In our next feature of the "Teacher Stories" campaign, we bring you an inspiring conversation with Ms. Menika P Sambrani, a passionate Kannada teacher from KenBridge School, Kalaburgi, Karnataka. Her innovative teaching approach is making language learning more engaging and effective for her students. Let's dive into our chat!
Interviewer: Ms. Sambrani, tell us a little about yourself and your journey as a teacher.
Ms. Sambrani: I am from Gulbarga, and teaching has always been my passion. I love it even more when my students truly enjoy my lessons! I teach Kannada to grades 7th to 10th at KenBridge School. Apart from teaching, I also have a deep love for music and dance.
Interviewer: How do you make Kannada lessons more engaging for your students?
Ms. Sambrani: Today’s students have a very short attention span, so we can’t rely on traditional textbook-based teaching. I use interactive methods like group discussions, role-plays, and even teaching with music! One of my favourite strategies is incorporating our epic Indian sagas like Mahabharata and Ramayana into lessons. This not only helps students understand the language better but also instills strong morals and values. I particularly enjoy using a dialogue-based teaching style to make lessons more dynamic.
Interviewer: That sounds fascinating! What’s your approach to helping students learn Kannada more effectively?
Ms. Sambrani: My first step is to gauge students' interest in the subject. I assess how well they recognize Kannada letters and their overall familiarity with the language. If they don’t seem engaged, I introduce visuals and videos to spark their curiosity. The key is to make them want to learn rather than feel forced.
Interviewer: What challenges do you face as a language teacher?
Ms. Sambrani: The biggest challenge is maintaining students' focus. They get distracted easily, so I constantly cross-question them to ensure they’ve grasped Kannada grammar concepts. Another challenge is ensuring enough practice. That’s why I conduct discussions after every lesson—it helps reinforce what they’ve learned and gives them the confidence to express themselves in Kannada.
Interviewer: How has Class Saathi helped in your teaching journey?
Ms. Sambrani: Class Saathi’s instant report generation has been a game-changer! It gives me real-time insights into how well my students understand Kannada grammar. I can immediately see where they are struggling and adjust my teaching accordingly. But the best part? The excitement on my student's faces when we play assessments using Class Saathi! They love the interactive format, and it makes learning so much more fun.
Interviewer: That’s wonderful to hear! Finally, what message would you like to share with fellow teachers?
Ms. Sambrani: Keep innovating! Today’s students need engaging and interactive learning experiences. Don't hesitate to experiment with different teaching methods—whether it's music, storytelling, or technology. The goal is to make learning enjoyable and meaningful. And of course, tools like Class Saathi can make a huge difference in making our teaching more effective!
Ms. Menika P. Sambrani’s dedication and creativity in teaching Kannada are truly inspiring! Stay tuned for more such stories in our "Teacher Stories" series, where we celebrate teachers who go the extra mile to make learning impactful.
