Creative responses

 Cricket fever! This symptom defines the Indian psychological state currently. Want proof? Let us begin with the wapp groups. Many fun videos are making rounds which reveal how cricket is an obsession in India. 

On a group was shared a hilarious video that shows a typical South Indian Amma, mostly Tamilian, talking enthusiastically about the game even when her knowledge of the actual field begins and ends with "player should be below the ball when other team batsman hit ball high". 

Most statuses, typically flush so far with the festival or holiday pics, are now overflowing with the cricket trivia. Why, certain political parties have begun giving a religious colour to players' achievements!

When a nation thus obsesses, can Google be far behind? The Google search window always shows very creative responses to the local realities, the local festivals, the local celebrities, and so on. Currently, the Google doodle shows the cricket bat and the cup as icons donning the spelling! 

A subtle reference it could be to the fact that this world cup was more a batting heaven. Very creative is the visual. Equally interesting are the Amul advertisements. I would say that they are a combo of visual and linguistic creativity.

While teaching types of ad making to SYBA Comp English students, I used to refer to such ads in a big way. Similarly, while teaching vocabulary development techniques to FYBCom Add Eng students, I used to teach them through notions such as multiple intelligences, the EQ, and such ads.

I got to the classroom puzzles, jokes, unusual takes on traditional tales to teach students narration making. Well, forget such creative measures, even basic stuff such as report writing, project preparation, et al were promptly removed from the syllabus as soon as my say in the process ended!

I did not need to despair much though, as immediately all these, and many more such items I had included in the Add English curriculum, made entry in to the regular syllabi of Comp Eng, Add Eng and 'Value Added Eng' syllabi of affiliated colleges.

Due to the Covid context, I got a chance to teach these in an SPPU affiliated college. Luckily, I could explore both the online and offline modes of teaching these creative inputs. Most students liked them, too. Why, not only could I design mcq's based on these, I could make my students prepare relevant documents as well.

Creative inputs win in the final analysis, however much muzzled by the powers that be, with their own interests at stake. Hence the need to continue to be creative. Hence I teach my German students to understand such basic stuff as names, numbers, addresses by making them design creatively their own visiting cards, passports, visas. 

They get to know the family relationships by preparing family tree charts of famous families such as the Kapoor family, for instance. They know the countries where the language is spoken by putting together the flags, for instance. 

Such examples of making language learning both creative and useful become truly heartwarming when students use my SOP and LOR and GDPI notes not only for themselves to go abroad for further studies or while trying to get a job. They preserve these handouts for the younger siblings, moreover.  When they let you know such touching tales, you know that, creativity wins in the final analysis!

Pratima@ A syllabus that is both useful and has creative inputs is the need of the hour. Interesting literary texts add to the fun!