Introduced to the staff I’d be working with as well as which kids I’d be working with (hearing impaired)
To begin with, I sat in classes trying to understand how the teachers communicated with children, reading facial expressions or even discussing the lesson in sign language
Once I understood their means of communication I was able to read the children more easily, which was definitely a difficult task
That evening I researched a few basic phrases in Gujarati sign language so I was able to understand the children a little easier
I got a little more comfortable with the communication, so I was able to talk to the kids which felt amazing
I sat in English, Maths, Art, Mendhi and Skill Development classes. I was able to assist in English classes by teaching the children the English alphabet, how to write numbers in English. I also had to teach an English class when their teacher was unable to attend; this was definitely testing my teaching and communication abilities!
I also helped the children with other various tasks such as handing out their lunch and snacks, as well as attending their morning meditation sessions and afternoon activities
On Friday and Saturday I helped the teachers make resources for their lessons as these were both teachers training days, which was great to see how they planned their lessons and how they planned to overcome some quite challenging tasks when working with these children
I was able to teach the girls makeup skills on my last day at that school and provided them with some if they ever needed it. It was great to see some girls so passionate about this skill that I was able to help them with
Once I arrived, I was given a tour of the campus and introduced to some of the staff and students
I was able to sit in some of the Gujarati lessons that the students in year 3 were in. It was definitely interesting to see the contrast in teaching between this school and a school for children with disabilities
The girl students provided me with a tour of where they reside and where the make their arts and crafts, I was able to see some of the dedication these students put into their work
Attending some of the prayer sessions definitely made me realise how much these children appreciate their education, as they may have potentially escaped some life threatening situations
I also attended a few staff meetings, which was interesting to see how the staff had planned to engage their students in various skill development classes
The year 8 science classes were also very interesting to see, as they are learning about real life problems such as the bacteria and viruses that are found in unclean water. This was so inspiring to see how teachers want to better the children’s lifestyles by warning them about things that can be very harmful to the body
Overall, I had an incredibly memorable experience. I discovered a part of the Indian culture I never knew even existed! It made me realise how much help the younger generation of India truly need, and it gave me a completely new insight of education. All of the children I met were nothing but kind and respectful, and leaving them was definitely one of the hardest things I have ever done. Living, learning and discovering in a completely different environment has helped me understand how privileged the students in England are, and how we take something as valuable as education is for granted. By far the most amazing life experience I have ever had.
