English Annual Magazine by sangyal norzom

CONTENTS

PERSPECTIVES 2010-2011, Issue No.02

Editorial Board Advisors: Dr. Pema Yangchen Mrs. Yeshi Dolkar Co-ordinator: Ms. Tenzin Yangchen Student’s Editorial Team : Ms. Tsering Dolma Mr. Tenzin Rinzin Ms. Dawa Dolma Ms. Chemi Dolma Mr. Norbu Dhondup Ms. Tenzin Wangmo Mr. Dawa Paljor CONTACT The Dalai Lama Institute for Higher Education, Mysore Road, Sheshagharihalli Hejjala Post, Bidadi Hobli Ramagar Distt. Bangalore-561 109 Tel: 080-28437270 Email: nawangdorjee@gmail.com

Perspectives

Annual Report: 2011-2012 ............................................. 3 Staff Column: 1. Tips for learning English as a Second/Foreign Language ......................................... 16 2. Blessings of Education for the Development of Mankind ..................................................................... 20 3. A Bittersweet Experience ............................................ 22 Student Column: Essays: 1. My Most Memorable Holiday..................................... 24 2. My Indelibe Moments .................................................. 24 3. Tragedy of Refugees ................................................... 26 4. Discipline ......................................................................... 26 5. What a Life! .................................................................... 27 6. My Past Experience...................................................... 28 7. My Summer Vacation ................................................ 30 8. Moments to Treasure .................................................. 31 9. Friends Forever ............................................................ 32 10. Little Knowledge is Dangerous................................ 33 11. My Days at Sweet Home............................................. 34 12. My Trip to North ............................................................ 35 13. Free Writing .................................................................... 36 14. Q3R Reading Strategy ............................................... 37 15. Don’t Bite the Hand that Feeds you ....................... 38 16. My Journey Home ........................................................ 39 17. This Made Me Laugh ...................................................40 18. Near Death ..................................................................... 41 19. My Favorite Movie ........................................................ 41 20. My Last Two Days at School.................................... 42 21. Freedom .......................................................................... 42 22. My First Teaching Experience.................................. 43 23. Teaching: From Theory to Practice......................... 44 24. An Experience of a Life Time..................................... 45 25. A Powerful Learning Experience............................ 47 26. A Nerve-Wrecking Experience.................................. 48 27. My Teaching Experience: A Mixed Feeling........... 49 28. Teaching English: A Frustrating Experience ....... 50 29. Flexibility is Key to Quality Teaching....................... 52

Perspectives

Poetry: 1. Unity is Strength............................................................ 54 2. Tibet ................................................................................... 54 3. Never Give Up................................................................ 54 4. My Journey to Education ........................................... 55 5. Responsibilities of Future Seeds.............................. 55 6. DAD: A Strange Word to Me...................................... 56 7. Miss You Dad.................................................................. 56 8. My Mother........................................................................ 56 9. The Most Beautiful Woman in My Life.................... 57 10. My Friend Tsering.......................................................... 57 11. My Dear............................................................................ 57 12. I Wish I Were…….:........................................................58 13. My Fantastic Institute................................................... 58 14. Say No to Drugs............................................................. 58 15. Have a Merciful Heart...................................................59 16. Cinquain Poetry............................................................. 59 General Knowledge: Getting to know our College Environment: 1. Facts about the Indian Cobra.................................... 60 2. Amazing Bee Facts....................................................... 65 3. Baya Weaver Bird......................................................... 67 Interviews: An Interview with Ms. Sachiko Takahashi.................... 69 An Interview with Dr. Ruedi Högger............................... 71 An Interview with one of the graduates......................... 75

Annual Report

THE DALAI LAMA INSTITUTE for HIGHER EDUCATION, BANGALORE

ANNUAL REPORT: 2011-12 By the Principal

Re-opening of the institute: The institute Re-opening Function was held on 1st of June with a simple ceremony of prayers led by the Religious Teacher followed with speeches by the HoD and the Principal. The new staff members who joined in the beginning of the year were introduced and welcomed. Staff on transfer from the institute were duly recognized and presented with suitable gifts. Thereafter, 2010 academic classes began.

Current Courses and Student Strength: Courses

Bridge

1st year

2nd year

Total

TTC

BCA

134

TIB. DEPT. TOTAL

In-service workshops and training programs conducted through the year Courses

1st year

Montessori In-service Training ( 3 months.)

Primary Tibetan Teachers ( 2 months)

15 (expected)

Science Meets Dharma ( 10 days)

22 scholars

LTWA workshop for monks & nuns

Total

2nd year

Total

107

15 22 44

Perspectives

Administrative and Support Staff:

S. No. Designation

Total

Regular

Probation

Contract

Deputation

Principal

Accountant

Secretary

Nurse-cum-Warden

Library-cum-Warden

Catering Manager

Cooks

Driver

Asst. Cook

Store Incharge

Peon

Sweeper

Total

Faculty: S. No. Designation

Total

Regular

Probation

Contract

Deputation

HoDs

Religious Instructor

Tibetan Lecturers

English Lecturers

Science Lecturer

Mathematics lecturer

Social Science Lecturer

Psychology Lecturer

Computer Lecturer

Art-Comp.-Instructor

Total 21

Staff Grand Total

34 4

Institute Bodies and Meetings

Annual Report

The Institute Management Committee (IMC) meetings are held at the beginning of every month. The meeting is chaired by the Principal and the minutes are kept by the HoD, School of Education.

The Institute Academic Council (IAC) meetings are held once every semester and

more if need be. The meetings are chaired by the Principal and all HoDs and lecturers are members. The basic issues of academics, curriculum and pedagogy are key issues in these meetings. Sometimes these meetings become open sessions where the members are given the space to brainstorm on ideas and think out of the box.

The Departmental Board of Studies (DBS) meetings are instituted to fine tune the functioning of each department and to design workable modules and systems for all the activities â&#x20AC;&#x201C; both academic and non-academic of each department so that there is clarity of implementation of policies, and the mechanics of each program at the departmental level. These meeting are chaired by the concerned HoD.

The Essential Services Meetings (ESM) of all services is held at the end of each month to ensure that all the services and utilities are in place and functioning smoothly. The meeting is chaired by the Principal and the Accountant, the Catering Manager, hostel wardens, store incharge are members. The Office Secretary keeps the minutes of the meetings.

Staff Welfare Committee (SWC)

With effect from the 2010 academic year, the Institute Management Committee (IMC) decided to establish the Staff Welfare Committee. A process of 2-tier election system was worked out and the election was conducted in October, 2010. A three member committee was elected in the first tier and the 2nd tier involved election of the President by all the staff members.

Students Council meetings (SCM)

The Students Council members are elected each academic year. The President is elected by the gathering of all the staff and students. The members are represented from each class and department through an election system conducted in the respective class or department. Due appointment and Recognition certificates are awarded during the Closing and Re-opening functions. Meetings of the Students Council with the Principal are held whenever needed to provide a forum for students to air their views on every aspect of the institute management. This also provides the opportunity for the Principal to brief the students on administrative issues, and provide clarity on any doubts raised by the students through the council members.

Perspectives

Academic Courses and Facilities in the institute: 1. School of Languages: Department of Tibetan Languages and Literature

The School of Languages was launched in August, 2010 with the start of the Dept. of Tibetan Language and literature. This course is designed to give a special opportunity for Tibetan students who want to specialize in Tibetan language and Literature. The duration of the course is for 4 years of intensive and comprehensive course. At the same time, the students are taught English, Computer applications and other relevant co-curricular programs to provide a holistic education as per the institute mission.

2. School of Computer and Information Sciences:

The vision of starting long-distance educational courses with tie-ups with distance educational universities came into fruition with the starting of the Bachelor of Computer Application (BCA under the Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi.) Due inquiries and research was done and the complete information was presented to all the members of the Institute Governing Council meeting held on 19th of March, 2010. Due approval was given and the institute management went ahead with the implementation of the course with consultations with experts in the Regional IGNOU Office in Bangalore, and its allied study centers. The institute acts as the unofficial study center for the students. As per the mission of the institute of providing a holistic and integrated higher educational curriculum, the students get the opportunity to study Tibetan language and culture, Buddhist studies, and other co-curricular programs that cut across the schools in the institute to provide a rich experience.

3. School of Education: a. Montessori Centre

TCV is known for its adoption of the Montessori Method of child education way back in the 1970s. Ama Jetsun Pema la spearheaded this movement with passion and today TCV is well known for its work in the Montessori education in the Tibetan community, and has made a huge difference. In due course of time, TCV has adapted this method to evolve

the way we teach our own mother tongue and the cultural aspects using the Montessori philosophy. The Montessori center was transferred in June, 2010 to the institute, and as a starter, a 6-month In-service training program was put in place. A full-fledged course is being designed for 2012 academic year

Annual Report

This year, we conducted two batches of Inservice Montessori teachers training program as planned. The institute in coordination with TCV Head Office worked out the details of this program and were successfully conducted from 1st July to 30th December, 2011. All the practicals were conducted in TCV, Bylakuppe. Montessori In-service Training groups were taken for excursions at regular intervals. Besides the interesting places in Bangalore city, they visited three Montessori Schools in Bangalore.

b. Primary Teacher Training Course:

We can proudly say today that we have in place a fine primary teacher training course to give quality training to the trainees who join us. We are confident that the students who undergo our training, depending on their area of choice and specialization, will graduate as competent and effective teachers to make a difference in the education of Tibetan children. Unfortunately, due to the interplay of several factors â&#x20AC;&#x201C; shortage of vacancies in schools, lack of comprehensive approach to the training of teachers in our community - led to a sharp fall of students after +2 graduation to join the primary teacher training program. We had 16 applicants and all were accepted.

4. Language Lab:

The institute now has a fine Language Lab with facilities for the staff and students to enrich their educational experience. With approval of the project proposal from the Head Office, we set up the lab in August, 2010. Now all the departments are using the Language Laboratory regularly and gaining much educational value. The students have a heightened sense of language experience when they use this facility.

Perspectives

5. Music Room: We have a nucleus of a music room in place now in the institute. Students

who are talented in music have formed a group Guytsel Roeyang Group. The group plans to give a cultural presentation on the occasion of the Nobel Peace Day on 10th December this year and they worked hard to make the program a success. We see that the music room will be especially useful for the teacher trainees as knowing some musical instruments is always an asset to the school that the teacher joins to contribute. We plan to upgrade and improve our facilities in the years to come.

6. Science Activity Room:

The much needed Science Activity Room is now in place for the Primary Teacher Training Course. With the initial set up, of course, it has to be enriched to cover all the topics at the primary level. We plan to enrich the activity room as we go on from year to year. Given the fact that the teachers are being trained to teach at the primary level where learning by doing – an experiential form of education – is central to children’s learning, the need for a science activity room is obvious.

7. Prayer Hall-cum- Recreation Center:

The Recreation Center above the Catering Center is now fully operational. This facility is used for all functions, important workshops, and also doubles up as the Canteen and recreation center. The Catering Center in general and in particular the Recreation Center is the hub of the institute for all staff and students to hangout.

Cultural Programs: These are regular programs listed in the institute diary: Listening to the teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama once a month (Scheduled on 1st of every Wednesday of the month) Teachings and Q & A sessions with our religious teacher every Wednesday of the month except for the first Wednesday. Inviting scholars to conduct discourses and teachings on special occasions. Conducting ‘Soltsok’ and ‘Sangsol’ on designated days through the year. Geshe Lobsang Gyaltsen and Geshe Lobsang Kunkhen visit St. Martha’s hospital, St. Jones Hospital and TCV Youth Hostel, Bangalore every month to give talks on Buddhism. These talks are much appreciated by students who attend these interactions.

Other Educational and Social Programs:

Annual Report

Debates in Tibetan and English are organized across departments and conducted every month to help students develop mental and communication skills and learning in general. Plays are staged each year in Tibetan and English depending on the initiative of concerned faculty. Preparations are on the way to perform an English One Act Play: Bishop’s Candle Sticks on 22nd of December, This one-act play is the hard work put in by the English Dramatic Club headed by Gyen Yeshi Dolkar, Senior English Lecturer in the School of Education. Movies in (Tibetan, English and Hindi) are screened every month. The attempt is to show movies that motivate, educate, and widen students’ perspectives on life besides entertaining at the same time. Communication skill programs: It is a regular feature for the students of the Primary Teacher Training Course to plan, prepare and present talks on any aspect of education and learning to develop confidence and communication skill as teachers in the making. Community Service by all the students and staff is in-built in the institute Time Table and mentors supervise and grade these programs on a regular basis. Sweeping and cleaning utilities, taking care of the institute campus, planting trees and a host of other community services are arranged wherever the need is greatest. Celebrations: Every recognized holiday in an academic year is used to benefit the students and staff through well thought-out programs, depending on the occasions. Lectures, activities, games and gatherings are organized both by the staff and students through the respective elected bodies such as the Students Council and Welfare Committee. Talent-Nites are organized by the Students Council on important occasions to showcase the talents of the students in music and dance. We have framed certain rules to ensure that quality of performance is given due importance.

TREE Planting Project – 2011 Starting from June, 2011, the staff and students of the Dalai Lama Institute for Higher Education, Bangalore in team with the Construction Office launched the Tree Planting Project 2011 in a massive way. This project is part of the Community Service Project which is an integral part of the students’ training in the institute – a unique center providing holistic education. The aim of this project is to ensure foliage in the college campus in the years to come. With successive tree planting projects every year, now we have covered most part of the campus with saplings of various plants and in the years to come, we hope to see good foliage all around the campus.

Perspectives

The Valley School Experience: Every year the primary teacher training students of the English Section go to the Valley School for a week’s program of exposure to one of the best schools in Bangalore. This year the program was organized in September, 2011. The association is now on a firm footing and we are welcome there every year. We are extremely grateful to Dr. Satish Inamdar, the Director of the Valley School, Bangalore, for extending us this opportunity to widen our students’ perspectives. During the week, our students were able to shadow their experienced teachers in their respective classes, co-teach some lessons, interact with students and generally take in the ambience and the culture of this most reputed school in Bangalore. The experience opened up our students to what we mean by “quality teaching and learning” in a school.

TTC Practicum:

This year in October, the class of 2011 from the School of Education, went for their practical finals to SOS Tibetan Children’s Village, Bylakuppe for nearly a month.. This is a regular feature of the primary teacher training course and the students look forward to this aspect of training with certain trepidation and excitement. This year, everything went off well as planned with no hiccups! We are always grateful to the Director and Principal for having our students there despite the crunch it puts on their facilities there.

Conflict Resolution Workshop: 5-Day Conflict Resolution Training at Fantasy Resort, Bangalore from August 15 to 19, 2011 was organized by the Chief Representative’s Office in team with Dr. Borris, the Director of Training for the institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy. Dr. Pema Yangchen, the HoD of the School of Education and Mr. Tapsang, Tibetan Lecturer from the same department attended the workshop from the institute.

In-service Montessori Teachers Training Program: 2011 Designed and directed by the TCV Head Office and worked out during the special meeting of TCV Montessori Heads at the institute with Ama la in the chair, this year, two batches of Montessori teachers’ workshop for three months each was conducted at the institute. The first batch workshop was held from 1st July, 2011 to August 14, 2011. 14 Montessori teachers from various TCV schools attended the workshop.

Annual Report The second batch of 12 teachers workshop started from October 3 to November 11, 2011. And, thereafter, the group left to Bylakuppe for the practicals of one month and half. It was a fruitful stay in the institute. Three educational excursions to Bangalore city and the vicinity were arranged and the teachers thoroughly enjoyed their trips. For the second batch, we were able to invite Montessori instructors from IMC, Bangalore for one full day, and the interaction was beneficial for all.

Science Meets Dharma Dialogue â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2011 This workshop is organized by the Tibet-Institute Rikon Switzerland and the Dalai Lama Institute for Higher Education, hosted this program from 7th to the 16th of November, 2011. About 22 scholars from the west and east assembled to dialogue on a host of issues related to the theme. The staff and students took full advantage of this wonderful opportunity in various ways: the faculty and students attended these sessions as observers whenever there was an interesting presentation. The choice of topics and when to attend is left to the each individual faculty and class during the class sessions. The organizers have kindly agreed to conduct couple of lecture sessions for our staff and students interspersed during the course of the dialogue.

The Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, LTWA, Dharamsala has already

approached us to host a special workshop for monks and nuns on the interface of science and Buddhism initiated by the Director of LTWA. This is slated to be held from 15th of January and may continue for three weeks. When the time comes, we hope to take advantage of this special workshop and ensure that we arrange lectures and discussions with scholars who visit us so that our staff and students have a special opportunity to learn.

Two-month Primary Tibetan Teachers Training program: 2012 As designed and directed by TCV Head Office, the two-month Primary Tibetan Teachers Training program will be held from February to March, 2012. This training program is especially designed to improve the standard of the concerned teachers in Tibetan language. The Head Office has instructed us to use our own faculty resources for this workshop. There will be 15 primary Tibetan teachers who are listed by the Head Office to attend this workshop. We hope to make this experience special and meaningful to those who attend the same. The selection of teachers and the time table are in the process of confirmation.

Perspectives

Educational Partnerships between DLIHE and schools: Mission: To build educational partnerships to strengthen learning practices The instituteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s School of Education, which currently designs and develops courses for the primary teacher training course and the Montessori Center, the need is felt to reach out to our schools and build a bridge to interface educational best practices that are being used in the teacher training courses and the actual teaching-learning processes that goes on in our schools. This mutual and dual practice of providing training to student-teachers and the learning that goes on in schools can be augmented and enriched with a close partnership of educational and pedagogical practices to strengthen each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s endeavors to provide quality education in a consistent and continuous relationship of sharing and exchanging of ideas on content and methodology.

Launch: As per the resolution of the Academic Council resolution of the institute, and as per the project proposal sanctioned by the TCV Head Office, we are launching the first batch of faculty to visit a TCV school and provide developmental feedback through a survey paper in July and August, 2011. Given the proximity of the school, we have chosen TCV, Bylakuppe as our school partner this year.

Student Initiatives in educational programs: This year, the students came forward to start various programs and all support was given for their initiatives. The institute, in a sense, belongs to them and they are the vital part of the life of the institute. As such, any programs from the student body are always most welcome! The following snippet outlines the programs.

a. Games and Sports:

For the first time in the institute with initiative from the student themselves, we selected Basketball and Football teams and once the selection was done, serious practice sessions were framed. Staff members who were skilled in these games pitched in by coaching the teams. We fixed friendly matches with Christ PU College, and it was a wonderful experience for involved. The Youth Hostel team also came to play Basketball matches in the campus. We plan to strengthen this aspect of sporting connections with nearby colleges. The exposure through these matches enabled our students to widen their horizon and the interaction with the students proved beneficial to the concerned students.

Annual Report

b. Canteen Volunteers:

Another group of students voluntarily took the responsibility of running the institute Canteen. They worked very hard to make sure that the canteen provided snacks, tea, coffee after class hours and thereby added another program where students can enthusiastically take part and be a part of an important program.

Cultural Group:

Enthused by the initiative of the students in the overall ethos and the importance of making positive things happen in the institute, we had another group of students talented in music and songs created the Cultural Group: “Gyutsel Roeyang”. They have plans of teaching music and songs to other students and stage shows for the institute. The groups maiden show will be on Nobel Peace Day.

d. Tech Team:

Another group of students from the BCA group have created the Tech Team. Their vision is to spread computing skills to the general student body and create a web site of the institute. They are hard at work on several fronts in the computer world.

Tibetan composition Group organized a program on 19th of December, 20-11 on the

theme of nationalism and the self-immolations of Tibetans in Tibet as an expression of solidarity. The group held a composition and poetry reading competition and the even was highly appreciated by all present.

Khangsar Rinpoche’s Teachings at the Institute: We are most grateful to Khangsar Rinpoche’s for his heartfelt support to the institute. He always graciously accepts our invitation to teach our students and staff despite his heavy schedule. This year is no exception. As I write this report, his coming to the institute in December is confirmed on 17th of December and the institute staff and students will receive teachings on Interdependence and there will be a question and answer session after the teaching. Rinpoche’s teaching spiced with real life situations and drawing from his vast knowledge of Buddha Dharma and different cultures and modern life, makes the teachings come alive with meaning and relevance to all who have the fortune to listen to him. The way he accepts questions and answers with depth and width of understanding is something to be experienced.

Ms. Helena Loven’s visit (November) Helena Loven, a blind lady from Sweden is one of the most generous sponsors for TCV in general and the institute in particular. She loves our institute and she makes it a point to come here to stay and interact with our students every year. This year too, she came to stay and interact with our students. She participated in our programs and activities during her stay

Perspectives

and was a very good motivator for our students. The students are amazed to find that she is a voracious reader and knowledgeable on many issues. It is always a pleasure and privilege to have her in the campus every year.

November and December:

Annual Excursions:

This year each department designed and planned the annual excursions to Bangalore city as resolved in the Management Committee meeting. The Tibetan and the Computer Departments planned their excursion together and they decided to do their excursion on December 3, 2011. One batch will visit the Infosys Campus, Bangalore and the other group will visit Bangalore city with well chosen sites.. The School of Education in two groups will pan their excursion in December, 2011. The details are being worked out by the concerned HoD and team.

December 10: Nobel Peace Day: This year we celebrated Nobel Peace Day with ‘Sangsol’ early in the morning. The staff Welfare Committee and the Students Council took the responsibility of organizing games programs for the day and the Sports Committee even organized a special Basketball Tournament involving staff and student teams. In the evening the Guytsel Roeyang Group presented a cultural program which was of high quality. Ms. Sachiko’s volunteering at the institute for over 6 months to teach her special art of origami

to our students is a huge help. She continues to be part of our staff even as I write this report. She will leave the institute on 10th January, 2012. We hope that she will come next year! Besides the fantastic talent she possesses with her art, she is a really nice person and touched a lot of students and staff with her bearing and character. She is sincere and does her best in whatever she touches. She is an exemplar when it comes to a sense of dedication and passion one can show to what one loves to do!

Graduation Day: The Management Committee decided to organize the Graduation Day Celebrations on January 25,, 2012 for the Class of 2011 Primary Teacher Training Course. Plans are on the way to make the day a memorable one. Dr. M.S. Parthasarathy, Regional Director of IGNOU, Bangalore has graciously accepted to be the Chief Guest of the Graduation Day.

16th of February, 2011: Institute Day:

Annual Report

His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited and consecrated the institute on 16th of February, 2009. He blessed the institute with his precious name. Therefore, we have decided to establish this day as the Institute Day every year. The Management Committee will plan programs for this special as always.

Conclusion:

2011-12 academic year was a busy year with many new programs: educational and cocurricular events dotted through the months. The year went off swiftly. I must acknowledge the hard work put by all the staff members to realize our mission of enabling the students to receive a holistic education, and ever deepening understanding of their own area of specialization so that the students will make a difference with knowledge and skills when they go forth from the campus. Now, we are on the threshold of new courses to be slated for the coming academic year. The first meeting to work on the new courses at the management level was held immediately after the policy review meeting consisting of Ama la, Kungno Tempa Tsering la and TCV Head Office members. With Ama la in the chair, this special meeting focusing on the growth of the institute meeting in the years to come and thrashed out the shorting comings of the institute and changes that must be made in the coming years. We also had the privilege of meeting Prof. Gracious Thomas, Director of School of Social Work, IGNOU, New Delhi, who visited the institute through courtesy of Kungno Tempa Tsering la, In a special meeting, with Prof. Thomas in the chair, received valuable guidance on a range of issues including academic courses, creating a profile of the institute for presentation, working towards getting recognition as a private university in the long run and getting â&#x20AC;&#x153; Special Study Centerâ&#x20AC;? recognition for the institute for the present. Beside,other pertinent issues on the growth of the institute emerged and these will be studied as we progress. We are grateful to him for his continued support. I pen off here with wishing all staff and students a well deserved holiday!

Perspectives

Tips for Learning English as a Second/Foreign Language

lot of time and a lot of practice and hard work to learn a foreign language. Teaching English as a second language for over two decades has also given me deep insight into what it takes to learn a foreign language. In the course of my teaching, I closely observed, and analysed why successful students were successful and why the not so successful were not successful. Although there were as many different reasons as there were students, I can say with confidence that the ground rule essentially remained the same for all. So in the following pages I’m going to make an attempt to give some useful tips on how to learn English effectively. And in so doing I hope to satisfy the curiosity of my most enthusiastic students who frequently pester me with this million dollar question.

Mrs. Yeshi Dolkar English Lecturer

tudents always ask, “What can I do to improve my English?” Unfortunately this seemingly simple question does not have a simple answer! This is because language is a highly complex skill and so learning a foreign language is not an easy task. Unlike learning one’s mother tongue, the learning of a foreign language requires a lot of conscious thought, effort and patience. Language learning is said to be complete only when this conscious effort becomes a sub-conscious effort or as some would call ‘automaticity’. Now, it is a common understanding that to be able to give good advice one must have personal experience. I do not have any personal experience in learning English as a foreign language because I went to an all English boarding school throughout my primary school and so I acquired it just as I acquired my mother-tongue. My secondary education was in TCV school, Dharamsala and since the academic language there too was English, I did not face any particular problem. However, I do have some experience learning French as a foreign language in college. That was almost thirty years ago! I remember learning how to read and write basic French very quickly within a few months but I had a lot of problem understanding the spoken language and speaking it. I came to know that it takes a

TIP # 1 HAVE A STRONG DESIRE TO LEARN ENGLISH

This is the starting point. You must have a strong interest in learning English. If you’re interested you’ll enjoy listening to English, speaking, reading and writing English. If you’re not interested you’ll find it a burden and will never learn the language. This logic has a lot of empirical evidences. For example, how many of us know how to speak Hindi fluently and accurately in spite of living in India for so long? How many of us know Kannada in spite of living in Bangalore for almost three years? This means that if you don’t want to learn a language you will never learn it. Therefore, if you want to learn English you must want it so bad that you will do something about it.

Staff Column

TIP # 2

movies, songs etc. So literally surround yourself with the language in class, outside and at home. Watch English movies with English sub-titles in the beginning. This helps you not only in understanding and enjoying the movie but also in reading and hearing the language and in developing an interest in English movies. Developing an interest in English movies will go a long way in improving your English language because this will make you want to watch more and more English movies. And whenever you go out, use your ipods or your mobile phones to listen to English or take a reading material with you. Surrounding yourself with different materials will keep you constantly in touch with the language which is essential for learning the language.

THINK ABOUT WHY YOU WANT TO LEARN ENGLISH

It is very useful to first identify your motivation to learn English. There could be many reasons. You may want to learn English for business purposes or you may want to learn English to travel or you may want to learn English for academic purposes. If you have your goals clear and specific , it keeps you focussed on what you want. It makes your objectives more achievable.

TIP # 3 DEFINE YOUR OBJECTIVES

Once you have identified your motivation, you can set some goals for learning English. Having goals will help you to remember what areas you want to work on, and it will help you to see your progress. For example, would you like to improve your pronunciation? Speaking? Listening? Vocabulary? Writing? Do you want to be able to speak on the phone or to the doctor or to do shopping? If you are specific about what you want, you can easily work towards that goal and review your progress.

TIP # 5 DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T BE SHY

Tibetans are usually very shy by nature, particularly Tibetan girls. Being shy does not help you learn a language. Take every little opportunity in the class, at home and outside to use the language. Speak with your teachers in English, speak with your friends in English, speak with foreigners in English. It is very normal to feel a little uneasy or self- conscious the beginning. But this is a passing phase. In a matter of weeks you will be surprised to find yourself speaking in the language without any fear.

TIP # 4 SURROUND YOURSELF WITH ENGLISH

TIP # 6

The more you expose yourself to English, the more you get used to it and the more familiar it becomes to you. Use different kinds of materials such as listening materials, reading materials, TV, radios,

UNLEARN TYPICAL ENGLISH MISTAKES

Most of you have learnt English for

Perspectives

over twelve years in school but you’ve picked up a lot of incorrect use of the language. Your mistakes are mainly grammatical and pronunciation. These little mistakes can spoil your language which can sometimes affect your self-esteem. So when your teacher or your friends point out your mistake, ask for or look up the correct use in a grammar book or a pronunciation dictionary. If you are not familiar with phonetic alphabets use an online dictionary because you get to hear the pronunciation. Then try to work on your mistakes one at a time. It is not possible to unlearn all your mistakes altogether.

English every day than spending hours once a week or once a month.

TIP # 7

ENLARGE YOUR VOCABULARY

RECORD YOR OWN VOICE

Pay attention to new words and phrases you hear or read. Create a target to learn a certain number of words per week. But remember that it is better to learn phrases than single words because when you learn phrases you are also learning how to use the word correctly in a sentence. For example, if you come across the sentence ‘I do aerobics every morning’, learning just the word ‘aerobics’ is not useful. Learn the phrase ‘do aerobics’ and the sentence in which it is used. In this way learn chunks of language and not isolated words.

TIP # 9 VARY ACTIVITIES

Vary your activities every day. Sometimes read, sometimes write, sometimes listen to songs or news, sometimes watch a movie and sometimes play English language games. In this way you will enjoy learning English and sustain your interest in it.

TIP # 10

Another useful technique to recognise the mistakes you are making and to selfevaluate your progress is to record your own voice and listen to it. Sometimes what you think of what you say and what you actually say may not be the same. You may think you are pronouncing a word correctly when you are actually not. This is because it is very difficult to listen to our own voice when we speak. So hearing yourself is the most effective way to learn about the mistakes you are making. And a regular recording of your voice will help you see improvement and be motivated.

TIP # 11 MAKE FRIENDS WITH NATIVE SPEAKERS

TIP # 8

One of the best ways to practice your English is to make friends with native speakers. This is important because native speakers have a very natural flow to their speech that you could imitate. Besides, they can be of very valuable help in your

MAKE REGULAR LEARNING A HABIT

Learn English regularly for about ten to fifteen minutes every day and review what you’ve learnt at the end of the week. It is better to spend a little time learning

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learning English. Having native English speakers as friends mean that you will find yourself in situations where you have no choice but to speak English. Yet since they are your friends, you will probably have little or no stress. Friendships with native English speakers also mean that you’ll have someone whom you can ask questions regarding language, culture, their country, etc. Online friends can also be of huge help. You can talk to them on Skype, write them emails and chat with them on social networking sites.

book. If you find them interesting and the language simple enough to understand, you will find that you want to read more and listen to it more.

TIP # 12

ACKNOWLEDGE PROGRESS

TIP # 14 USE GRAMMAR

Use grammar in your speech and writing. Do not learn and memorize rules. They do not help.

TIP # 15 Finally, it is important to recognize that you will improve as you study English. You may sometimes think that you are not improving at all. But remember progress comes little by little, so it’s hard to see if you have grown in your language skills. It will be difficult to see any visible improvement in a few weeks or even a few months. But if you stop and think about where you were six months ago, or even a year ago, then you see that you have made progress. So keep a record of your writings and your voice recordings because this will help you see how much you have improved. And if you continue to study and work hard at improving your English, you will reach your goal sooner or later!

VISIT AN ENGLISH SPEAKING FAMILY/ COMMUNITY

Plan a part of your long vacations to either visit an English speaking family or working as a volunteer in an English speaking community or organization. This is in fact the quickest and the most effective way to learn English. You will find that you have no choice but to speak in English. So if you do get such an opportunity, make sure you interact with the people around you as much as possible and not wait for them to talk to you.

TIP # 13 READ AND LISTEN TO MATERIALS THAT INTEREST YOU

TIP # 16

Read anything that you understand and you find interesting. In the same way listen to something that interests you. Reading and listening to difficult and uninteresting materials will only kill your interest. So get hold of anything like a comic book or even children’s story books or a simple audio

BE PATIENT

As I mentioned earlier on, learning a foreign language is very difficult and it takes a lot of time. It is a gradual process and sometimes you may think that you have not improved at all. This may dishearten

Perspectives

you and you may want to give up. So you must have patience and work with as much zeal as you started with. Do not give up because learning a language is a goal that can be achieved. In conclusion, the key to learning any language is practice, practice and practice. Practice English language every day. Practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing. We say, “Practice makes perfect.” This means that the more you practice something, the better you will become in it. So practice, practice, and practice English.

practical application of education, all these developments would not be possible. The almighty has endowed man with some or other talent. That is the reason why human excellence has always been linked to the display of creative capacity of the individual. It is therefore important to nurse and nature creativity in the educational progress and discover the “Treasure within a person” so that each person can contribute maximum to the human society. It is also to the fact that human beings have struggled for survival and survived because he is gifted with a brain and flexible limbs. Education has always played a vital role in the human society. And as the human society has been progressing, education has been recasting itself to meet the new demands and challenges. In other words, we can say that education is the means for reconstruction of society. Today, we live in the world of science and technology .The product of modern science and technology have become a part and parcel of our daily life- whether we are situated in far-flung villages or in the hustle and bustle of cities. Based on the ability of science and technology, man is able to produce enough of everything to fulfill the needs of every person. Realizing this importance, the countries in the world want to become self-reliant and seek a path of development, where the knowledge of science and technology can be used for the upliftment of their country and countrymen. Consequently, we use various kinds of tools for performing different activities in our daily life situations – be it a mobile or a telephone, a computer or a television, a refrigerator or an air conditioner, a stethoscope or a thermometer, a ceiling fan

Blessings of Education for the Development of Mankind Ms. Tenzin Lamsang English Lecturer

he progress of man from a cave dweller to an astronaut owes much to the education system of today’s world. There is an inextricable link between education and development of mankind. Education is the one of the important factors for progressive prosperity. It is the manifestation of perfection already in man. The hidden potentials are revealed when a person gets an opportunity to perform. For example, the progress of man from Stone Age to space age and the progress of man from laboring with hands to working with machines. Yet, this long way represents an extension and logical development of that early step. Therefore, without the

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or a transistor, all these instruments have become the necessities of our daily life. In fact, these are the facilities offered to mankind by the blessings of science and technology. Therefore, it is obvious that the most precious gift of education is the development of the intellectual powers of man. An educated person preciously values the importance of education. They have not only developed Science and Technology but has achieved higher standard of living than those who lagged behind education. The problems of poverty, ill-health, ignorance, unemployment and untold miseries among the vast section of population could be solved through education. Owing to these reasons, today, many countries in the world opt for giving free education up to class XII level. Yet another great advantage of scientific education and knowledge is that it has made a great advancement in the field of health and fitness, food and nutrition. In fact, scientific education has revolutionized (medicine) in the treatment of many dreadful diseases. The knowledge of Science enabled man to introduce varieties of technology to solve many life situation problems-starting from health problems to the economic problems. Life saving drugs have prolonged man’s average life span and has brought quick relief to many obstinate ailments. No matter whatever be the problems –diabetes, blood pressure, asthma, menopause, obesity, stomach ailments, premature ageing or general complaints , man’s mastery over technology has showed a safe and secure means to overcome health related problems. All these are due to the attainment of education, for it has helped

mankind to achieve excellence in the world of growing complexity and rapid technological change. The instrument for enlightenment is knowledge. It has shown us several techniques in exploring one’s inner untapped resources and opens the natural flow of an exceptional life in a practical and affirming manner. For instance, God has endowed every person with some or other talents. It is this talent that the mankind has contributed much to the daily life of the people as a whole. Actually, as matter of fact, we cannot understand the world in which we live, without the proper knowledge of science and technology. For, every human being depends upon science for food, health, transport, communication, recreation, farming, business and economics. Therefore, in a world based on Science and Technology, it is education that determines the level of prosperity, welfare, and security of people. It is clearly known that the generations of scientific and industrial evolution have brought within human reach, the productive potential for universal health and well-being. Such a state is desirable not in providing a life of utopian contentment, but as the platform for the release of man’s deepest and most creative spirituality. To that end, man is beginning to discover the knowledge needed to understand the bases of social welfare and harmony. In the thousands of classrooms, lecture halls and laboratories of the nation’s schools, colleges and universities, millions of students annually seek an education. This education embraces many goals, social, moral, aesthetic and intellectual. In the pantheon of these goals, knowledge is

Perspectives

one of the only ends sought but it must be recognized by all in the society. Everyone must understand that knowledge is the most important goal for nation’s growth and development. In addition, without knowledge, free nation, whose primary end is man’s highest humanity, cannot be survived. So, from a humble beginning man has been growing steadily. The tireless and pain taking efforts of man have made the world a better place to live. It is education, which has motivated and inspired man to be positive in all endeavor. Hence, let us all realize and understand that all these development in our today’s life are possible only due to the contributions extended by education of mankind. Let us hope, the future generations of the world be all educated men and women, so that every individual can lay the foundation stone of leading the world to the right path of future development for betterment of human race as a whole.

over the questions papers that frequently conjured a fear out of my playful days and spoiled my dreams at night. However, as I grew up, my goal changed every other day like Dharamsala’s weather. Maybe the weather had its effect on me. Somehow, I landed in the teaching profession quite unexpectedly. Personally, I cannot fathom whether I have been successful enough to make even a small difference in my students’ life for I am just a novice teacher. Having taught English as a second language in this institute for two years, I figured out a whole new perspective on the teaching career as I went through different phases of my teaching experience. I was very apprehensive about coming here because I had no classroom experience. Yet, I was optimistic and enthusiastic about it. When I introduced myself on the first day of my class, I was glued to the bright young eyes, and I felt the connection with my students. As the days and weeks passed by, I thought it wasn’t as tough as I had imagined, and I felt I knew it how to handle my students in my own way. The realization struck me when I encountered different challenges later on. There were times when I had my troubled days where my students seemed uninterested, confused and lost even after explaining the lessons several times. My days went preoccupied with the thoughts of my students. I was so driven by my occupation that I ate, slept and woke up, thinking of my students. When I faced few behavioral problems in the class, I couldn’t figure out my students’ problems. I was disappointed and discouraged. This had an adverse effect on my teaching as well. Undoubtedly, my students would suffer

A Bittersweet Experience Ms. Tenzin Yangchen English Lecturer

When I was just a kid, I was determined to become a teacher, and I often pictured myself becoming one. This was not something motivated by my teachers or any other famous personalities as is the case with many others. Quite strangely, it was because I hated exams. I used to think teachers are the happiest people on earth because they don’t have to worry about exams; rather they have the full authority

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in the end. I didn’t want that at any cost, so I tried to find some encouragement and hope by discussing the matter with other veteran teachers. I even read many articles and researches on handling behavioral problems. Even a minor negative response from my students ruined my whole day, and it kept me wondering about ways to tackle it. Every day searching for something new, something that would rouse my students’ interest pushed me further in dealing with this challenging profession. On the other hand, there were times when my lessons went better than what I’ve planned. Once we had presentation nearing soon. My students were so scared to stand before the audience and speak in English. Some of them even cried profusely. However, I pushed them hard and worked together. Finally it went very well. On the next day, I saw changes in them. They came to class better dressed up; they started participating more in the class. After this incident, none of them gave any excuses. I guess they realize they are capable of doing anything if they work hard. I felt contended and proud with the knowledge that I had chosen the right career that would truly help my students. There isn’t a greater happiness than the student’s appreciation of what I have done. These small recognitions served me as a catalyst to work harder each day. Every day was a new challenge, and it helped me evolve myself into a better person. I often feel that the teaching profession demands something beyond me. It isn’t just about excelling in a particular field of study; instead it requires a great range of other knowledge and skills. To me, being able to identify the individual learning

progress and to meet emotional needs apart from teaching is necessary in a student’s growth. I had experienced differences in my students’ emotional and psychological needs. It is undoubtedly a difficult to task to fulfill student’s needs. I think there should be mutual understanding between both the teacher and the students. Students very often take teachers for granted. They hardly ever try anything on their own. It is necessary for the students also to know that teachers don’t have a magic wand to make miracles. The effort should come from both the sides. Without continuous strenuous effort from teachers as well as the students, there won’t be any miracle. Lastly I understood that teaching is a process which needs shaping through years of experience accompanied by varying amount of stress, frustration and satisfaction. Moreover, it is only through the process of years of experience that one can understand the nuances in the teaching career. I am grateful to have such supportive veteran teachers in this institute who have been instrumental in helping me growing professionally by sharing ideas on effective teaching strategies. Without their support and guidance, I wouldn’t have had such a rewarding experience within the past two years. I can now to some extend relate myself to my past teachers and their impediments, and feel immense gratitude for their unwavering love and support.

Perspectives

My Most Memorable Holiday

I’ll never forget the six hours bike ride with my friends, I’ll never forget the incident when my friend lost his bike and I’ll never forget the beautiful walk on the beach in the evenings. This was indeed my most memorable holiday!

Tenzin Rabyang Class of 2012 (English)

It was during my last summer vacation. I went to Gopalpur beach in Orissa on the 5th of May, 2011. That was my second time visiting the beach. I had been there before with my family but this time it was more fun. The weather was awesome – neither hot nor windy but wonderfully pleasant. When I reached the beach, I saw an elegant white building which was the hotel that I had booked. I had booked three double rooms for six people. The hotel was good with all the latest amenities. The rooms were spacious and air conditioned and there was a TV and a telephone in each room. The food was delicious and cheap. I was very happy to see my friends because I hadn’t met them for a long time. I was excited that we were finally going to the beach together. The six of us rode on three bikes for six hours to reach Gopalpur beach. When we reached the beach we were all shouting, laughing, playing and jumping in the water. It was such a great feeling. We felt like we were the only ones on the beach. By 3 o’ clock in the evening, the waves became stronger. However, more and more people started coming. I saw a lot of Indian couples having a romantic time. We spent a day at the hotel and it was now time to go. We packed our bags and paid our bills. When I was walking down the stairs I heard one of my friends calling out to me. They were saying that one of our bikes had been stolen. I felt very sorry for my friend.

My Indelible Moments Chonga Lhamo Class of 2011 (English)

Every year, every school has two months of summer holiday and some have winter break. Our college has two months of summer break. For ten months, students study very hard in the school and it is during the break that students get to play with their friends, spend their precious time with their families. Most of them spend time with their families, relatives and friends and some visit new places for new experience. Unlike them, I spend my vacation doing all the household chores at home. I did all the household work and gave rest to my mother. At the same time, I did some translation work and went to observe lessons. Firstly, a week after my arrival, my mom and her new husband got divorced because he was very lazy and did not do any work. They have a small baby who of course is with my mom. My mom has also become very weak. I bought lots of nutritious food and served my family. As a result, I saw a huge improvement in their health. They became more active and my siblings gained some weight also. I am really happy for the results I got. Every day, I cooked meals for them and washed

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their clothes. I make separate meal for my grandma as she has diabetes. After every two days, I bath her. Nevertheless, I enjoyed working hard as I always love to cook and do household chores. For one and a half month, during my free time I translated a Tibetan story called Sukkyi-Nyima into English. The Director of Mundgod Opera Association requested me to translate that story in English because they have to send it to their sponsors. Even though I have to do all the household work, I was able to use some of my free time for that. As I am not highly proficient, I faced some vocabulary problems but I sought help from my school teachers and my friends. Finally, when I completed the translation, the Director thanked me for my work with some gift money. I felt very happy as I got paid for the first time for my work. I was equally happy to see my own work (translation). In the process, I learned many new words and now I know the story very well. Before my break ended, I wished to take some classes and teach some poems and play games but the Principal of C.S.T. Mundgod told me that all the classes were packed with teachers. Then I requested her to allow me to observe some English classes and she granted me the permission. So I went to observe classes for one week because after that their summer break started. I was very lucky that one of their English teachers was very frank.

He introduced me to his students and during the class, he asked me to check the studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work and grade them. He gave me plenty of advice on teaching primary students. On the last day, I gave him nine games which we demonstrated in the class. I really enjoyed his company and got to observe many classes. All in all, I can confidently say that I have used my time very efficiently. I am sure everyone experienced new things during the summer break and I also experienced many things during the break. There are many people whom I needed to thank for giving me the opportunity to experience new things. So I would like to thank our English lecturer Dr. Pema Yangchen for giving us the assignments that would help us in the near future, the Director of Mundgod Opera Association for giving me the opportunity to translate a story, Sir Benny for his company, Mam Jampa Wangmo for helping me to find the meanings of the new words and finally my friends for always being there for me. Without their support, I would have wasted my break roaming here and there and watching movies. So, over all I enjoyed everything that I did during my summer break and I am proud of it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To support mother and father, to cherish wife and child and to have a simple livelihood; this is the good luck.â&#x20AC;? -Buddha quotes

Perspectives

Tragedy of Refugees

a painful life! Is it our fate? Our life is very different in exile. I miss my homeland a lot. We hunger for freedom, Thirst for human right, Expect to return, Hope to gather In front of our majestic Potala

Gurgon Kyab 2nd Year (Tibetan Language and Literature)

Between the bloody yesterday And the unpredictable tomorrow, Thousand lives are on the verge of death, A cold and painful suffering

Discipline

Five decades have passed since the red dragon brutally oppressed the people of Tibet in the land of snow. The moment His Holiness the Dalai Lama escaped from his homeland to India to reconstruct his government and save his people in terms of their original identity and traditional heritage of Tibetan’s precious culture, under the cruel leadership of Chinese government in Tibet has strategically started to exterminate the Tibetan nationality for their national interest. So, after the Chinese invasion of Tibet, Tibetans in Tibet can no longer enjoy the freedom they had before the Chinese arrival. They could neither live under the Chinese inhuman treatment nor could they flee into exile. Tibetans have been suffering for the last fifty two years both inside and outside of Tibet. In exile society, thousands of Tibetans are compelled to adapt to a new environment. We belong to no country. Although the blood in our veins is indisputably Tibetan, we don’t even have a so called PASSPORT recognizing us as ‘Tibetan’ internationally. Millions of orphan Tibetan children are waiting for the day to reunite with their family in Tibet. These Tibetan children are always in need of parents’ love and care as well. Unfortunately we cry under the black cloud hoping to return to motherland. What

Tenzin Rinzin Class of 2011 (English)

Discipline, which helps in shaping students is mandatory in every school. From a disciplinarian point of view, discipline is given priority in a school as it helps the students to get ready to lead a disciplined life in outside world. A school without discipline means a country without laws. If there are no laws in a country then there will be chaos all over the place. Similarly, a school without discipline will not be able to prepare the students for their lives and also to shape their behavior. As school is considered a place where students perceive knowledge and they also learn to be disciplined. So, if a school is not able to help the students for their future then I think one of the key objectives is not being fulfilled. Having said that, a discipline should not be hard enough so that the students might feel like being treated as prisoners. Psychologically, when students are harshly punished because of their every misbehavior then we are modeling them with unharmonious way to discipline their students/children. As they grow up, they might think that the way they got disci-

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plined is the only way to practice discipline and they might set up such a mind set. My twelve years experience in different schools tells me that a discipline shouldn’t be harsh enough but it is also right to sometimes use harsh discipline to prevent major misbehavior such as fighting, stealing, misbehaving with the teachers, etc. In such kind of situations, harsh discipline is applicable so as to prevent such behavior in the future. If the authority ignores such behaviors then it might occur again and again thus, affecting not only the child but others also. They might think that if they repeat such behaviors in the future then they will not be punished. Like wise, some children repeat their mistakes again and again due to no discipline and they may think that what they are doing is right. At last they will face problem in their later lives living in different societies. In contradiction to that, most of the time the discipline of a school shouldn’t be strenuous so that the children feel like they are being treated harshly. Constant use of harsh discipline can affect their learning as it can discourage them. When they feel discouraged, they won’t even try to attempt as they have been ridiculed in front of others or punished. From my experience in different schools, I have seen many pupils including my friends who thought of taking revenge to that particular disciplinarian. And that attitude, I think has been brought

up in their mind because of the harsh discipline. If I talk about myself as a student in school, I didn’t like the captain and the disciplinarian much. When I first joined C.S.T. Mussoorie, I thought it was a good place. But as I experienced more and more, I saw that the prefects and the captain were given the power to use corporal punishment on students. Such methods are not appropriate as they misuse it. During my school days, even though the prefects did anything to break the discipline, they were free to go. I believe that excess use of harsh discipline should be banned in every school. In a nut shell, what I want to say is discipline should not be harsh every time but still there should be little room for it so as to prevent major misbehaviors.

What a Life! Penchung Class of 2012 (SSM)

There are lots of confusions in my mind which is making me feel crazy. I don’t know what happened to me, and what I am doing. Even though I have lots of home works to do, I am still watching movies. Something has happened to me and something inside me has changed but I can’t figure out how and why. This laptop is very useful and I carry it everywhere. However, sometimes I

Perspectives

wonder whether it helps me more or harms me more. That’s a really difficult question to answer. I completely agree that it is very useful but I am also not blind to its impact on me. If I wouldn’t have it with me, I would be doing my homework. We are living in this twenty first century with huge development in technology. Our lives seem to have become far easier than before. We no longer need to travel on foot for long; we can instead go on a plane, a car and a train that could take us to our destination within few minutes or hours. It also looks as though we have so much time for ourselves, letting the machines do our works. There is no need for piles of books to store records, carry heavy text books to the class or travel long way to get tickets for travelling or any other purposes. Personally I think, we are becoming so dependent on machine that we can’t imagine ourselves without the help of machine. People are failing to see the darker side of it. Although it makes our life more convenient, our excess dependence on machine will ultimately lead us to doom.

We would make friends with machine rather than with human. Mankind would even descend to trust more on machine than on human being. I think the day is very near when the machine would rule the world and we would be its slave. The life of man has become so strange. We always crave for more and more not realizing that we are running towards our own fall. I am not telling that we don’t need these things. Of course we do, without these, our life would be more difficult, but there is some limit which we shouldn’t cross. Many of us tend to use it beyond our needs and that’s where all the problems rise. Just as overdose of medicine could cause more harm than to recover, excessive reliance on machine would surely create problem in future. There are many areas where we don’t necessarily need machines. We can do it on our own. So I think it is important to let our machines have lesser influence on human being otherwise our life would become mechanical.

My Past Experience Norbu Dhondup Class of 2013 (English)

On a beautiful day when the birds were singing, and people were merrily resting in their home after finishing their day’s works, in a rich Tibetan family in the capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu, a couple had their fourth child on 25th January, 1990. The baby was blessed and given the name Norbu Dhundup by a holy Lama. The whole family was very happy and there wasn’t any problem in their life. The

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boy was loved and cared by his two elder sisters and his lovely parents. After some years he was lucky to have three younger brothers, with whom he played together. The boy is none other than me. Unfortunately then came the time, the year of 1996, when many carpet factories collapsed in Nepal and their owners fall from riches to rag. Consequently many Tibetans totally lost their livelihood, and my father was among them. My father was the man of men. He was a soldier in the Indian army along with two of my uncles during the Bangladesh war in 1970s. After the war, my father started running a carpet factory and got settled in Nepal. Later he married my lovely mother and had seven children. The year 1996 was the worst year for my family. The business went down and my father started drinking excessively and this eventually led to his death. I often heard whispers between my mother and sisters with their mournful eyes and heavy sighs. After my father passed away, the situation of my family became very miserable. I was only five but I worked in a small restaurant selling Sha-bhaklab after school. I was paid Rupees 50 per day by the owner. I used to give it to my mother. I was happy that at least I had my mother with me. Life gave us another shock when my mother nearly died. She was sick as she had a hole in her skull. Luckily, she recovered but she didn’t stay long and she also left us alone. Nobody, not a single Tibetan came to help

us. The seven helpless children were crying inconsolably in front of their cold and pale mother. A nun came and told us that she was our close relative. She lived with us for a week and prayed for my parents’ souls. Unbelievingly, in spite of helping us she took everything that our parents left for us. Our life became so miserable and poor. After some weeks, my uncle came from India to take us to Tibetan schools in India. We all hugged him and shed tears and told him that we all missed him very much. I was very much amazed because his face was similar to my late father and I even called him “PALA”. He advised us not to worry and he promised us that he would take care of us. So after a week, he took us to India, travelling a week in train. It was our first time in train. I saw my elder sister Pema vomiting, and I did it too. After a week, one evening we reached Berhampur, a city in Bhubaneshwar. We rested in an old and cheap hotel because my uncle couldn’t afford much. So the next day, early in the morning, we left home to a Tibetan settlement in Mahendragada in Gajapati district. When we reached there, I saw a woman standing and waiting in front of the gate of our home. Later I came to know that she is our aunt. After a week, my uncle put my two elder sisters and I in Tibetan Homes School in Mussoorie. My other three younger brothers were sent to upper T.C.V school in Dharamsala. I observed that life in the school was so beautiful and amazing because I met many

Perspectives

students who had come from Tibet. Many of them were either orphan or homeless like me. I never felt sad and lonely because I could see my brothers and sisters in them. The elders take care of the small kids and help them in their studies. Soon after a decade I graduated from my high school in March 2010. I went to Chennai and joined in Madras Christian College. I found the place very interesting because it is a very nice place to study. There are many Indian students and other foreigners as well. I also managed to make some friends. The environment is so beautiful. It’s almost like a small animal sanctuary because I saw many deer and birds. I stayed there for almost a year studying very hard, but I couldn’t adapt with the food and the weather there. As bad luck would have it, I lost my credit card, and somebody has taken all the money from it. I had no money to pay fees. I didn’t want to leave the college. So I tried to study hoping to things to get back to its normal. Moreover I fell sick. After some time, I got a call from my neighbor informing me that my uncle was very sick. There were no other relatives to take care of him except me. So thinking about his love and care for us, I decided leave my college and help him as much as I can. When I reached my home, I found that my uncle was suffering from Malaria. His body was shivering and sweating a lot. I made him to rest and I did all the domestic chores. Besides I worked there in our settlement as a tutor for the students. I took tuition classes from seven in the morning till midnight. At half past twelve, I prepared lunch for my uncle. From two o’ clock to half past four and from six o’ clock to eight I teach small kids. I earned around

six to seven thousand rupees per month. This was what I did before I came here in this institution. It was my aim or dream to become a good and perfect teacher whether I join a college or a Teacher Training Centre. After the recovery of my uncle’s health, I was lucky to get scholarship to study in this institute even after discontinuing my college. I’m grateful to my school for giving me another chance to pursue my dream. Now I feel very good and it seems my dream is coming true finally.

My Summer Vacation Jigmey Lhamo Class of 2011 (English)

I spent one month of my holiday with my eldest sister in Delhi. My sister’s husband was busy going to work and came home very late at night. He has only one day off on Monday. There I looked after my sister’s baby who is very naughty but very cute. Most of the time I read some story books which my sister recommended. Sometimes I also play him. Unluckily, I caught cold and it stayed for many days. At that time, I was not feeling well and couldn’t sleep well at night. Later I took some medicine and recovered from cold. On 20th April, we all went for a picnic to the national zoo. At the zoo, I saw different animals that I have never seen before specially love bird which is very beautiful. My sister’s baby also felt very happy because at home, there is less space to play but at the zoo, when he saw such a big ground, he played and ran here and there. We didn’t have to carry him. He was excited to see such a big elephant that he

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has never seen before except only in text books. On 25th April, my eldest sister and I went to Manjukatilla to a chupa tailor. There we ate momos and had a good time. At the Lhasa House, I met my nephew who is working there as a receptionist. She gave money and sweets to me. Later at Punjab Basti, I bought many sweets and my eldest sister brought some dresses for me. On the way I met my ex-classmate after two years. She has become very thin because she is doing nursing course in Delhi On 28th April, I left Delhi. In the train, at first we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have any seat but later, the TT came and he gave two seats to us. We felt very happy and thanked him. There I met one stranger, a girl, who is doing nursing course in Bangalore .She is an Indian. We talked late into the night and became friends. When we were about to reach Bangalore, I went to wash my face. There I found one brown wallet. I opened it and tried to find some identification so that I could find that person. Luckily there was his photo. So I went to search him and I found him. He thanked me and gave me a nice smile. On 1st June 2011, I reached home and all of a sudden I received call from my friend Yangchen telling me that she is leaving for a France on 3rd June. On 2nd June I went to meet her and gave some sweets to her that she liked the most. After that I went to Bylakuppe for observation and stayed for three days. When I reached home, I taught English to our camp students. There were six of them. I taught them for almost twelve days. After that, I went with some camp mates to make a new birth certificate because our chairman ordered to make a new birth certificate which was not easy

as such. There we had to go almost two hours to find a good advocate to make it. But unfortunately, I could not finish it. I requested my relative to help my mom to finish this work. All .in all, I enjoyed my summer break very much.

Moments to Treasure Tenzin Rinzin Class of 2011 (English)

As I stepped out of the gate on 30th March, I recalled all my planning that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been making during the period of 10 months. Overjoyed, I was heading towards the city and then to my friends. I was insisted to stay there for a day as my reservation was 31st. At night, as I put my heavy head on the soft pillow, I could see myself at home, playing basketball and having fun with my pals. The day arrived for our departure to home. I could see lots of mates hurrying towards their train compartments. On 31st March, I started my journey to home. There was so much noise; some of them were sharing their plans and some eagerly listening with a smile on their faces. I, too, joined the conversation and had a great time talking about our most awaited break. All the boys and girls were mixed up in a compartment, laughing and chattering. The next day, when I woke up, the activeness was still there in their talks. We deboard the train on 2nd April and headed towards our different destinations. We bid farewell to each other. I enjoyed my two days in Delhi with my brother and the next day, I left for Chauntra, my hometown. As I got nearer to my destination, I could feel the cold wind of the morning

Perspectives

Friends Forever

hitting hard on my face and smell of the fresh air while enjoying the greenery. I felt at home as I walked through the narrow street of our settlement. I opened the gate and there, my family members welcomed me with surprise looks on their faces. The first few weeks of vacation were very exciting and had lots of fun. As time passed by, the days got boring. At the end of April, I was informed about the Exile-Tibetan law workshop at Deckyiling. I decided to participate and submitted the necessary papers. On 4th May, I left for Deckyiling to attend the workshop. The next day, my sister came to receive me. As soon as she saw me, she yelled at me to shave my moustache. It was a very funny moment. I knew the place because I had been there when I was in school. I could see a lot of changes. After a long time, I met my best friend who also had come to attend the workshop. We left for Deckyiling together. On the way we recalled the old memories of our school time. We had a great time together till our stay there. After those happy moments we had to depart our ways to home. The next day, I was home again. At night, when I lay down on my bed, I realized that my vacation was almost over. I refreshed the memories of my time spent during the vacation. I again had planned something as I was going to stay in Delhi for a day. On 27th May, I had all my things packed and ready to leave. Before leaving I took a glance of my parent’s face bidding me farewell, which still reflects in my mind. All in all, my summer break was a blast.

Chemi Dolma Class of 2012 (English)

I may not have good dresses to wear, a sweet voice to sing, enough money to afford anything, an understanding boyfriend to share my feelings with, but I can proudly say that I have had true friends all my life. They have become such an integral part of my life that without them my life remains incomplete. It is like the letter ‘f’ in the word ‘life”. Remove ‘f’ - which stands for ‘friends’ – and life becomes ‘lie’. Life to me without friends would be a life of pretence for it is only with true friends that I get to be myself. It’s almost been two years since my best friend and I departed. Although we’ve gone different ways as far as our career choices are concerned, we share a lot in common. We have the same interest, the same hobbies and the same likes and dislikes. For example, we are both bananas over Taylor Lautner ( the star in the movie ‘Abduct’). We both love to listen to the songs of Chris Brown, Miley Cyrus, Jojo, and Taylor Swift. One of our favorite songs is ‘Next to you’. We both hate action movies, flirts and manipulative people. The wonderful moments I’ve had with my friends are moments that will live with me forever. I remember one evening, during my school days, my best friend and I ran away to the market without our matron’s permission. Unfortunately we met her in

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the middle of the market. She punished us like hell. She made us stand on the table in front of all the students. We were 18 years old at the time and in class twelve. It was really embarrassing and I can never forget that moment. Another funny incident was when one of our friends had a fight with another girl. My best friend and I were supposed to help our friend by holding the other girl’s hands but in the heat of things we got nervous and held our friend’s hands and because of this our poor friend received a many punches from that girl. She was furious and for almost a week she didn’t talk to us. The moments that I had with my friends in the past are just memories now. The memories of quarrels, cries, fights and punishments make me laugh. And the memories of pranks and good times make me cry. But these are memories that I will always cherish. These are memories I’ll visit again and again.

by learning and educating oneself. But on the other hand, nowadays in the present day to day life in a society, most of the problems are created by the people who are educated and have little knowledge. They try to use it to fulfill their own desire, trying to be more individualistic. The posts that they hold are filled with corrupted minds and thoughts. As a result, lots of problems arise under the control of such leaders. The main reason is that the lack of knowledge in their leadership. The lack of knowledge and education has involved them to misuse the power and they became more theoretical rather than practical when it comes to the problem solving evidence.

Little Knowledge is Dangerous Tsangbu 1st Year (Tibetan Language and Literature)

If a little knowledge is dangerous, where is the man who has so much as to be out of danger?

Generally education and knowledge are extremely important in our life. These two are important keys to guide our future life. Especially, in the 21st century where things are highly advanced and education and knowledge are the most important tools. Without it, we remain backward. So everybody considers it as an important requirement to fulfill our aims and objectives. Knowledge can be attained only

Thomas Huxley

Perspectives

My Days at Sweet Home

to teach her students, gave positive feedback to everyone in the class and encouraged them to speak in English. All in all, I found her teaching very satisfactory. When I returned home after I finished my observation, I realized that we don’t have much time to stay home. First, I felt very bad that my break is soon going to be over but when I thought again I realized that this year being our last year in the institute which means soon I will be graduating from this institute. It will be my last year so I have to put all my effort and concentrate on studies only. As my vacation was coming to an end, I started writing my assignments the observation report and the interview. I read some short animal stories and other information book also. Actually, I thought of going to Manali and teaching over there but it didn’t happen because there was a construction work going on at my house. In conclusion, I enjoyed my summer break as I got to meet my family members and childhood friends. I spent a good amount of time with them. I learned how to cook and I also went to Rajpur School for lesson observation where I observed different teaching methods by different teachers. During my one-week of lesson observation, I interacted with many students. I also got to interview one student. I found that he was quite fluent while speaking English. All in all, my summer break went quite well.

Tenzin Yangsel Class of 2011 (English)

On 31st March, I left this institute to travel to Delhi where I stayed for two days. On 5th April, I left Delhi and headed to my home town (Kamrao). I met my family members and I was really happy to see them. My mother was overjoyed to see me as I was meeting her after a very long time. Her eyes were filled with tears and mine too. I was surprised to see my grandmother very active, energetic and full of live. She doesn’t even look like she is in her 70s. For one whole month, I didn’t go anywhere. I just stayed home. Earlier, I didn’t do anything at home, except watching television. As I am the youngest one in my family, I have the liberty to do whatever I want. However, this summer break; I helped my mother and sister in their household works. My youngest sister taught me how to cook and this time I cooked for them. Doing these works give me immense pleasure and I found it very interesting. Nowadays, I love cooking. My mother was really happy to see some changes in me. This summer break I don’t think I wasted any time because I went for lesson observation at Rajpur School. I stayed there for one week and observed different lessons of different teachers. While observing, I found that they all teach well but ma’am Kalsang Dolma la taught the best as compared to the other two teachers. Ma’am Kalsang Dolma la used different methods

Student Column

My Trip to North

high up on the sacred hills and secret caves of Lord where he meditated and tamed many evil spirits. In one of the caves we could see prominent foot prints of the Lord on a rocky wall. We offered butter lamps and scarves to these precious elements. Then we prayed deep from the heart. One of the unusual things that happened in my life began with a Mela. Few days later there held a great Mela where hundreds and thousands of people walked in to enjoy with their dear ones. And we also went outside and walked across the street to enjoy the new atmosphere. I lingered on varieties of delicacies like bright and hot curly jalebies and rasmalai. During the last day of Mela, I came across a holy man, a sage who walked all the way from Haridwar. I gave him money but he only wanted a pair of shoes. Since, it’s first time to see a sage making such a request. Besides, his feet were badly bruised and cracked. But I made up my mind not to ignore such request. Then a little later he chose a brown pair of men’s footwear. I was glad to have fulfilled his wish. Finally, he blessed me and left away. Then returning back to Dharamsala, I went to Thekchen Choeling and nearby monasteries on full moon day. There I met many old and new friends at McLeod Ganj. We circumbulated the holy place. There I also bought some Tibetan texts and story books. Since, I was very much concerned about my health from the very beginning, so I went to visit some Tibetan medical doctors, where I shared my physical and mental state of being. They told me about the greater facts of medical world. I also remembered that this time, I took special care and interest in my diet. Every morning

Tsering Dolma Class of 2011 (English)

Unlike earlier, this time I wanted to spend my vacation in a very pleasant way. I wanted to breathe the fresh air of the northern Himalaya where our spiritual leader H.H. the Dalai Lama lives. So I decided to go up hills to Dharamsala after staying a week in Delhi with my younger sister. As I left Delhi and approach Dharamsala, the whispering pines welcomed us by singing and dancing with their branches in the air. Dharamsala is at the height of seven thousand feet above sea level and is located at the backdrop of Dhauladhar ranges. The scene depicts the beauty and harmony of nature by its remarkable sceneries which bear mighty mountains, gushing streams, lush green valleys and the sweet fragrance of juniper and wild flowers filled my heart with eternal music. I’s thrilled and tried to enjoy every moment of my life during that time. We travelled far and wide across the state. We went on a pilgrimage to Riwalsar and visited Chamunda, one of the mysterious rocks in the air, nearby Dhasa. Talking about Riwalsar, this holy place is blessed by Lord Padma Sambhava, (Guru Rinpoche) way back in the 8th century. When we reached closer to the station, we could cherish the huge glimpse of Lord Padma Sambhava at a distance. For me, it seems that the Lord himself has descended from the heaven to keep the holy site safe. The next day, we walked by the holy lake and gave bread crumbs and biscuits to the school of fish. We visited some of the monasteries and one early morning we went

Perspectives

I had a glass of milk and a red delicious apple. Since an apple a day keeps the doctor away. I also had my favorite vegetable soup and juice. So, I’ve gained about three kilograms within those two months. Truly I enjoyed this vacation in a relaxed state. I couldn’t keep in touch with my books but I read about two or three books and watched some of my favorite movies in both English and Hindi. But most of the time, I watched English movies. We also went shopping and went to some of the well known restaurants in Delhi and Dehradun. All in all, I had a very good time during the summer break

are not writing under one’s domination that everything is limited and one’s capacity is measured. When someone is specifically demanding of you to write an article in such a way which you are not used to with, you feel the burden of it. We cannot express everything which is in our mind and which we think of. Firstly, free writing opens all the door of one’s own creativity and imagination without any rules and regulations. Free writing encourages everyone to write without any pressure and obligation. It also develops the thinking power of the people. Everyone has their own style of writing and also they love to write in their own way. Sometimes it becomes a new way of writing. Everyone has their own different writing skills and the capacity of writing but they create it in such a way by using their creativity and imagination which gives more smoothness to their writing and they can easily express their feeling through it. They express freely because their minds are free and writing under the free space. Secondly, free writing makes people more flexible in the field of writing. There won’t be flexibility in the writing if someone forces you to write an article on a particular topic within certain rules and regulations. We might feel burden and won’t be able to express our feelings which you want to. For example, if someone is under pressure their brains stop working properly and they can’t think properly. Those people are like blind men trying to climb a mountain which is impossible to climb. Likewise, a person can’t write a good article when he/she is under pressure to complete the article the given time. In this way, some people think that writing is the toughest

Free Writing Namkha Lhamo Class of 2011 (English)

In this independent country, people are free to do anything rather than the crime. People of the independent country will write freely and creatively without any obligation. Although they make some mistakes here and there but never stop writing. Some expert have stated, “We learn through our mistakes.” We are making mistakes due to lack of some secret elements behind its success and for that we need to be very careful. Likewise, some writers can write marvelous articles without certain anxiety and boundary because their minds are free. They think freely in the free environment. They don’t have any pressure and also they

Student Column

SQ3R Reading Strategy

job in this world. Why? Because there isn’t any freedom in writing. Free writing will happen only when the mind is free and we are not under the pressure to follow certain rules and regulations. This is the hidden secret to be a standard writer. Finally, free writing also helps us to cultivate a great interest in writing as well as good writing. When one freely writes something every day without any obstruction, one may develop extraordinary interest for it. For example, the writers are writing freely in the free space without any pressure write far better and are also able to express their feelings and the ideas in it moreover other enjoy reading it. So it clearly shows that free writing is the key to good writing. A person who loves writing always consider that free writing is one of the biggest sources of pleasure for them since their interest lies in it. Anyhow, free space is necessary and free writing is vital.

Tenzin Rabyang Class of 2012 (English)

As college students we must read a lot and must be able to remember all that we’ve read when we give our exams. This has always been a big headache for students. We read and read and read but at the end of it all, we find that we do not remember anything we’ve read. Why does this happen? This is because we not know how to read. There are many strategies used today that can help us become effective readers and one such strategy is called the SQ3R reading strategy. What is the SQ3R Strategy and how does it help us read better? S stands for Survey, ‘Q’ stands for Question, 3R stands for Read, Recite and Review. The purpose of this strategy is to improve learning and help the reader with both comprehension and retention. The strategy was designed specifically for use with textbooks but we can use it also when reading magazines, newspapers, articles and so on. Now how can we use this strategy? The first step is ‘Survey’. Before reading, we must try to get an overview of the text. We can do so by looking at the title, the illustrations, the sub-headings, the introduction and the conclusion. This exercise helps in getting the main idea of the text. The second step is ‘Question’. While surveying, questions come to our minds. We must write all those questions down. These questions will give us a purpose for reading and will keep us focused. The third step is ‘Read’. After surveying we read with the questions in mind. We look

“Writing is a form of personal freedom. It frees us from the mass identity we see in the making all around us. In the end, writers will write not to be outlaw heroes of some underculture but mainly to save themselves, to survive as individuals.” -Don Delillo quotes

Perspectives

for the answers to these questions and any other interesting points that the writer says. The third step is ‘Recite’. After reading, summarize all that you’ve read in your own words. Read again to find out anything that caused you confusion. Summarize again. The last step is ‘Review’. Review your notes after 24 hours to make sure you have all the information in your head. And return to your notes once in while thereafter. Following the above study skill and reading strategy will guarantee you much better grades in the exams. I have been using this strategy for almost one year and it really helped me comprehend better and retain better. I’ve noticed that in the beginning it seems time consuming but in course of time and as I got used to the strategy, I came to know that it helped me keep information well in my head in a very short period of time. Today the SQ3R strategy forms a very important part of my study skills.

become old and could no longer support themselves, what do we do? I think it is our foremost duty to take care of our parents when they need us. I still remember the day, when my mom and dad took my younger brother and me to donate some money to elderly Tibetan people nearby Dickyiling Tibetan settlement in Dehradun. I asked an old woman about her son and daughter. She replied that she has a son who lives with his family in Delhi and a daughter who is settled in Nepal. They visit her only during holidays or free time. She shared that she wanted to stay with them and look after her grandchildren. I felt very sad and thought she is like a homeless beggar. I am aware that there are many similar cases like this in every corner of the world. I have heard a lot of stories like that and even seen in many Hollywood movies. Yet many parents in this world are not neglected. Their children still love them and care them. Many experience the joy of looking after their grandchildren. Sometime they become an inspiration for their grandchildren. For example, US President Barack Obama is raised by his grandparents when his own parent died young. I think those people who take care of their own parents have also made a good decision. Keeping our parents to live in our

Never Bite the Hand that Feeds You. Tenzin Dawoe Class of 2012 (SSM)

Each and every person on this earth goes through different stages of life. At each stage of our life, parents are the one who always stand with us in our ups and downs. When we were babies, we disturb our parent crying unreasonably. We always demand them to fulfill our wishes from buying a candy to a bike or any other expensive things. But when our parents

Student Column

My Journey Home

own homes is a better than leaving them alone at old age homes. These homes are mostly concerned with promoting external physical health and well-being whereas these elder people need inner peace, happiness, love and time with their children and grandchildren. These days there are so many movies based on these kinds of incidents which are happening in our society. One of the best movies that I had ever seen is Bollywood movie called “BAGHBAN”. It means lord which is based on similar problems faced by elders. It clearly shows that their children consider their retired parents as a burden and a duty to look after them. That movie inspired many people and let them to think. As your parents get older they become more dependent on you. But that doesn’t mean you should treat them like children. Instead I think we must understand that they are in a stage of second childishness where they make mistakes and act like children. Lastly, take responsibility of taking care of your elderly parents. It may sound big challenge in your life but it gives you a second chance to show your parent how much you love them. Thank you very much for giving me a chance to jot down my feelings.

Namkha Lhamo Class of 2011 (English)

I spent my first four days in Delhi. During my stay in Delhi I went to TCV School and requested the Headmistress to grant me permission to observe some English lessons. She said she would love to help me but she was sorry to say that they don’t have qualified English teacher. So, she doesn’t think that observing their lesson will help me in my future. All in all, I didn’t get the permission. In the meantime, my elder sister came and asked me a favor to do some shopping for her because she couldn’t carry all the stuff by herself. After spending four days in Delhi, my sister and I went back to our home town. When we reached there I saw my mom eagerly waiting f or us with breakfast because we reached there in the early morning. She hugged tightly and tears came out from her eyes because she was seeing me after a long period of time. Later we had our breakfast and mom asked me to take a nap for a while because we travelled the whole night. So I did. I slept for a couple of hours. After I woke up, I settled down and unpacked my bags. In the evening, when we all gathered for our meal I gave gifts to each family member which I brought from Bangalore. We had chicken bought by my elder brother. After having our meal, we watched television. My mom is very fond of one serial which she never misses at any cost. We also gossiped that night and that was the best night of my life. After a while, we wished each other good night and went

“In all affairs it’s a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.” -Bertrand Russell

Perspectives

This Made Me Laugh

back to our own room. The next day, I woke up late around 7 a.m. I freshened up and my brother served me tea. I just looked around and saw my mom working. She was carrying a sack full of brick. Though she is 74 years old but she doesn’t look like it. She is very energetic and most of all there isn’t any single grey hair on her head. I went to help her as some construction work was going on. From the next day, I woke up 5and started working. That became my daily schedule. On 23rd May, I didn’t go to work because I was busy cleaning and lighting the butter lamps. This was the day when my dad passed away. We used to light the butter lamps on that particular day for one whole day. In conclusion, I really enjoyed my holiday. Though I worked really hard and spent all the days with sand and bricks but I loved it. I am really going to miss the moment when I laughed with my sisters, worked with my mother and had lunch with my brother. I am really going to miss those times.

Dawa Dolma Class of 2012 (English)

We all have been through many funny incidents and I too have had some unforgettable moments. So I want to share one incident which happened to me recently and I can remember it very clearly. I’m sure others may have had the same experience. It happened last Saturday when my friend and I were walking around in a departmental store, unlike other days, we found many people walking here and there as well. Although the store was crowded, we went inside the store to buy our stuffs. While walking, my friend talked to me but I didn’t understand a word of what she was saying. I just responded to her by nodding my head and answering “hmmm…” Suddenly, I saw a beautiful Top in one of the store and I stopped there to have a good look at it. I asked for its price but I didn’t buy it because I wanted my friend’s opinion. I called my friend but to my surprise I saw her still walking along and talking with another girl. I thought she might have met school friend and so was talking with her. I went towards her and called her. She looked at me surprised. The other girl went away with a smile on her face. Then I asked my friend, who that girl was. She pinched me and said that she thought that girl was me. Then we both burst into laughter and when we reached our hostel, we told the incident to friends. They too had a big laugh.

Student Column

Near Death

My Favorite Movie

Tenzin Wangmo Class of 2013 (English)

Gendun Dhundup Class of 2013 (English)

This happened to me during a summer holiday. My friends and I decided to go for a swimming at Bagsu in Mcloed Ganj. We didn’t know how to swim but I swam a little bit. We swam first in a small river, and I was the only one who knew how to swim a bit better than my friends. I felt a little proud of my self. I asked my friends to swim under the waterfall but they were scared to do so. So I just jumped into the water and checked how deep the river was. It was quite deep but I told them it wasn’t so deep hoping that they would come join me. Then I started swimming. I was having a great time being the center of attraction. A sense of great pride drew me closer to the middle of the river. The water force started pulling me down and I was drowning! For a moment, my heart started pounding, my whole body heated up in fear and I thought this is my end. I could hear my friends shouting. I wondered how they could help me. I tried hard to move my legs and arms. I could see the sky from the water above me. Then I feared that some evil force might be pulling me, dragging me into its place. I tried to swim with all my energy. But, I was already exhausted. I couldn’t breathe any more. I was drowning deeper and deeper. I thought I’m no longer going to see my parents, and I would die young without having had the time to serve them. I earnestly prayed for god. Suddenly, a guy came and pulled me up! God helped me! I was rescued from near death. I realized from that incident that I shouldn’t let my pride decide my fate.

Film is also known as movie or motion picture. It is a series of still or moving images which is produced by recording photographic images with cameras. Some people watch movies for fun, to time and to refresh themselves. As for me, I watch movies to gain something which might help me in my life. Some people never understand a movie’s advice or how the film makers had struggled to make the movie. They always talk about the actor’s looks, how they dress up and many more which is useless. I don’t think the film industries are making the films simply for their business. I believe they also want to inform, project and educate others. I love watching movies, and I am crazy about it. I love movies especially Indian movies as I understand it better than English. I watch every hit movie and get lots of things from the movies. I used to reason myself about titles of the movies, and I also know so many dialogues of movies which help me like “all is well” in one of the most popular movies of Bollywood named ‘3 Idiots’. Of course it is my favorite movie, and it’s really related to our daily life especially for today’s youth. It gives different positive perspectives to teachers and parents too. It advises us how to choose our own career, and how to study; which is most important thing in students’ life. To teachers, it shows how to teach the students, and to parents, it tells them to listen to their children’s heart. It makes me cry, and I really appreciate

Perspectives

the director Mr. Raj Kumar Hirani for his movie in India. It inspired me a lot and made me to think about my life. I memorized all their advices and dialogues. I tell these dialogues to others when they are down like “all is well” and “woh karo jho tumara dil kheta hai”. And the main advice here of this movie is to do what you are good or interested in rather than getting swayed by other’s influence so that you could succeed in future. So watching movie is my all time favorite hobby. So, I concluded here with a note to all the readers that ‘watch movie and take something’.

party and we brought sweets and offered to our teachers. The next morning everybody was busy leaving school and it was the saddest day as we got separated from our dear friends. I felt very bad and my father came to pick me up. Finally, I left my school with the hope to see them again in the future. I really miss my good friends in school.

Freedom Jangchup Yonten 1st Year (Tibetan Language and Literature)

Everyone shares the same desire to be free: free of fears, free of troubles and free of times. However, nobody in this world is free from troubles. In some level of consciousness, beneath our heart, every beat of our heart carries the blood of freedom. That’s why we are born with freedom. God bestowed us the ultimate desire for that, yet he can’t create it because he is like sky. Nobody created it, yet it is there. The flowers blossoms, the earth moves, the oceans over flow but they can’t touch upon our freedom. Freedom is more beautiful than the flowers, heavier than the earth and wider than the ocean. No matter how long or short life we have, we have to enjoy the present time with maximum freedom. So let us be free.

My Last Two Days at School Tenzin Yeshi 1st Year, (Tibetan Language and Literature)

On the second last day, we had the last 12th board exam. We were filled with exam fever but on the other hand, we were more excited of our graduation. Our exam started at 10’clock. The exam was so tough and it was Geography subject. I was unable to answer some questions but I wrote it in my own words. After the exam, all the students were busy discussing about the question paper. Finally, the school bus came and we went away happily singing with smiles on our faces. When we reached at the school gate, the principal and all the staff members were waiting for us to know about the exam. When we were asked, we lied that we had done well. After that we went to hostel to pack up. We stayed one night in our hostel spending the last night of school life. We enjoyed the graduation

Take my life, Take my soul, Take all I have. I give it all for you The sky is mine The earth is mine Because I am free!!

Student Column

My First Teaching Experience

it with action. I was a little nervous but I did it. The students liked it very much that within just one class they learned the entire song by heart. Even outside the class I could hear the students singing the song. This made me confident to teach the students. The next class was Class seven. I taught a little bit of grammar but I faced some problem because I was not well prepared and most of the students were very quiet. I came to know that they were quiet and shy. Although I tried to make them feel at home, it was very difficult. I realized that the students love songs and games. If I had taught grammar through songs and games, the lesson would have been much more interesting and the students more outspoken I learned a lot through this experience. I came to know that it is very important to be open-minded and patient. I also learned that it is very important to have a good planning before entering a class. Good preparation is key to a good lesson.

Tsering Wangmo Class of 2012 (English)

During my two months vacation I went home. I was very eager to go home because I’d waited for it for a very long time. When I reached home the weather was lovely. I was very happy to meet my parents. My mother celebrated my home-coming with a delicious meal. After taking rest or a few days, my dad advised me to go to teach in one of the Tibetan schools in our settlement so that I could get some teaching experience. I listened to my dad and went to meet the Headmaster of the school to get his permission. Luckily he gave me permission to teach. I started teaching on the 8th of April. On my first day, I got Class six. Before entering the class I was wondering how I should behave with the students as this was my very first experience. I entered the class with a big smile on my face. But I was very nervous inside. Then I introduced myself and then let the students introduce themselves to me. I found that some students were very outspoken bur some were quite introverted. I asked them what they wanted to learn. They all shouted ‘song’. I then wrote the song ‘Do re mi fa so la thi’ on the blackboard and explained what the song was about. Then I started to teach. I noticed that the students were not enjoying the song. They asked me to sing

“The whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of young minds for the purpose of satisfying it afterwards.”

-Anatole France quotes

Perspectives

The following articles are the different teaching experiences of 2011 English Students during their one month practicum at TCV Bylakuppee

I taught in class IIID and there were two students who never listened to me while I was teaching. They both are very helpful but the problem is they never listen to the teachers. So, first I scolded them and warned them if they do not listen in the class, I will not give them good grades. But still they continued and never changed. Then I spoke to them humbly and respectfully. From that day, they listened very well and even if one of them talks, other just asks him to listen to the teacher. So I felt very happy and always treated them with humbleness. I spoke to them and inquired about them from their friends too. Then I started loving them and talking softly with all of them. They started loving me too and even when I go, two of them just kept holding my hands. Next, the most important thing that enables to develop better comprehension and their languages is Effective Pedagogy. Teachers use many techniques and pedagogy to achieve their desired goals but failing to use an effective teaching pedagogy leads to failing of the teacher’s own goal. The students will not learn anything if the class is boring. So, one of the students’ needs is also an activity-based learning. They love doing activities and through that they can improve their language too but all activities won’t go well. So you need to create an effective activity of your own. In my class of IIID, when I did an activity, they always speak in Tibetan and I couldn’t control them too. Then one day, my ma’am asked me to create of a new activity that will let them speak in English and improve their English. So I created one and applied it in my next lesson. There, I found all of them speaking in English and working really hard as there were prizes for the positions.

Teaching: From Theory to Practice Chonga Lhamo Class of 2011 (English)

Everyone in this world experience something when they do something. So just like them, I also experienced great things while teaching young children. During the one-month teaching practicum in S.O.S Byllakuppe, I learnt so many things from my students. This was the first teaching experience of my life. From this, I gained confidence and passion in teaching. Earlier, I was afraid of teaching young children as they are too naughty but after going there, I realized their needs and how important these are to them. LOVE is the foremost need of the children and it can change their whole life too. While teaching them, I got to practice my patience and spread my love among them. There, I learnt the importance of three main things that are directly related to their mental development and education. So these are: Humility, effective pedagogy and effective class management. So I am going to elaborate on these three topics in greater detail with examples. First, the most important thing that enables to develop student’s mental ability is Humility. The students are naughty and they do not listen to the teachers. They disrupt the learning environment by going here and there in the middle of teaching.

Student Column

Then I realized that they have the ability to speak in English but they do not try so the teacher has to work hard to help them show their own abilities. Finally, the most important thing that enables to enhance their learning is Effective Class Management. Ineffective class management leads to failing of the desired goals of the teacher. As young children are very naughty, teachers need to manage and control their naughtiness by doing a simple activity. There, I found that students love to make something by using some colorful materials. So I used it (paper craft) in all my themes. Students loved making them. In class IIID, we made a recycle bin by reusing old newspapers while doing the recycle theme and kites while doing the kite theme. In class VB, we made a snowman by using charts in the snowman theme. Their class looked colorful and a nice place for learning. In class IIID, the students who don’t listen in the class were also busy making recycle bin. After making one box, they were making more and that shows that they were interested in it. Also when I do an activity and if I have a prize for the position holders, they do very well. So the teachers need to think creatively of enhancing their learning environment. All in all, that was a great experience and I will surely work on my weaknesses. Those students were the first students of my life and I am sure they learnt something from me. I tried my best to teach everything and improve their language. As a result, after my practicum, I got many letters from them saying that they improved their English a little bit. So I am very happy with the results. For future teachers, these are some important things that we need to keep

in mind. We can search for the activities and methods from the websites but we need to think creatively and create our own activities as we know our students and their characters. Lastly, I want to say that teaching is not an easy job but if you think positively, teaching is fun. I really enjoyed teaching them and now, I am going to work on searching effective activities and methods and also work on creating my own activities for my future students.

An Experience of a Life Time Kalsang Lhamo Class of 2011 (English)

On 3rd Oct, we went TCV to Bylakuppee School for practice teaching. I was so excited because I haven’t seen the school. On the way, I was having a good time but suddenly I felt afraid thinking about teaching the students. When we reached there all the students were looking at us and saying “TTC Gen las are coming.” I felt uncomfortable when I heard that. As we came out of the bus, the students were looking at us strangely. When I first time saw the school, I was surprised to see that the hostels, the staff quarters and the office located inside the school campus. So, it was good for everyone. I have seen many schools but their hostel and school far away from to each other. We started lesson observation on 4th October. One of my classmates and I went to observe in class III’S’. The students were very small and cute. While the teacher was teaching, she spoke in English and the

Perspectives

students didn’t understand what she said. Some students asked questions in Tibetan language and said what they wanted to do. The teacher responded to them in Tibetan language too. We also went to observe class IV’D’. The students were very active and they read English pretty well. In that class, the teacher used both the languages. First, she explained in English and after that in Tibetan. So, the students could quickly understand and they did their work. During the observation, I noticed that teacher communicate in English but the students didn’t. On 10th October, the first day of teaching, I went to class III‘s’ and I taught them English for one week. I felt so nervous to teach them. I didn’t know what I had to do. I was scared and hesitated when I faced problem handling the students. The students were very naughty and noisy in the class. I told them keep quite but still there were not listening to me. Some students were fighting and some boys were teasing the girls. They have lots of complaints like some students were saying “Madam, he teased me, he tore my papers, he broke my pencil,” etc. I felt so tired to handle them. I was not able to finish my lesson plan. So, I thought many times about how to control them. The next day, I made some classroom rules. I told them if they don’t follow the classroom rules then I would deduct their marks. So, everyone listened carefully and followed the rules. I was able to finish my lesson on time. So, I felt happy. I learned that we need some classroom rules for better class management and learning. On 17th October, I went to class IV’D’. I didn’t feel any nervousness. In this class, most of the students were good in English

and active in the class. They listened to me very carefully. One day, I gave them an exam on what I taught. Most of the students didn’t do very well. So, I felt that they didn’t understand still they listened to me quietly. So, I decided to check whether they had understood my lesson or not. Then I asked them questions before teaching a new topic. In that class, there was a boy who didn’t listen to me every time. He was different from other students. I called him during the break time and asked why he was not listening when I was teaching. He replied that he was not interested in studies. Then I went and I talked to their teacher about him. She told me that I have to appreciate him for what he did in the class so that he feels acknowledged. So, the next day, I did what the teacher said. From that day, he concentrated on studies. So, I got a lesson that we should also learn to appreciate the students while teaching. In conclusion, I want to say that I gained a lot of experiences in that school. During those three weeks, I taught them English, and learned a little bit about their family backgrounds. I experienced class management and also I knew their learning abilities. When I compare our students with that of the Valley School, I see a huge difference. The main difference is that our students are not frank and they don’t ask any questions. In the Valley School, the students ask lots of questions without any hesitation. So we need to work more on overcoming their shyness and hesitation. Then only they will be able to come up and go hand to hand with other nations’ students

Student Column

A Powerful Learning Experience

class should be authentic teaching. While teaching in the class for the first time, I was very nervous and not confident but as the days went by, I gained some confidence. I taught them very well and tried my best to teach them the best. While teaching, I faced some problems like not finishing the lesson according to my lesson plan as we already made lesson plans for each class. Sometimes I finished earlier and sometimes I couldn’t finish. So later, I started making new lesson plans that included the note that if I have extra time then I will do this and if I don’t have time to do all the activities then I will skip this or that. Lastly it went very well. To sum up, students are very curious to learn new things. When they see me, they started asking questions like, “Today what are we going to learn in the class?” So it clearly shows that they were interested in learning English and I felt very happy. About the teachers over there, they teach very well and they also arranged the desks and the student in such a way that one slower learner will sit with one faster learner so that they will help each other. I liked that the most and I will surely apply it in the future. When we were teaching in the class, the subject teachers came in the class and they observed our lesson and after the class, they gave feedbacks which were good because from that we can improve and have a better teaching next time. Thus, we had a good time over there and we also gained lot of good experience. We also learned from our peers because we got opportunities to observe their teaching several times.

Jigmey Lhamo Class of 2011 (English)

Being in T.C.V Bylakuppe for one month was awesome. Over there the weather was nice and the school campus is surrounded by coconut trees. For the first week, we just observed the some of the classes but sadly the subject teachers were not there as they were on holidays. So the substitute teachers came in the class and they gave test to them and also taught poem to them from the textbook. They taught well and the students learned the poem easily. Not only this, they also spent some time for handwriting as it’s very important to have good handwriting. On Sunday, 9th October I was busy preparing teaching aids for my first lesson and I also practiced a lot in my room about how to teach in the class. On Monday 10th October, when I opened my eyes I was very nervous and afraid of making mistakes while teaching in the class because they consider their teachers as gods and has a faith in them. They learn what is taught in the class and if we make mistakes then they will learn those mistakes too. When they reach home, even if their parents correct it they will not listen to them as they learnt it from their teacher. They have full faith in their teachers. So it’s very important to prepare well and whatever we teach in the

Perspectives

A Nerve-Wrecking Experience

busy with their work. I got off from my bed at 6:30 am when my other friends got up. I took a bath and freshened up. Our breakfast was ready around 7: 20 am and we had our breakfast. I get ready fast and went to the school on time because I didn’t want to be late on the very first day at the school. Though I was very nervous and worried but I didn’t let it come out through my expression. I greeted almost all the teacher “good morning” with a big smile on my face. I turned around and looked at my friends’ faces, they also looked worried and nervous which I can easily make out from their facial expressions. Our first four days was for observation. We were sent it to some English class rooms to observe English teachers but unfortunately for me, the teacher of the class which I got for observation was on leave. The substitute teacher did not teach anything to the class. In another class which I observed, the teacher was giving an exam. The students are very young and active and in most classes the strength of the each class was very big. There were a minimum 23 students in each class. The classroom space is limited. Then I became more nervous and started worrying about the activities which I had planned. So many questions were bouncing in my mind, “How am I going to do it? How am I going to arrange the class? How am I going to divide the class?” I went totally blank. Nothing came into my mind and I was totally lost. After the class hour I went back to the room and lied down on my bed and started thinking much about the four days of observation but I must say that it helped me a lot in my teaching. On Monday, October.10, we started our practicum in T.C.V Bylakuppee.

Namkha Lhamo Class of 2011 (English)

When the day to leave for our practicum was coming nearer and nearer, I was becoming more and more nervous. We had very limited time to practice teaching but I worked really hard to prepare myself for everything. Finally, the day came and our journey began from Bangalore to Bylakuppee. Our bus reached around 8 am. I was ready for my journey though I could not get a window seat. At 8:30 am the bus left our campus. I really enjoyed the journey because I love travelling. When we reached Bylakuppee, my nervousness started escalating when I saw the children. We were divided into three groups and I was sent to home number 20 which is known as the mini hostel because only class ten students stayed there. I was nervous and worried about my teaching. When we reached there the teachers and the students started calling us madam which me feel a little uncomfortable with because I am not used to with that name. I was also surprised with their dinner timing. They had their dinner at 5:30 pm but it was delicious. At the end of the day, I felt very tired so I went to bed early most of the time. Next day, I woke up early in the morning around 5 am which I am used to and went to the bathroom but everyone was sleeping at that time. I thought to go for a morning walk but the areas were quiet, congested and dark. I went back to bed and looked at my lesson plan. At 5:30 am the students got up and they were very

Student Column

Actually, I got three classes but class 4 and 5 were my main classes that I taught during my practicum. I was very nervous for the first time because I was facing and teaching real students for the first time in my life. Initially, I faced some class management problem but it didn’t last long. The students started cooperating with me and also enjoying my lesson. The host teacher also gave good comments on my teaching. Some were quite impressed with me which I consider to be the biggest complement for me. When I started to learn more about my students my nervousness and worries about teaching all vanished. I started to enjoy teaching them and also, I learned so many things from the students as well as the host teachers. Everything was going perfectly and smoothly but I missed my morning and evening walk in my institute other than that everything was perfect and I enjoyed my practicum a lot.

was filled with fear and couldn’t think of anything other than teaching. I wondered, how would my teaching go? How can I teach them? These questions sounded in my mind again and again and it made me less confident. But I didn’t express it instead I made up my mind and told myself this is my golden chance and that if I lost my confidence then I would never gain anything in my life. Throughout the journey to TCV School Bylakuppe I was only thinking about my teaching. At around 4:00pm we reached TCV School Bylakuppe. Since the school was over, there were lots of students around the school campus. I was very much impressed with the school environment. It was really a nice and pleasant environment. I really like the school environment over there. The school is surrounded with lots of different trees and there are lots of different flowers also. To have trees nearby is really good for the human beings as it helps in our breathing. Inside the school campus they have a stationary shop, a tuck shop, a canteen. So, whatever the students need they could get everything inside the school campus itself. It’s really good to have everything inside the school campus because they don’t have to go anywhere to search for these things. So, I really like it a lot. Now if I talk about my four days of lesson observation in some classes, it was also a really good experience because it’s always good to have observation before teaching. We got to learn lots of things from the host teachers like how to manage the classroom, how to deal with the students and how to start the lesson and everything. On my first day of the observation, I went

My Teaching Experience: A Mixed Feeling Tenzin Yangsel Class of 2011 (English)

Every year, the final year teachertrainees have to go to TCV School Bylakuppe for the practicum. This year was our turn I was very keyed up as well as nervous too because it was my first time. Most of my class mates had teaching practice but for me it was my first time. Everyone looked very confident as if they were all ready for their battle. I was the only one who was still nervous and scared. When I first stepped into the bus, my mind

Perspectives

to and observe class IID and VB. I could see a huge difference in their grade level. Class IID students were too small and as we know their attention span are too short. So, it’s really hard to manage them where as class VB students are very well mannered. They willingly listen to the teacher and the teacher also managed her classroom very well. The way she teaches by giving examples was also really nice. Now if I talk about my teaching, it was really an awesome experience that I ever had in my life. When I first stepped in the classroom, I was very scared as well as nervous too. For a while I was blank and didn’t know what to do as this was my first teaching in my life in a real classroom. They were all looking very excited and slowly I started my lesson by introducing myself. After that I let them introduce themselves one by one through an activity. Since I was teaching English so I had to speak in English but the students over there were too young that whatever I said I don’t think they understood. They only responded to me with ‘yes’ and nothing else. I didn’t know what to do then I realized that they didn’t understand my words. So, I tried my best to use simple words that they would understand better. I must say it’s not easy but I tried my best. In all, I really enjoyed my teaching and I must say it was one of my best experiences I had in my life. We spent almost one month over there and we became very close with the young children and the teachers over there. The teachers were very frank and helpful. They helped us in their best way they could. When the day came to say good bye to everyone, I felt like I still had some more time to stay there and teach these

children. But we can’t do anything, we have to go back. I felt really bad as well as happy too. I was feeling bad because I was leaving and I was happy because one of the most important works was done. Now I don’t have fear anymore. I am confident to face and teach the students in real. I want to thank our teachers for giving us such a great opportunity to teach in real classroom. It was really an amazing experience and I will never forget in my whole life.

Teaching English: A Frustrating Experience Tsering Tenzin Class of 2011 (English)

We left on 3rd October.2011 from our institute to TCV SOS Bylakuppe. That morning, when I woke up my whole body was cold and I think it’s because of my nervousness. We were very excited because it’s our first time facing real students. I woke up at around 6:00 am and packed all my clothes and teaching aids. We left our institute at around 9:00am. On the way I was thinking about how to teach there. When we reached TCV SOS Bylakuppe at around 3: 45pm, we saw some children waiting there. These were saying, ‘These are TTC teachers’. When I heard that word ‘teacher’, I felt like a real teacher. We took our luggage and went off to our assigned hostels. Some girls were sent to girl’s hostel and some the mini hostel. Boys were sent to boy’s hostel. When we reached the hostel, we got three rooms and 5 of us shared one room. The next morning, around 6:00 a.m.,

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I woke up and felt very excited to go to school. From 4th October to 7th October we went to observe different classes. At 8:30 a.m., we gathered for the morning assembly. We all stood behind the students and I really felt like a real teacher. During the first period, I went to class 4 to observe. When I entered the class, students welcomed me. In this class there are 22 students. Some seemed intelligent and some are poor in English. When the teacher was teaching some students were not at all listening. I have to teach this class for one week and I was thinking “How am I going to manage such students?” Then I went to class 5 to observe. In this class there are 24 students. Majority of the students are good in English and I felt glad as I have to teach in this class also. When there teacher was teaching all the students were listening very carefully. If when they did some activities they did their best. On that day, I felt that I can handle these students. On 10th October our practicum teaching began. I was shivering out of nervousness and even my stomach started to ache. Whenever the assembly was about to finish, my heart started beating faster. During first period, I went to class IV ‘B’. For a while I was waiting my host teacher but she didn’t come so I just started my lesson. I felt little a bit nervous even though the host teacher is not there to observe but one of my class mates was there to observe. It was my first day in that class so first we did an activity to introduce each other. After that I taught them some names of flowers. As I said in this class some students are poor in English. So I took most of my time on teaching them ho to pronounce the words. I didn’t get time to do one activity. To be honest in class 4

‘B’, I didn’t finish my lesson plan on time because we planned our lesson earlier and we didn’t have much knowledge o their proficiency in English. In each lesson we planned 2 or 3 activities and I think it’s too lengthy for them. One activity is enough for their level. I faced lots of problem in this class because they couldn’t understand what I was saying. As an English teacher we have to speak in English and the problem is the students could not understand. I know I took most my time explaining and giving instructions. Day by day I could see myself that gaining confidence. In the beginning of my teaching I was a bit nervous. I could not teach well and give the instructions properly. On 18th October during the second period I went to class 5 ‘D’. Majority of the students are good in English, except for 4 or 5 students. From 18th October to 27th October, I taught in class 5 ‘D’ and I think most of my lesson plans finished on time. My host teacher always came to observe my teaching and gave me feedback. Sometimes the feedback is negative and sometimes positive. I prefer to get negative feedback so that I know my weaknesses in teaching and could improve later. In this class, my lessons went on quite smoothly students are good in English. Whenever I assigned activities, they did it very well. I think I didn’t face that much problem in time management in this class. 27th October was our last day of teaching and we felt sad to depart with the students. In conclusion, within this one month I learnt so many things like how to handle students when they are misbehaving. We need to be creative, patient, hard working, sincere, honest and above all loving and

Perspectives

caring to the students. For example in the Valley School, the teacher- student relationship is good. The students address their teachers as ‘uncle’ and ‘aunty’. The teachers are loving and caring to all the students. The teachers are teaching them not only how to read and write but also teaching them table manners. I love the way the Valley School teachers are doing and in the future I am going to follow their footsteps. To be honest a teacher’s job is not an easy job. During my school days, I used to think that a teacher’s job is the easiest job. But I was wrong; a teacher’s job is one of the hardest jobs.

the classroom environment, the students etc. The teachers over there had some expectations. So, it was quite hard to meet their expectations and on the other hand we had a set of pre-planned lesson plans to be finished in a limited time. It was difficult to think on all these at the same time. The observation week was very helpful to me. Before teaching any class, I think observation is a must. It gives us knowledge about how active that class is and above all, students’ participation in learning. It makes no difference if a teacher is a perfect while the learners aren’t interested. Even though I had pre-planned lesson plans but I did make some changes before teaching. The lesson plans we make before hand has to go under a lot of changes if we focus on outcomes of learning. But due to time limitations, that wasn’t possible. For example, the lesson plans I had prepared for the 4th graders was bit more challenging than I thought it would be. So, at that point of time, I couldn’t think of any other way than to follow what I have already prepared. Therefore, the observation time gives at least some knowledge so that one could adapt the pre-planned lesson plans. The first few days of my teaching were fine and I could finish my lessons on time. I thought it wasn’t that much difficult as I have been expecting but with time it became harder and harder for me. Students started making noise in the class, they were not paying attention in the class and the most difficult part

Flexibility is Key to Quality Teaching Tenzin Rinzin Class of 2011 (English)

We drove off to Bylakuppee on 3rd October with so much excitement. We were to spend almost a month and this month of teaching passed with so much nervousness. When I first arrived at T.C.V. Bylakuppee, my concern was about the classroom management. I was so worried whether I would be able to manage the class properly or not and would I be able to manage my timing or not. All these thoughts were on the top of my mind. Even though we had a little bit of teaching experience but the setting was all different at that point. But when it came to practicum, it was different

Student Column

Brilliant Answers

was when I put them into groups. It’s very difficult to manage the class when they put into groups. They unnecessarily move here and there and they don’t finish the work on time. According to my one-month experience, the most effective way is to put them in a smaller group so that everyone in a group has works to do. And it is also important to keep in mind that small children can fight over small things so it is best if the teacher distributes the work among them. If the teacher lets them choose their work then mostly they end up fighting thus affecting the time. Personally, what I feel is that it is more difficult to teach with a set of pre-planned lesson plans. When I compared our situation with the teachers over there, I felt it is easier for them because they are not bounded by certain rules and regulations such as finishing some pre-planned lesson plans and fear of losing points. They could focus more on the quality of teaching. For example, when I started teaching the 3rd graders, my hard time started. They were hardly in a position to understand instructions in English. I had to speak very slow and repeat my instructions again and again. I couldn’t expect to get answer in English from them. In future, when I actually become a teacher I think it would become easier for me. But all in all I learned a lot from the experience I had in Bylakuppee.

Q1. If it took eight men ten hours to build a wall, how long would it take four men to build it?

A. No time at all it is already built. Q. If you had three apples and four oranges

in one hand and four apples and three oranges in the other hand, what would you have?

A. Very large hands.

Q. How can you lift an elephant with one hand?

hand.

A. you will never find an elephant with one Q. How can a man go eight days without sleep?

A. No Probs, He sleeps at night.

Q. If you throw a red stone into the blue sea what it will become?

It will Wet or Sink as simple as that.

Q. What looks like half apple ? A. The other half.

Q. Bay of Bengal is in which state? A: Liquid Interviewer said “I shall either ask you ten easy questions or one really difficult question. Think well before you make up your mind!” The boy thought for a while and said, “my choice is one really difficult question.” “Well, good luck to you, you have made your own choice! Now tell me this. What comes first, Day or Night?” The boy was jolted into reality as his admission depends on the correctness of his answer, but he thought for a while and said, “It’s the DAY sir!”

“Personally I do not resort to force - not even the force of law - to advance moral reforms. I prefer education, argument, persuasion, and above all the influence of example.” Rutherford Hayes

“How” the interviewer asked. “Sorry sir, you promised me that you will not ask me a SECOND difficult question!”

Perspectives

Unity is Strength

Never Give Up

Tenzin Rabyang TTC Class of 2012 (English)

Tsering Tenzin Class of 2011 (English)

All we have to do Is stand together Like brothers

You, my Tibetan friends in this world It’s time for us to wake up Wake up from the dream and illusion, And stand up for your right.

I just need your hand To save our land I just want us to raise our voice So that the world can hear

Our brothers and sisters are struggling for the nation. They are struggling a lot in our country, It’s time for us to fight whole- heartedly for our nation, It’s time to fight against the brutal Chinese.

No matter how violent the wind blows today, If we stand still, the spring wind will blow tomorrow. All we have to do Is stand together Like brothers

We don’t have time for harmony, We don’t have time to make money, It’s time for us to unite, And fight for the freedom.

Tibet Lhakpa Tsering 2nd Year (Tibetan Language and Literature)

Sitting under the tree, Listening to melodious sound of birds, Sweet memories of my home in Tibet, Flash back right into my mind. The highest plateau of the world, Which was once a heaven on earth. Seized brutally by the red dragon, With its cunning smiles and flatteries. Thousands of Tibetans got killed. Constructed dams on a holy land, Deported its foreign people into our land, Darkness engulfs the entire heaven.

Student Column

My Journey to Education

Responsibilities of Future Seeds

Sonam Tso 2nd Year, (Tibetan Language and Literature)

Lobsang Tashi 2nd Year (Tibetan Language and Literature)

I was brought up in Tibet, Used to go to school every day, Pressurized to study by parents, But never realized the value of education..

Our great grand fathers built their own homes. We are sheltered in their loving homes.

For seeking better academic path, I left my deals behind at ten. Crossed the Himalayas My fingers froze in the cold.

They left their foot prints And we have to follow their path. Their writings contain very good thoughts. We must put it into practice before we forget.

I bore all those troubles. With enthusiasm and determination I came over at the very end.

They passed us rich culture and tradition. We have to preserve and pass it through generations.

Tears rolled down my cheeks, When I got the first blessing from His Holiness. My heart was filled with joy and happiness. His blessing moved me deeply.

They follow the right path. We move forward with pride. Like the productive seeds of the field, We must be the great seeds of Tibet.

My perspective on education changed. I had a serious thought on it. I realized the importance of education. It drove me to the right path. Once you realize the value of education, No one can take is away from you. Everyone deserves a good life. So struggle and move forward

Perspectives

DAD: A Strange Word to Me

Miss You Dad Tenzin Yangsel Class of 2011 (English)

Tenzin Namzey 1st Year (BCA)

Even though I never saw you, But still you are always in m heart. I know you are not in this mighty world, But still you are always beside me.

When I saw my friends calling out, For their Dads from a distance, I missed his presence... The presence that I yearned for so long.

Even though you are very far away from me, But still I try my best to keep you near me. I know it’s not easy to lose some one dear But still I keep you memories with me.

The love of Dad I wish to have, Like every other children in the world. But here I am without my father From the time I was a little girl.

Even though we did not spend time together, But my mom had the fortune. I know my really loves you, And that’s why she always misses you, dad!

From that day, the ‘Dad’ Became a queer word. It was just so hard to pronounce it Though it’s just four letters. Dad means a lot to others. Now after years of solitude, His face just drifted off to a vague dream. I have become a new girl now.

My mother Jigmey Lhamo Class of 2011 (English)

I just want to forget those past And focus on my present life So that I can become What my Dad wanted me to be. I LOVE YOU DAD.

Where are you, my mom? My heart is beating for you, My voice is calling for you, My eyes are searching for you, Just to say that I really love you. My world is meaningless without you, Oh! Mighty Buddha! Protect her, Protect her from the scorching sun, Protect her during the darkness and scary nights, No harm should come to my mom. I love you, mom and long live!

Student Column

The Most Beautiful Woman in My Life

My Friend Tsering

Kalsang Lhamo Class of 2011 (English)

Tsering Youdon Class of 2012 (English)

When I went to my classes Tsering always wore glasses I thought in my mind May be she is becoming blind.

But for me she is my life Without her my life will be nothing Just like a bird without wings

I sat nearby her She gave me a wafer We talked to each other after And Lobsang brought us water.

Whenever I open my eyes I see her face She’s with me when I’m happy She’s with me when I’m in sorrow

I took her home On the way, I saw a dome I thought in my mind Tsering couldn’t see a dome because she is blind.

No one can replace her love My mother is the reason Why my life is so meaningful With her my heart sings joyfully Oh my dear mother! I miss you terribly It’s only been a few months But it seems like a year

My Dear Tenzin Yangsel Class of 2011 (English)

Since I left you Every single night I’ve missed you Tears roll down my cheeks But no one is there to wipe them

Since I knew his name, He gained a lot of fame. He came from USA recently, So, he dresses up very decently.

I’m afraid of this world It seems life is full of wild things But when you’re near me It feels like heaven

He is very funny, But as sweet as honey, I call him Teddy, In real, he is Beddy. Whenever I notice him in his room, He is always sweeping with a broom, His favorite animal is deer, But for me he is my dear

Perspectives

I Wish I Were…….

My Fantastic Institute

Dawa Dolma Class of 2012( English)

Tsering Wangmo Class 0f 2012 (English)

The sun is shining The birds are chirping The girls are singing The boys are snoring

I wish I were Black Then no one can change me Even if I’m mixed with white I’ll remain the same

The grass is green The dewdrops sparkling Water lilies opening Butterflies hovering

I wish I were a computer Then I’ll be able to keep all knowledge With me to help others For their achievement

The environment is peaceful The trees are colorful The shadows are wonderful And we’re all cheerful

I wish I had a magic wand Then I’ll wave the wand For all the people in the world And make them loving and compassionate If I don’t have all these things I wish I had the power To control my negative thoughts And bring peace to the world

Say No to Drugs Tenzin Rabyang TTC class of 2012 English

The sip of it gives him pleasure For a while he forgets everything And he lives in his own world of fantasy Where nothing is real but imaginary That can’t be seen or touched but only felt. Then he sips once more This time he feels he’s flying in the air And his head is buzzing somewhere The pain and the stress he had before Will leave him for the night Only to come back the next day.

Student Column

Children

Have a Merciful Heart

Innocent and ingenuous Playing, crying and eating Very naughty Kids

Norbu Dhondup Class of 2013 (English)

When the stars above twinkle, Darkness pervades my world. People drift into dreams, While the mighty sun waits for tomorrow.

Water

Pure and transparent Washing, cooking and drinking Basic necessity Liquid

When I wake at the sound of cocks, I feel the breeze on my face. How wonderful the nature is, Filled with boundless beauty.

Mother

Adoring and altruistic Cooking, scolding and teaching Everything for children Protector

Alas! Oh men on earth! Plunder all the nature’s wealth, To fulfill not thousands of stomachs But to fulfill the greed of one.

Friend

The helpless animals, chopped and fried, Packed in silver plastic bag, Have you ever thought of Your body chopped and packed?

Helpful and supportive Helping, sharing and teasing Very much needed Companion

We cry out when we’re pricked, We take revenge on hurtful words, We wage war for petty reasons, We, the human kind, the selfish ones.

Teachers

Trustworthy and tolerant Teaching, helping and advising Children’s second parents Educators

We pray for mercy When in trouble. We trade our life with all our money When a gun point right at us.

Student

Hardworking and respectful Observing, thinking and learning Ready for everything Pupil

Yet we torture innocent animals, Kick them hard to chase them away, Wring their throats with bulging eyes, Eat them in name of health.

Tenzin Yangsel Class of 2011 (English)

Love, peace and compassion we say, Yet we fall to torture others.

Perspectives

Getting to know our College Environment

Our College Campus is home to many reptiles, insects and birds such as different types of lizards, the cobra snake, the weaver bird, the honey bee and termites. Have you ever wondered why they thrive here, what they eat, how long they live, how they reproduce and so on? A group of students did a research on these creatures and found some amazing facts.

Facts about the Indian Cobra Compiled by the students of TTC Class of 2012 (Tibetan Section)

1. The rat snake and cobra are found everywhere in Bangalore. The rat snake as its name suggest eats rats and are usually found near garbage dumps where སྐྱེད་ཚལ rats thrive. The two types of cobras found are the king cobra and the Naja naja (the Indian spectacled cobra due to the eyeglass shape pattern on its skin) 2. The king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is much larger, measuring between 3 and 5 metres, compared to the 1.2 to 1.7 metres of the Indian cobra (Naja naja). It is the Indian Cobra from tbashoestring.wordpress.com largest venomous snake in the world, and feeds almost exclusively on other snakes. Adults are plain brown, while juveniles are darker and marked with pale chevrons down their backs. 3. Indian cobras (Naja naja) are variable in colour, ranging from brown to black, but all have a pair of ‘spectacle’ markings on the rear of the hood (the king cobra does not have this marking, and its hood is narrower). A legend says that this mark is where Buddha placed two fingers to bless the snake after it spread its hood to shade him from the sun. They feed on small mammals, birds, lizards and sometimes other snakes. Both species are highly venomous 4. Cobras are found in hot tropical places such as the Phillipines, Southern Asia and Africa. They live in hot places because they are cold blooded which means they cannot control their body temperature or heat. They require heat for energy. So they depend on the environment for their heat. 5. Cobras usually come out between January and April either in the morning or evening. In January the male king cobra comes our looking for a mate. After a month of mating they come out from their hiding place. Then the female cobra looks for a secluded place to build its nest in the ground. Between April to July she lays her eggs in rat holes or termite mound. She lays 20-40 eggs and guards it aggressively until they hatch after 70-77 days. When the young ones have hatched the female cobra leaves its nest with a

General Knowledge

powerful appetite. Experts say she may be doing this to avoid the temptation of eating her young ones! 6. Most of the cobras in the Zoo do not live longer than 15 years but some have lived 20 years in captivity and a few have lived over 30 years. Cobras eat 7. Lizards, Fish, Frogs and other Snakes. Only the king cobra eats other snakes. 8. Cobras usually come out in the morning or evening. Cobras don’t hunt on a regular basis. After a good meal, it may eat again after a couple of months, since the metabolism of the snake is very slow. 9. Snakes shed their skin when they grow too big for the old skin in a process called ecdysis. 10. King cobras generally shed four to six times a year in a two week shedding cycle, but in their first year they shed every month. When the king starts shedding, it drinks water to help separate itchy old skin from the new one underneath. It then rubs against rough edges to start the peeling process. Besides new skin, the king uncovers new fangs, teeth, and tongue tips. ལ་གྱི་ལེའུ 11. Though cobras don’t attack without a cause, when provoked, they can be extremely dangerous and a bite may prove fatal. 12. The anti-dote to a deadly cobra bite is the venom itself. Since many years, the venom has been tested and used as an effective anti-dote by doctors. A small quantity of the venom is injected into the victim, which causes an allergic reaction. The body produces natural immunity against the action of the venom thus eliminating its effect. 13. Cobras are typically nocturnal hunters ( They hunt in the night!) .The cobra has excellent night vision and detects its prey with a superior sense of smell. The forked tongue is flicked in and out with which it catches on different smells. The cobra is able to detect even the slightest changes in the temperature and if a prey is nearby, it can feel its body temperature and thus attack accurately

Snakebite Prevention (Adapted from: Thomas , Sean and Griessel , Eugene. Venomous Snakes of the Peninsula: http://www. seanthomas.net/oldsite/venom.html . Accessed on 25th October 2011)

1. Look ahead and scan the path or area you are about to cross. A general awareness in the bush will do much to help you see a snake in good time. 2. Do not step over logs and larger rocks because a snake could be basking on the other side. Step onto such obstacles. 3. When making your way through long grass and thick bush, wear long trousers, boots or stout shoes. 4. Do not venture abroad at night without footwear and a good torch. 5. Never put an unprotected hand down a burrow or hole in the ground because a snake may be using this as a lair.

Perspectives

6. If you come across a snake, leave it alone because it will be far safer for you and those with you. Attempts to kill the snake are far more likely to result in injury to you and your companions. When the panic-stricken hurl rocks and shoot at snakes, the risk of an accident is increased. Stand still or back away slowly. 7. Do not tamper with seemingly dead snakes. Never handle an apparently dead snake with bare hands. Some snakes are experts at feigning death, for example, the African Rinkall. They may even twist themselves upside down and lie with their mouth open and the tongue lolling out. Adders may remain quite immobile despite provocation and then strike very rapidly. 8. If your home borders on bush, do not leave piles of rubbish lying about. Pieces of corrugated iron, asbestos sheeting, piping, crates and cartons provide excellent cover for snakes and their prey. Keeping your property tidy will make snakes easier to see and discourage those traversing your grounds from staying either to seek shelter or prey. It is also easier and safer to kill a dangerous snake on open ground. 9. If you are starting to keep or already keep snakes for a hobby, do not believe that they སྐྱེད་ཚལ will get to know you and become less dangerous as time goes on. They may well become tamer in the sense that they do not head for cover in the cage as you approach and individual snakes may allow you to handle them. To show that you can handle a dangerous snake like a harmless snake is foolish and exposes you to the risk of serious injury. No matter how tame you think a snake has become, remember that a quick movement made unconsciously near it will precipitate an instinctive strike.

FIRST AID in SNAKEBITE: DO NOTS 1. DO NOT INJECT ANTIVENOM. Unless you are hours away from a physician or medical facility anti-venom should not be injected by the layperson. Anti-venom is refined from horse serum and a percentage of people are highly allergic to it. Anaphylactic shock WILL kill your patient - whereas the patient stands a good chance of surviving the bite without anti-venom. Anti-venom is best left to the professionals in a proper facility where life-support systems are available. 2. DO NOT CUT INTO THE BITE All you will probably do is assist the venom to spread more rapidly. 3. DO NOT SUCK ON THE BITE If you have cuts in your mouth there will be two patients where there was one. If you have a suction device it may be applied or you can attempt sucking through a dental dam - should you have one handy.

ལ་གྱི་ལེའུ

General Knowledge

4. DO NOT APPLY ELECTRICAL SHOCK TO THE PATIENT A myth has grown up that application of shock or a stun gun is of assistance. This is a pure myth without any basis in fact whatsoever. You are more likely to kill than cure using this method. 5. DO NOT GIVE DRUGS OR INTOXICANTS TO THE PATIENT Unless advised by a medical practitioner. Application of these substances make diagnosis far more difficult once you arrive at the hospital. 6. DO NOT RUB TOPICAL SUBSTANCES INTO THE WOUND You may clean the wound with a little mild disinfectant and dress it lightly with something like Betadine ointment - but preferably leave it alone. 7. DO NOT APPLY A TOURNIQUET You are likely to do far more damage with the tourniquet than without. 8. DO NOT APPLY ICE OR HEAT TO THE WOUND Neither is of any use - but both may harm. .

Some things to do Make a note of the time the bite occurred. This will help physicians to check on the progress of the venom. Remove constricting jewelry. Rapid swelling may make such items as rings and bracelets into objects of great pain. If possible phone ahead and clearly explain to the hospital that a possible snakebite case is on the way. If a positive identification of the snake can be made, make sure they know what to expect. Be prepared to render artificial respiration in the case of a cobra bite. A dangerous sign of impending lung paralysis is when the victim cannot blow out a match held at arms length. The venom does not kill - the inability to breathe is what causes death. Be prepared to keep the airways open and make sure the patient does not drown on his own saliva. Keep the patient as immobile as possible and transport to a hospital. Keep in mind that shock is probably present in all snakebite cases, whether from venomous or non-venomous species. Shock can kill even more rapidly than snake venom. Acquaint yourself with the symptoms of shock. Be prepared to deal with shock symptoms in ANY snakebite victim. Even those bitten by non-venomous species. People have died of such bites in the past. Ensure that a tetanus shot is administered whether the snake was venomous or not.

Perspectives

The topics Snakebite Prevention and First Aid have been adapted from: Thomas , Sean and Griessel , Eugene. Venomous Snakes of the Peninsula: http://www.seanthomas.net/oldsite/venom.html . Accessed on 25th October 2011 The special danger of rapidly developing paralytic envenoming after bites by some elapid snakes: use of pressure-immobilisation Pressure immobilisation method : Ideally, an elasticated, stretchy, crepe bandage, approximately 10 cm wide and at least 4.5 metres long should be used. If that it not available, any long strips of material can be used. The bandage is bound firmly around the entire bitten limb, starting distally around the fingers or toes and moving proximally, to include a rigid splint. The bandage is bound as tightly as for a sprained ankle, but not so tightly that the peripheral pulse (radial, posterior tibial, dorsalis pedis) is occluded or that a finger cannot easily be slipped between its layers.

སྐྱེད་ཚལ

Pressure immobilisation method : Recommended first-aid for bites by neurotoxic elapid snakes (by courtesy of the Australian Venom Research Unit, University of Melbourne)

References: 1. John A. ‘Cobra Information Site’: http://www.cobras.org/. 1994-2008. Accessed on 25th October 2011 2. Thomas Sean, Griessel Eugene. Venomous Snakes of the Peninsula: http://www. seanthomas.net/oldsite/venom.html . Accessed on 25th October 2011) 3. Indian Cobra: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Cobra. Accessed on 25th October 2011

Amazing Bee Facts

General Knowledge

Compiled by TTC Class of 2012 (Tibetan Section)

ལ་གྱི་ལེའུ Courtesy: Agriculture: Types of Honey Bees: http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/apiculture/fe_api_typesofhoneybee. html. 2006-2010. Found on 25th October 2011

1. The honey bee is the only insect that produces food for human beings. The honey bee that we see in our campus is the Rock bee. They are found all over India and are the largest and the most ferocious bees in the world. 2. Honey bees have 6 legs, 2 compound eyes made of thousands of tiny lenses, 3 simple eyes on top of the head and 2 pairs of wings. They have a nectar pouch and a stomach. 3. There are three different types of honey bees in any honey bee nest: The queen bee, the drone (male) and the workers (female) 4. The queen lays eggs and produce bees. It produces around 1500 eggs a day. The drone’s job is only to mate. It has no other work. The worker bee does all the work in the hive 5. The queen bee lives for four to five years, the worker bee lives for 6 to 8 weeks and drones can live up to four months but will die after mating. 6. A group of honey bees in a hive will travel about 90,000 miles to collect 1 Kg. of honey. This distance is equal to three orbits around the earth. 7. A honey bee needs one ounce of honey to fuel its flight around the world. 8. A single honey bee hive contains around 45,000 to 50,000 bees. 9. Honey bees visit around 20 lakhs of flowers to make honey of one pound (about 400 grams) 10. The temperature inside the bee hive is around 93.5 degrees Fahrenheit. 11. Honey bee flies at a speed of around 20 to 26 Kilometers per hour. 12. The honey bees communicate with each other by dancing. 13. Honey bees are not aggressive by nature, they sting only when their hive is disturbed by others.

Perspectives

14. Male honey bees do not have stinger. 15. Only the worker bee stings and they sting only when they feel that their hive is being disturbed. Once they sting, they die immediately. The queen bee also has a stinger, but it does not come out of the hive to sting or defend the hive.

How is the Queen bee selected? The queens are developed from larvae selected by worker bees. The worker bees secrete royal honey in the queen cell which helps the queen to grow bigger than the rest of the bees in the hive. If there are more than one queen bees, the queen bees will fight their rivals to death to become the queen!

How do bees make honey?

The worker bee gathers sweet liquid called nectar from flowering plants. The nectar is stored in the honey stomach of the bee in the honey stomach, it is mixed with an enzyme and the སྐྱེད་ཚལ sugar in the nectar is transformed into two simple sugar called fructose and glucose. Theis process is called inversion. The bee then flies to its hive and spits up the inverted nectar into an empty cell in the hive or gives it to other worker bees. Then the worker bee seals the cell with a wax cap. The warmth in the cell causes the water in the nectar to evaporate. The dehydrated simple sugar is called honey. Honey is a good source of energy because it contains simple sugar which can be quickly used up by the body.

How do bees make hives? When bees decide to move, the queen and the workers fill their stomach with honey from their previous nest. When they’ve found a good location for their hive, they chew the honey until it is soft . Bee wax in formed and it is used to construct hexagonal shaped honey combs. When the queen produces more worker bees, more combs are constructed in the hive.

References: 1. Cartmell, Paul: How do Bees build Hives?: http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5215297_ do-bees-build-hives_.html. accessed on 24th October 2011 2. Orken: How do Bees make Hives. http://www.orkin.com/stinging-pests/bees/how-dohoneybees-make-hives. 2007. Found on 24th October 2011. 3. Muthura, Meyyappan: Bees of India. http://meyyappanmuthura.hubpages.com/hub/ Bees-of-India. 2011. Found on 25th October 2011 4. 20 Amazing Bee Facts: http://www.benefits-of-honey.com/honey-bee-facts.html. 20062011. Found on 25th October 2011.

ལ་གྱི་ལེའུ

Baya Weaver Bird

General Knowledge

Some Baya Weaver birds’ nests found in our institute intrigued us with many questions unanswered. So the students of 2013 English section researched on the bird especially on its unique nest.

Courtesy: Clipart ETC. “Weaver Bird.” http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/25200/25247/weaverbird_25247.htm (accessed November 2, 2011)

Facts about the Weaver Bird The Baya Weaver bird is a sparrow sized bird found across South and Southeast Asia They are usually found in grasslands, cultivated areas and on small bushes and thorny trees. Baya Weavers are best known for the elaborately woven nests constructed by the males They nest in colonies up to 20-30. A male bird is known to make up to 500 trips to complete a nest. The males take about 18 days to construct the complete nest. The nest location is given more importance than the structure by the female when it selects the nest and mate. It is widely believed in India that Baya sticks fireflies with mud in the interior walls of the nest to light up at night. It is also assumed that clay is also used in the nest which is why the nest could stand against strong wind. The newly made nest is green with fresh grass and turns brown as the grass dries. The nest last well through three months breeding season, and sometimes even up to a year. Both male and female weaver birds are polygamous. 1. How can we distinguish between male and female weaver bird? Both male and female resemble each other; however in breeding season which is in monsoon, the male undergoes total physical transformation. It acquires a bright yellow cap and a blackish brown feather streaked with white and yellow on the upper parts. On the other hand, the female continues to have the same dull colored feathers.

Perspectives

2. What do they eat? They feed on grains, seeds of different kinds, wild grass, small insects and sometimes they even depend on small frogs and molluscs, especially to feed their young. They go in search of food in groups. 3. How do they build their nest? The male weaver bird builds the nest with their strong beaks by collecting over a thousand of fresh strips from the surroundings. First they tie a leaf with many knots onto a twig. The first knot has to be firm as the subsequent tasks depend on it. Then they weave a ring or the entrance. The ring should be big enough for the bird to enter. Once the ring is complete and firm, the work starts on the roof. Before the nest is complete, a male displays its nest to females to find a partner. Once female signal its approval, the male continues to complete the nest. The female partner only gives a finishing touch to it. The nest is often constructed in retort-shaped suspended from a thorny tree, with the mouth pointing downwards, over open water to protect its young birds from predators. However, if no female shows any interest in the nest, the male has to dismantle the nest and start its work all over again because female doesn’t like the nest as it turns brown after few days. 4. Why do they build nest with its entrance at the bottom? First, they live in area where there is large amount of rainfall in the rainy season. With its entrance at the bottom, it prevents the nest from getting flooded. Second, the nest also protects the young birds from birds of prey that flies high in the sky. These birds of prey with its sharp eyesight swoop down to eat up the baby in the nest. Therefore with the top of the nest completely covered, the birds of prey are unable to see them. Reference: Wikipedia contributors. “ Baya Weaver Bird.” Wikipedia, The Free Engcylopedia. http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baya Weaver (accessed November 2, 2011) Philippinus, Ploceus. “Baya Weaver.” http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/birds/Ploceus_ philippinus.htm (accessed November 2, 2011) Mindel, Nissan. “The Weaver Bird.” Kehot Publication Society. http://www.chabad.org/ kids/article_cdo/aid/114767/jewish/Weaver-Bird.htm (accessed November 11, 2011)

Interview

An Interview with Ms. Sachiko Takahashi Ms. Sachiko Takahashi is a volunteer from Japan, teaching Japanese Art and Origami to the student teachers at the School of Education here at our Institute. Our team from ‘PERSPECTIVES’ interviewed her and given below is the interview. However, we regret to say that some parts from the original interview could not be transcribed due to problems with indecipherability

Perspective: How did you come to know about our Institute? Sachiko: I (came to) know through Ama Jetsun Pema lak because I’m one of her friends. P: How did you meet Amala? S: (The) First time I met her in Zurich, Switzerland. P: How did you get to know her? S: Through a Tibetan friend (who) she was my best friend in my life and she introduced (me to) Jetsun Pema lak P: How did you decide to teach us? S: Two years ago, I came here just for a holiday for a short time but your Principal said “if it’s fine with you, please teach”. Then for two and a half weeks I taught students. It was really fun. So last year I came again. P: Do you have any previous experience teaching Art? S: Yes, I have been to many countries. So each time I taught something because I love to use my fingers and origami also I have to continue. Also in Japan I taught fine arts, not in a college or school but privately. P: Where did you learn your art? S: From childhood I loved to draw or paint or make something. When I was 3 years old I took part in a painting contest. I also learned art at a private school when I was 6 years old and after that in high school. I didn’t go to college because I thought it was a waste of time and I found a good teacher. I started to do my craft work and I joined Japan Art Association (when) they selected my statue and I can still remember it. P: Besides Art, what were your favourite subjects in school? S: When I was a student, I loved Mathematics very much and Science and History also but English, I didn’t like. But anyway, I didn’t like studying in the classroom. I liked to study outside far from other places and (with) people from other experiences. That’s much better my teacher said. It’s better for your future. P: What differences do you find between Tibetan students and other students you’ve taught? S: I think, Tibetan students are really pure if they draw something. They draw from

Perspectives

heart. It looks childish but (has) a good impact. Japanese students learn so many good techniques and (use) good materials and they can paint so well but not good. My mind never moves when I see their picture. It’s too good, just techniques covered with technique, no heart. That’s why here when I see some pictures, drawing or painting, it’s so nice, technique is not enough but good. ….. So, Tibetan (students’ drawing), not all, but most, so nice and pure.

P: Do you face any difficulties teaching our students? S: Yes, because I think, you students need (to be) more active from your side, not passive, not waiting, but (be) curious to learn anything new. P: So you think we are not curious nor interested? S: I think you are interested but not enough. If there is one and a half hour or two hours, only may be, (they spend) half an hour concentrating. The rest of the time, their mind is somewhere else. P: We have never seen you in a bad or sad mood. What is the secret behind this? S: I was born here, may be for just one life. It’s not my choice. So (I) always do something fun, nothing to worry about or feel sorry. So everyday I’m happy like my name. (Sachiko means happy child) P: How did you get the inspiration to help other people? S: I don’t think I’m helping if I do something for other people. It’s kind of selfish. For example , I get to spend some money to buy textbooks or uniforms for Nepali students because they are there. That’s why we could do something good for them. If they are not there, I cannot do that. So I think I have to say thank you to them. P: How long are you going to stay here? S: This year, till beginning of January. After that I’m going to Kathmandu because my sister’s group, exercise group (fitness group) is coming to Kathmandu for trekking. Then I’m going to Bangkok in April. I have an appointment from New York. P: Do you have any advice for our students here? S: Your present time will never come again. So try to do everything with all your ability. ‘Time is gold’ is a Japanese proverb. It’s more than money. So use your time very well and don’t use your time on nonsense. Youth never comes back. At this age you can take so many things in your brain like sponge. Later when it becomes old, it doesn’t work so well. Now, you have a good chance to learn anything new. P: Thank you M’am. It was great talking to you.

An Interview with Dr. Ruedi Högger

Interview

Dr. Ruedi Högger is Historian and Psychologist and former Vice-Director of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. He is now presiding the foundation board of the Tibet Institute and is therefore closely linked to Science meets Dharma. Our team from ‘PERSPECTIVES’ also interviewed him. P: Sir, could you please give us a brief introduction of yourself? RH: I am the chairman of the board of Tibet Institute in Switzerland. In Rikon there is a Buddhist monastery of about 10 monks and one abbot. This monastery serves the Buddhist community with about 4000 Tibetans including all children and adults in Switzerland. But to carry on the monastery, it needs a legal structure, so there is a trust for the Tibet-Rikon monastery and I am the chairman of that trust. The Dalai Lama asked the trust to do “Science Meets Dharma”, which teaches monks and nuns Science in the monastery. So, “Science Meets Dharma” is a project we carry out in behalf of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and we means Rikon. The dialogue that is going on here is also from the TIBET INSTITUTE IN RIKON. We finance it, we have invited people and we have been offered hospitality here to hold the dialogue, which is wonderful. P: We have also heard about the “Mind and Life”, dialogue between Science and Spirituality with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Is this a continuation or an isolated project? RH: It is not isolated because it is also initiated by His Holiness. He has suggested so we do that. But it is at the much lower level while His Holiness holds the meetings with top scientists of the world with the big conferences and the big audience. We do it much lower with ordinary scientists and ordinary geshes. So, basically it’s the same but at the much lower level. P: How were you inspired into this profession? RH: I was inspired into this profession of psychology a little bit like Buddha was inspired to ask about the human suffering. I see so much suffering among the people of Europe in my country in Switzerland. I notice suffering in myself and my family. My inspiration to this profession is that it is a modern way to alleviate suffering among the people. Lord Buddha was teaching 2500 years back. Much of his teachings still holds by today and other parts are very difficult to understand today. Psychology has many similarities with Buddhism. But it is a modern concept with a same aim of alleviating suffering. So, that was my inspiration to alleviate suffering and people who come to me. P: What are the similarities between Psychology and Buddhism? RH: There are very important similarities between Buddhism and Psychology. For instance, what is called mind in Buddhism is called consciousness but in Psychology we called it psyche. But both in Buddhism and Psychology mind has many layers. It is not just our present consciousness that I see you and you see me. We have to go in our head. Mind

Perspectives

is much more than that. It’s not just our present conscious that I see you and you see me. We have to go from our head. Mind is much more than that. And the actual daily mind we’re in now confined access to others parts of the mind, through meditation, through dreams, through various methods. The mind is something very big with parts that are not accessible to all people and its small part which is common to all is our everyday human consciousness, our thinking, and feeling. Even a child has consciousness. But there are others parts of the minds, which are not so easily accessible (to everyone). In Buddhism, access is sort mostly through meditation. In Psychology, we also use certain forms of meditation and dreams. We analyze dreams, which come from another parts of psyche but not from the daily consciousness. We do not invent our dreams. They come to us whether we want it or not. They just come, but they also come from psyche. So, trying to understand dreams is an important part of psychology. And then second very important similarity between Psychology and Buddhism is they both try to decrease ego and to bring about a relationship between ego and other realities. In psychology, other realities, we call it the unconscious as the part of the psyche, which are not normal conscious but which is access to our certain extent and in Buddhism also its certain parts of psyche, which are not conscious. Normally, but which can be accessed through meditation. For many human beings, ego is just the only psychic reality. In both Psychology and Buddhism, we try to make this ego little smaller and relate it to this other parts of psyche. So, the ego is only of relative importance and not absolute importance. This is common to both Buddhism and Psychology.

P: What do you mean by ‘relative importance’ and ‘absolute importance’? RH: There are some scientists who think, the only thing that matters is their logic. That is the ego. Completely identified with ego…..their capacity to think, to reason, to master physics, chemistry and so on. As soon as it comes to something which they cannot explain is not important. They call it, “this is just nonsense!” So, in science, often we find an attitude, ‘I’ in absolute, only an absolute psychic reality. But if a scientist learns that the psyche has other parts which it knows much more than he knows. Then his ‘I’ becomes relative to other. I will give you an example. A scientist living in US might have a dream that his mother has died in India. He wakes up and he says, “Well! That is nonsense. It is just a dream”. Later, he gets a telephone call that says his mother has indeed died. So, many such things happen. Now, he must realize that his own psyche or his mind knows something which everyday consciousness doesn’t know. Everyday consciousness learns only when he gets a call or email. But another part of psyche knows much earlier. So, when a scientist accepts that, he or she cannot explain how it works. But he or she accepts that this is a fact. The ego becomes smaller, then he doesn’t think about, “I know everything” and “what I can’t explain is just nonsense”. Then he must accept that apart from his scientific knowledge, there are other things, which are of equal or perhaps more important. So, his ego shrinks and his acceptance of other psychic reality increases and that is very important. Then it becomes relative because

Interview

in relation to these other things it becomes smaller. It is related to something else. In the first case, it is not relative to anything. It is by him alone……..nothing else. So, it is unrelated. It becomes related when he must accept that there are other forces. Absolute ‘I’ is dangerous for human kind. So, in Psychology, like in Buddhism, we try to help people find their way, which is the common thing between Buddhism and Psychology. P: When you took us to the world of dream, I remember sir, Sigmund Freud is considered a great psychologist of the contemporary era who had worked extensively on the concept of dream. What are some of his contributions? RH: Now there are two great names in modern Psychology. One is Freud, which you said, and the other is Carl Jung. Now Freud was the first and Jung built on Freud. And Jung has gone much further. But Freud definitely is a very great scholar in the sense that he was the first among Europeans to discover, to explore or to show what we call unconscious mind, this deep layer of mind which we also have in Buddhism. Before that, in Europe, there is no knowledge about that. About 150 years ago, Europeans thought, mind is just what we experienced in everyday lives. So, having discovered the unconscious mind, from which dreams come. This really is fast breaking and pioneering achievement of Freud for which he will always be honoured and remembered. But at the same time, we also found that his understanding of unconscious mind is quite insufficient. Let me give you an example. You learn a lot from school and part of it you forget. Bur later on in life according to circumstances it might appear again and you remember it. So, where has this knowledge been in the meantime? It was in your head once then it disappeared then it comes up again. So, that point of psyche where this knowledge was……..that’s the unconscious. That Freud discovered. That’s a great discovery. Also there are good things and bad things in life like your parents teach you to be clean. So, not to be clean is something very…..it’s become forbidden. So, very often things that are forbidden also they drop out of memory and they go to the unconscious. So, that’s how far Freud went in his understanding of the unconscious. The unconscious is just like a garbage bin, where many things are put into it. Sometimes they come up again but they are put off and so they are not very important. And that is part of it. That Jung discovered much more to that. Jung discovered that in the unconscious there are many things, which merely got into the unconscious through your mind. There are things in the unconscious, which are there for reasons which we don’t know what. And certainly it has not come through the unconscious. Something through the unconscious it must have gone through your mind. And they might appear in your dream otherwise not. Unconscious is capable of creative images some times very beautiful images, some times very frightening images, which we have never seen before in reality. So, the unconscious is something very powerful, a creative part of our mind, which can create something, which is not created in our head. It is created in the unconscious mind and that’s the discovery of Jung, which is actually the most important part of the unconscious because Jung then asked what for, does the unconscious create these things? And why does it create that image, which you recently saw in your dream. There must be a purpose for that because usually nature doesn’t do

Perspectives

things that are just for nothing. And we also know that when we dream at night our brain is very active and it needs energy to dream. So, all these things we can conclude that dreaming must be there for something like if you are a medical doctor we go to blood when you feel sick you take the blood sample and check. He sees that you have white particles in your blood sample. He can either say it is nonsense; there should not be too many white particles in your blood or he could either say there must be reasons for that. It must have something to do with your illness and so Jung says, “There must be a reason for that. Dreams must have function in your psyche and spiritual life and so all his life is spent in trying to understand in developing the message to understand dreams. What are they for? We spent so much brain energy to dream. It must be something…..! And so he developed much more than Freud, a methodology to understand dreams. As a psychologist, I worked mostly with this methodology.

P: In my dream, my friends and I were hanging out in a jungle. Suddenly we were chased by a demon and we ran so hard. In the end I saw that I was the only one who survived. What does this mean? RH: Obviously in the dream you are not in this reality where you are bow lying on the bed and dreaming and the next day the friend is still there and nothing has happened to your friend. And you have no sign having been to the jungle and so on. I want to say we should not try to relate the dream to the outer world where you are in this school and where this friend is a real friend but we should try to understand the dream as a symbolic presentation of something that has happened within your mind or psyche. So, your friend is not your real friend. Your friend is something in you that is very much like a friend. And in this case, I could say it is your own being short-tempered. And the dream would then say, if you associate with that part of you, which is short-tempered, it can become dangerous. Demon might come up. And what is a demon? A demon again is not out in the forest but it’s within you. And it’s something that can swallow you up or kill you also. It’s a psychic force, which can be dangerous. In other words if you get too much angry you lose your control that means you are swallowed up by the demon. He swallows up your capacity to control your anger and that’s you because as you sit here you control yourself. P: Since you have been here for the seminar, “Science Meets Dharma” dialogue, could you tell us a brief outcome of the seminar, I mean your experience? RH: No, I can’t tell you briefly because there is not one or two outcomes as such. Each individual has gained so many insights which we shared among each other but there is not one common outcome. My feelings or the experience is that overall it was very satisfactory and we learned a lot. I am very grateful for all the discussions we have had and grateful for what I have learned from the Geshes (Ven) and from the scientists. I am also grateful for the good team spirit and good atmosphere that we had. P: Sir, you have been here for around ten days. What is your impression about this institute?

Interview

RH: I am a friend of this institute and I was here about three years back. When I was here, it was not like what it is now. I have had discussions with Amala (Jetsun Pema) about the whole vision that is behind this institute and I think it is a very great institute. I share the vision of Amala and I really wish this institute all the best and much success. I think for the Tibetans in India, this is a very crucial and important institution.

An Interview with one of the graduates Miss. Tsering Dolma is a final year student in the Primary Teacher Training Course specializing in the Teaching of English as a Second Language. She is graduating in January 2012. Perspective: What did you feel when you first joined this institute? Tsering Dolma: I felt that I am here for a good cause, and I have a strong feeling that I should be a good teacher. This strong feeling emerged, when I experienced that we Tibetans are still lagging behind. P: What encouraged you to join this institution? T.D: Some of my close friends recommended me to join this institution. And besides that, I was especially inspired by the title of this institute. I felt that anyone can graduate from different universities or institutions but here, it’s something different with the unique and precious title of the Lord himself. And to be honest, I came here during the Entrance Test way back in June, 2009 to check whether it’s a right choice for me. Then, I was overwhelmed when I encountered some of the renowned and highly experienced teachers in the history of T.C.V. P: What experience did you get while you were here in this institute? T.D: I have gained a wide variety of experience within this short period. And for me it’s definitely an eye-opener. After coming here I knew that “I am the master of my own life” and I should be self- reliant and independent. Then again in our lives, we learn many things from the mistakes. We also know that the wise men learn from others mistakes. P: Did you face any problems? T.D: Life is indeed… not a bed of roses! So I did face certain problems like everyone else in our daily lives. I’m not very good in handling the modern electronic devices like computer because I don’t have much knowledge about these things. P: How is the DLIHE different from other colleges? T.D: From the perspectives of a Tibetan, our institute is unique in its own way in imparting

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education and preserving our culture and heritage. And yes, I should not forget to mention the facilities which are indeed really outstanding as compared to other colleges.

P: Do you find any differences between the students of our institute and the Tibetan students in other Indian colleges? T.D: I think there are few differences in terms of the way they live their life. The most prominent difference is that we are always in touch with our unique culture and language. While on other hand, the Tibetan students in other colleges don’t have such kind of atmosphere. So we have a better opportunity to preserve our culture, language and heritage. We are in one community, we are in a Tibetan community so we talk and think in Tibetan which helps to preserve our culture and heritage… but on other hand the Tibetan students in other colleges are deprived of such opportunities to talk and think in Tibetan. So I think these are the few to list. P: Don’t you think that those Tibetan students have better awareness and relation with Indian and foreign students? T.D: Yes, I must say that they have better awareness or exposure. I was about to say that. We also need a bit of more exposure to other colleges like inviting eminent scholars from outside to give workshops or lecture in this institute. Recently our Principal has taken this step. But then still in terms of exposure we are again lacking behind as compared to other colleges. And one of the disadvantages is that we lack in exposure otherwise in terms of preserving our culture, and language, we have a very good atmosphere. P: I am sure you might have heard that we had a friendly match with Christ College. We played basketball and football match at Christ PU College. What is your view on it? T.D: Yes, did. That’s wonderful and I just wanted to congratulate to those who took part in and of course! To our principal, who initiated for this friendly gestures. I think it’s a wise decision and a good step forward. P: What is your most memorable moment in this institute? T.D: I hardly remember much to pin- point as such. But the most memorable moment that I cherish is the Fresher’s party in 2009 August. We really enjoyed the day. P: So what is that particular thing during the fresher’s day that made it your most memorable? T.D: During that time we were fresh I mean new in this institute… and had the energy.In terms of programs, there were dances and foods and some amusing games moreover our seniors’ reception overwhelmed me. P: How do you feel as you are graduating very soon? T.D: I feel like I am a free bird!

Interview

P: Why? T.D: Because I will no longer be bound by rules. I am not complaining that there is strict discipline because I came from a place where there is a very strict discipline but then everyone who graduates feel glad. Like a baby bird, we have been waiting to fly and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to fly. P: What is your message to the students? T.D: My message to the students is please do not waste your precious time and use the resources and facilities properly. Please keep reading books as much as you can. Books are just like a garden in your pocket. I am saying this because in our Tibetan society we hardly have the habit of reading books. Books are the best friend of human beings, because we can cry with the books when we feel sad and we can laugh with the books when we feel glad. P: How are you planning to contribute to the community? T.D: For me, as a graduating TTC, by becoming a good teacher is the best way to contribute to our Tibetan society. P: How did you feel teaching the children in TCV Bylakuppee? T.D: I feel really very glad. I feel a sense of satisfaction from my beloved students. My studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; reaction further motivated me to become a good primary teacher. P: Do you have any suggestions for the further improvement of this institute? T.D: Well! As a student, I feel that we the students of this institute are fortunate enough to have some great teachers. Hmm.. but on the other hand, sticking to the same teacher throughout the session for almost two and half years reduces the rate of exposure. Different teachers have different ideas and approaches. These days everyone needs exposure. So I feel this system needs to be changed for the benefit of the students. Apart from that the next thing that I think is we also need some change in terms of our co-curricular activities, we need more variety. We need elocution, quiz competitions, panel discussions etc to develop our talents. P: If you were to do TTC all over again, what would you do differently? T.D: I would focus more on my studies, in the sense, all round development! I would always go for morning and evening walks. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d focus more on my English language especially in terms of phonetics and writing. I would clear all my doubts from my teachers. I would never go back to the hostel, confused and dissatisfied. P: Thank you so much for your time.

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