today are going to continue for tomorrow also?

For example, I volunteered as teacher at one organization which was conducting free classes for all students interested. I had the freedom to follow my teaching methodologies, classes were free for students, I was not paid as I was a volunteer. Once in a while both teachers and students would get a mail requesting for donation for the organization which was optional. They could donate as minimum amount as they wanted or not pay at all. No one would come to know who paid or who did not pay. This is something which was in line with my idea of teaching for free.

Then there was another organization which is also a not for profit organization and I volunteered to teach there as it was open to anyone who wanted to learn the language. But there something which started as free started asking for a registration fee in the next year. Then they also made it compulsory to become members of the organization which of course was paid. So, this will put the parents who would have enrolled their kids thinking it as free into a dilemma. Also, for volunteers who started volunteering for it because it was a free course. Then quitting such projects is also hard because of the friends the students or volunteers will have. It does not matter what ever minimum amount they are charging because in the first place they attracted students and volunteers by calling it a free course.

Then there was another organization which also conducted free classes then started asking for donations for some religious institutions it supported. Here again its okay to ask for donations, but sometimes the donations become compulsory like it happens in most of the private schools in India. They make list of parents who paid and those who did not pay and then circulate it in their respective groups. Here also we get a question should I be part of it?

I have been attending another class as a student for more than two years now. The teacher never asked for any fees or donation. Even though he is a part of an organization where he learnt the skill he is teaching. I am glad we still have such teachers and want to support such teachers or volunteers and want to be one like them.

As a result, I started my own language classes which are free for everyone. It will always be free.

So, lesson learnt yes, even for volunteering you need to check is it in line with my values and my ethics?