A Saturday of Learning and Fun at Marathi Shala
Embracing Language and Culture in Mountain House
Date: 12/16/2023
As the chilly morning air enveloped Mountain House, the warmth of learning and cultural embrace filled the air at our Marathi Shala. Every Saturday at 10 am PST, our classes come alive with the eager minds of our young scholars, and this Saturday was no exception.
Energizing Beginnings: Kavayat and Jumping Jacks
Our Batch 1 scholars, arriving between 10 and 10:10 AM PST, were greeted with an invigorating start. Following last week's Surya Namaskar, we engaged in Kavayat and Jumping Jack warm-up activities. The enthusiasm was palpable, and the kids thoroughly enjoyed these exercises. The attached picture captures the vibrancy of this session.
Figure 1, Kavayat
A Recap of Marathi Fundamentals
The core of our session was a comprehensive recap of the Marathi Vowels (Swar) - अ [a], आ [aa], इ [i], ई [ii], उ [u], ऊ [oo], ए [e], ऐ [ai], ओ [o], औ [au], अं[am], अः [a:], and numbers from १ (एक Ek) to १० (दहा Dahā). Our scholars repeated all the Swar, words, and numbers in unison, showcasing their growing proficiency. Some of the kids even tried their hands at writing words on our blackboard, a testament to their developing skills.
Figure 2, Kids writing Letters
Engaging with Music and YouTube
To add a musical twist to our learning, we showed a Marathi Vowels and Consonants song from YouTube. This audio-visual method proved to be an effective and enjoyable way to reinforce their understanding of the language.
Delving into Marathi Alphabets
For Batch 1, we ventured into the Marathi alphabets (Venjane), successfully covering the क [k] alphabet. Batch 2, starting at 11:10 AM, not only recapped the Marathi Vowels and numbers but also progressed through the alphabets क [k], ख [kh], and ग [g].
Interactive Alphabet Game
A highlight of the day was the alphabet game, ingeniously composed by our volunteer, Shravya Didi. Each child was tasked with saying a Marathi letter, a word starting with that letter, and then choosing the next participant. This interactive game was a hit, significantly enhancing the kids' engagement and enjoyment.
Figure 3, Alphabet Games
Advancing with घ [gh] and च [ch]
The session culminated with teaching the घ [gh] and च [ch] letters. The kids did an exceptional job in writing these letters, as evidenced by the pictures attached. Their ability to grasp and apply new concepts was truly commendable.
A Day of Joyful Learning
As the class concluded, it was evident that it was not just a regular learning session but a celebration of our language and culture. The progress made by our scholars, the dedication of our teachers, and the invaluable support of our volunteers made this class a resounding success.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all our scholars, teachers, and volunteers for making Marathi Shala a beacon of cultural learning and fun. Here's to many more Saturdays filled with the joy of learning!
Stay tuned for more updates from our Marathi Shala, where every class is a journey into the heart of our heritage.
For more insights and updates, follow our journey on YouTube and visit our website https://mhmarathishala.blogspot.com.
Balasaheb Ilag, IT Engineer, Student, and Enthusiast of Marathi Culture and Education
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