English Vinglish

Our MAD project 'English Vinglish' was conceptualized as a means of empowering members of the DAIS staff from departments including housekeeping, security, and transport, to speak and write fluent English. An overarching goal was to engage these sectors of our school in the joy of learning a language, and to create a classroom environment that instills in each member the confidence to integrate English in day-to-day communication. The journey thus far has been immensely rewarding in every sense of the word. Our team of Year XII students created a structured curriculum based on a Beginner-Intermediate-Advanced batch model to conduct weekly classes in school. Coming to school every Saturday morning to teach ‘my batch’ is something I looked forward to. This opportunity, which fostered meaningful relationships with those who do so much for us, is special indeed. Our class scope ranged from basic grammar and practical application to mock conversations.

I believe that the impact of this project extends to the creation of a community where everyone can help each other learn and grow. Discussions often spill over into after-class hours, and our MAD project team loves striking up conversations with staff and having familiar faces greet us as we enter school each morning or walk down the hallways. We hope to see this initiative continued over the years by our juniors so this endeavour can bear fruit!

- Ananya Vohra