Singapore students are game for Tamil

CHENNAI: As Barakkathunisha, a ninth-grader from Bartley Secondary School, Singapore struggles to pronounce the word Vazhaipazham, her classmates root for her, to help her overcome initial jitters. And when she finally manages to get the diction right, in chaste Tamil- she wins well-deserved applause from her peers at the Tamil illakanam class held at Madras Christian College Higher Secondary school.For the 12 school students who landed here on Monday, as part of the four-day language and cultural programme, sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Singapore, their love for Tamil will stand them in good stead, say the two Tamil teachers, who accompanied them for the trip.According to Louis Isack Kumar, an alumnus of MCC Hr Sec School and Tamil teacher in Bartley, the trip was part of the initiative to encourage students to learn the intricacies of the Tamil language. He says, “We came here to know more about the Tamil language as the students will have the opportunity to fine tune their Tamil speaking skills here.” The programme includes a ‘buddy system’ that will have Bartley secondary school students go for home-visits with  the MCC school students,  to encourage them to interact  with their counterparts here, he adds.For K B Durga, another Tamil teacher from Bartley, the trip is all about giving the children a chance to learn about Tamil culture.“Since children have less exposure to Tamil there, we teachers have to encourage them to speak the language beyond the confines of the classroom. So, the students will be participating in debate competitions and attend grammar classes here to pick up finer nuances of the language,” says Durga.As part of their Community Involvement Programme (CIP), the students will also visit the government blind school, Poonamallee and the National Institute for the visually handicapped to understand the learning methodologies of the visually challenged, he adds.Furthermore, the programme will also include a session on traditional games, an opportunity to delve into the roots of the Tamil culture.K Muthumani, Tamil teacher, MCC Hr Sec School says, “We will teach them games such as Kiluthattu, Kabaddi, Karagam and Pandi, as well as the rules of Silambam so that they can practise it back home.”