When it comes to sharing life experiences, the norm is that
you either tell people before doing it- ‘OMG I’m totally going to skydive this
year!!!’ or tell people what you felt after doing it- ‘ZOMG I SHOULD NOT have
skydived! *throws up because of altitude sickness*
Being in the middle of something does not make for a very
interesting conversation piece, because admit it, a ‘Work in Progress’ sign does
not ignite any sense of passion or adventure in anyone. But still here I am,
making an attempt to share my experience of being a ‘Teach India’ volunteer,
not because it’s an adrenaline rush (actually, it is) or because I want to brag
about the halo on my head, but because it is something that has come to being
really close to my heart. (Look at me, opening up about things close to my
heart. What’s next? Talking publicly about my dreams and fears? Pffft!)
So anyway, I signed up for being a volunteer for Teach India
English for Employability Course for 2 reasons-
1. I finally had enough time on my hands to actually do it and
take my mind off stupid niggling questions like ‘What am I doing with my life?!’
2. I really, truly, genuinely like the English language
(Hah! You thought I was going to say I like helping people, right? Pfffft #2)
In reality, I hadn't given any real thought to the learners
(read: students) apart from the fact that their English speaking fates would be
in my hands for the next three months *megalomaniacal laughter*
So with these noble thoughts, and after a well meaning but
somewhat random phone interview, I landed up for the mandatory training. And
the kind of people that I saw actually and figuratively blew my mind. There
were college students, young mothers, yuppies climbing the corporate ladders, retirees
who wanted to do something good with their life and time, and of course, a lone
velli me who observed each of them with a hawk’s eye.
At the beginning, I obviously didn't expect to be
entertained at the training, and while coasting along wasn't on my mind, I also didn't have any high hopes of enjoying the training immensely. So in spite of my
misgivings, I had a great time, playing childish games and bonding with the smorgasbord
of people gathered there for a common cause.
As expected, I got along well with
the young people, and have made some awesome new friends who I would never have
met otherwise. But the biggest surprise was the elders. OK confession time. I
have a somewhat pained and conflicted relationship to elder people. So while I
respect their wisdom and maturity and am on my best behavior around them, I
also prefer watching them from afar, and not being too close to them. Blame it
on my social anxiety.
But here, I found myself looking forward to see some of the
cutest and coolest elder people that I've ever met in my life. Their life
experience, coupled with their modern outlook, made for a very charming combination.
On that note, old people are also great charmers and flirts, and I giggled more
times than I care to admit after being smoothly flirted with *obligatory wink
smiley*
There were the expected questions from people around, which
started with ‘How much are you getting paid?’ and when I replied ‘Nothing’, ended
with a bewildered ‘So why are you doing it?’
Session of swimming in the kiddie pool over, we were thrown
headlong into the deep uncharted waters of actually teaching people who have
limited/ incorrect knowledge of English. And I couldn't decide if I was more
horrified or relieved by this prospect. Relieved because I was reaaaallllyyyyy
glad that I wasn't teaching children. Confession time again- The problem I told
you about elder people? The same applies to kids, too. I adore them (not
really), but I prefer to admire their Awww! inducing ways from a safe distance.
The horror came from the fact of me being a major Grammar
Nazi, and the possibility of every student making mistakes at the rate of 2 per
sentence gave me a tic a la Sheldon Cooper. But in the end, the worry was for
nothing. The sincerity and eagerness with which the students spoke, and their
happiness after completing a full sentence on their own more than made up for
sentences like ‘I will making a tea yesterday’. I was too busy basking in their
glory to flinch or bitchily raise an eyebrow at those errors, which was a given
in ANY other setting.
There is something to be said about the joy you feel for
another person’s achievement, and I feel as proud as a lioness when her cubs
make their first killing. Yes, they do need my help in chasing down the rules
of grammar, ripping the irregularity of the language and breaking down the
bones of wrong English learned over the years, but they are finally becoming
fearless, which is what counts in the end.
Technically , I, their Ma’am, am the one teaching them, but I
would be lying if I say I’m giving them more than what they’re giving me (What
a cliché, I know) The trust which they place in me, the openness with which
they ask doubts, the faith that they will not be mocked, the happiness and
pride of learning new words and using them may seem commonplace to an outsider,
but it is for me one of the best interactions I have had with fellow humans in my
time.
Of course, there are miserable periods of doubt where I wonder
if I’m doing the right thing, but all that goes away when they laugh at my
jokes, forget their worries and enjoy the games played or remember what I had
taught weeks ago and repeat it to me confidently.
They say there is a definitive moment when you transition
into becoming a parent. For Ross (from FRIENDS) it was when Marcel held his
finger in the hospital. For me, I realized I was a teacher (however temporary) when
I referred to my learners as ‘my kids’. Why is that surprising? Well because
most of them are elder to me, and even the younger ones would baulk at the idea
of being my kids. So yes, when I thought of a middle aged mother of grown up
daughters as my ‘kid’, that’s when I knew.
As I said before, being in the middle of something doesn't make for a very thrilling story, it’s always the happy ending that keeps you
hooked. I’m still in the middle of the course, but there is one thing I know
for sure. Regardless of whether I am useful to my learners, whether or not they
remember me, even if I fail to make a huge impact on their life, this
experience will go down as one of my ‘Happily Ever Afters’, at least for me.
Teacher out.
