The Zoo Trip!

So this is the last and final post…with pictures from our wonderful trip to the Delhi Zoo. It was just a magical day, with a light drizzle, a cool breeze, and a warm sun peeking through the clouds every now and then. It was the very best way to say goodbye…Thank you all for your love and support of our project. We are all very grateful. There are hundreds more pictures and videos, and if you are interested, please leave your details in a comment and I’ll get back to you. A very special thanks to my wonderful family at I House, Berkeley, for their encouragement, and the Davis Projects for Peace Foundation for the generous support that made this project possible. We could not have done it without you.

Doing the head count

In the bus!

Crowds line up @ the Delhi Zoo

The boys check out the (graphic) animals

Picnicking with the Purana Quilla as a backdrop

Group 1 gets ready!

Here's Group 2!

We're fascinated by the deer!

Ummm...maybe we're too close!

The sign's talkin' 'bout ME!

Look, elephants!

The boys try and catch a glimpse of a panther.

The bears' lair!

The bears up close and personal...

OH MY GOD.

Awwwwww

A heartfelt salute!

Phew, what a day!

6th Grade in India and in the US

My 10-year-old niece, Isha, who attends 6th grade in New Jersey, visited the orphanage with me recently. Since there were a lot of 6th graders there, we got together as a group and the kids shared their experiences learning languages in the different settings. They talked about books they read, what kinds of tests they had, and topics they liked to write about. The discussions occurred in Hindi, Bengali, and English.

Getting together!

We're the same age!!!!

One student discusses language pedagogy in his Indian classroom

Sharing language learning experience across contexts

Sharing the 6th grade experience in New Jersey

We’re Multi-Lingual!

This is one of our coolest videos! The youngest kids get together and talk about their mother tongues, and other languages that are closest to them. The best fun ensues! One child says his favorite language is Hindi because he’s Hindu; one gives us a taste of Bihari, another of Nepalese, and yet another of Bengali. Check it out below!

Farm Animals!

After I read them a book on farm animals, we made this video of the kids talking about their favorite farm animals! Check it out below, and watch out for the twist at the end!

A Visit to the Village School!

In order to sustain the computer instruction beyond my stay here, we’ve started collaborating with the principal of the village school the kids attend. Check out the pictures of our visit to the school. And my kids would like to know if you can spot them among the students!!!!!

A Tiny Visitor from New York!

My tiny 5-year-old niece, Ms. Bela Battu, visiting from New York, came with me to the orphanage yesterday. She and the kids conversed a little. The kids at the orphanage were stunned that she could speak Hindi, Bengali, and English with them, given that she’s “from America.” We worked on farm animals from a FUN book, and the new (related) blog posts are up here: http://vishwashaanti2009.wordpress.com/

Ms. Bela Battu (in pink) visits

New posts!

The kids did some more micro-blogging today! Check us out here:

http://vishwashaanti2009.wordpress.com/