Making English more accessible, more fun

50 students from underprivileged families benefit from new project

The science of fun, wonders of the sea, long ago and today and “good idea” are some of the lessons taught to the students selected from two schools here as part of a unique initiative to provide them with a foundation of English language skills. The programme seeks to enhance the capabilities of children and enable them to avail of educational and employment opportunities in future.

Twenty-five students each from the two schools, belonging to underprivileged families, have been selected for the English Access Microscholarship Programme run by the American Embassy’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs.

After being taught in an online mode for more than a year, the students in the age group of 13 to 18 years will be shortly joining the after-school physical classes and intensive sessions.

American Embassy’s Regional English Language Officer Ruth Goode, accompanied by specialist Rachna Sharma, visited the schools here last week ahead of the launch of physical classes. Ms. Goode interacted with the students and obtained their feedback, while informing them of the scope for studying in the U.S. through the exchange programmes.

Gargi Mathur, Mohammed Sharik, Arjun Aswal and Upasna Goyar – students of Class IX to XII in Mahatma Gandhi Government English Medium School, Adarsh Nagar – told the visitors from the U.S. Embassy that the learning programme had boosted their confidence and helped them groom their personalities.

The other educational institution in the Rajasthan capital which has joined the programme is Vimukti Girls’ School, providing education free of cost to girls from low-income families living in urban slums.

The students, who had the first in-person interaction with Ms. Goode and Ms. Sharma, were delighted to learn about the U.S. Embassy’s english courses run in India, Bhutan and Afghanistan.