Teaching English to a sincere student IMRAN HUSSAIN
Friends,
Let me narrate my experience teaching a poem to a college student in 2014.
Nostalgia !!
Five years ago, a college student IMRAN HUSSIAN joined with me for English classes at my home.
He told that he was studying in SALEM ARTS college and that he has arrears in ENGLISH PAPER and sought my support.
I said that I am a SPECIAL ENGLISH TRAINER and I have an unique COURSE MATERIAL and will NOT TOUCH his college stuff. And if he agrees to that condition, then I will take classes for him.
HE SAID "YES" AND PAID THE FEES AND JOINED MY CLASSES IMMEDIATELY.
He was a very sincere student, with lot of Guru bhakthi or high respects to the teacher. If i ask him to come at 7.30am, for the class, he will be there at 7.15pm. Acknowledging his genuine interest, i decided to start the class a bit early, at 7.15pm. But then this guy was there by 7am. He was much interested.
Hence, I told him point blank. "Hey, I need time to get ready. Hereafter, if you come early, you should wait." He obeyed me, came early and patiently waited.
I took classes for him with great interest and involvement. I think i took classes for him for 4 months, getting about a lump amount per month. He was an obedient and prompt student.
One day, I enquired, "HEY, WHEN IS YOUR SEMESTER EXAM STARTING. PLEASE BRING YOUR COLLEGE ENGLISH TEXT BOOK OR MATERIALS. LET ME SEE WHETHER I CAN TAKE A FEW LESSONS FROM THAT.
He said a date that was only 45 days after that day. He brought the material that had about 8 prose and 5 poems or so.
I said that since there is not enough time, i will take only 3 lessons and 3 poems. If he his lucky, he may clear the arrears in this appearance. If not, he may come for English training for the next 6 months and I will teach some more lessons at a SUBSIDIZED FEES.
He brought and gave me a 20 pages xeroxed notes. He told his professor gave a copy of this and asked all the students to duplicate or xerox it.
From that I picked a poem, "SOLITARY REAPER" and started with the ERC. I told that it is the equivalent of the Tamil edam chutti poru velakku. (இடம் சுட்டி பொருள் விளக்கு).
Then I said :
"Ok you give me the full poem text, since it was my memory poem in my school days, I can very easily teach the whole poem. After that, any two lines they pick for thw ERC you will be able to answer with full justification in the exam.
He calmly said, "SIR, THEY GAVE US ONLY THESE 20 PAGES AND ASKED US TO DUPLICATE AND STUDY FROM THAT FOR THE EXAM."
I got a bit angry and explained to him controlling my anger,... "HEY, HERE THEY HAD GIVEN ONLY SOME SELECTED LINES FROM THE POEM. PLEASE BRING ME THE WHOLE POEM, I WILL TEACH IT. AND IN ONE ATTEMPT OUR JOB IS OVER."
He calmly repeated like a parrot that they were given only the 20 pages notes and that is it. I got wild and shouted and cursed the college professors who were not even giving a copy of this fantastic poem of WILLIAM WORDSWORTH to the students. Eventually I calmed down.
I remembered that the old English books of my daughters had this poem. They were in the raft, I said that I will search for them and help him the next day. I luckily located a book containing the poem. In one go ....extempore, I read out the poem and explained it in my bilingual style.
The audio was recorded "live" and updated in my YOUTUBE CHANNEL as a video with TEXT ADDED.
Luckily, the poem and lessons that I taught came in his semester exam and he cleared the English Paper.
I called this guy, IMRAN HUSSIAN a few months ago and made him tell about my TEACHING SKILLS in 2014.
👇
LINKS BELOW :
Part 1 .. Feedback from Imran Hussian
(4:00)
Part 2 .. Feedback from Imran Hussian
(6:54)
Part 3 .. Feedback from Imran Hussian
(5:35)
The poem SOLITARY REAPER taught by me -- a live class audio recording
(6:06)
Ezhilarasan Venkatachalam
Global Tamil Based English Trainer
Salem.
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