Monday, 4 August 2025
Issues in Language Teaching While Teaching We Feel Tired Too
Issue in language teaching are various.We love language teaching but know many things as barrier and try to resolve that so knowing language is a thing but teaching is another fact.Teaching English – or any other language – is not easy, especially in today’s fast-paced society. Language teachers need to catch up with their students’ interests to motivate them and at the same time to offer applicable knowledge in the form of up-to-date information, texts, and means of communication.
This course will help language teachers experience how to motivate students to communicate and develop all four language skills. At the same time, it will empower participants to create their teaching materials using their creativity and resources.
The course will mix digital and plug-free activities to meet the expectations and interests of language teachers from different backgrounds regarding available schools and facilities.
During the course, participants will explore a variety of ways to promote all four language skills including CLIL, video, photography, and ICT, as well as everyday items (real-world materials).
Participants will also be given plenty of ideas on how to use a variety of media and sources to engage students providing a motivating language acquisition environment.
.1. Languages are complicated
To teach a language, educators usually need to have native speaker fluency, but that’s often not enough to do the job. It’s absolutely essential that educators also understand the grammatical structures that underpin all languages – this part of the job is frequently ignored and underappreciated but it’s vital for classroom success. After all, if you don’t know the difference between an adjective and an adverb or cannot provide examples of countable and uncountable English nouns if you are teaching English language, then how can you hope to explain key concepts to students?
2. Language teaching is hard work!
Keeping your students engaged, interested and motivated in their learning day in and day out can be a challenge. Particularly in formal education settings (like in primary school or secondary education) where students often don’t have any choice about attending.
Educators will frequently find themselves teaching different subjects to different classes across different age groups (read also our dedicated post about teaching languages to different age group). All of which require a bespoke lesson plan using a variety of stimulus to work through – teachers therefore need to be highly organised, detail-focused, creative, resilient (I could go on!) to succeed. Creating lesson plans, marking papers, writing reports and doing all of the other student analysis required is also very time-consuming. It’s important for language teachers to keep focus on language learning outcomes and to ensure that this administrative work does not take up too much of their free time.
3. Classroom management
Of course, a key challenge for all educators is ensuring that all students stay on task and work in a calm and orderly manner. Yet in every language classroom and in every school, there’s always someone who seems determined to make life as difficult as possible for the teachers. Handling those students can take skill and experience.
For language educators teaching their native language overseas, this does present real challenges. Just imagine that you’re trying to engage a 14-year old who is refusing to participate in your Spanish class and she’s talking to you in her mother tongue which you don’t understand. How would you respond to ensure that her behaviour doesn’t distract the rest of the class? Remember to check out our other post “6 effective strategies for classroom management” for further tips on classroom management!
4. Supporting your learners
Ultimately, the role of the language teacher is to help students improve fluency in their target language, so working with individual students’ needs can present a wide range of challenges. Although teaching in higher education or teaching adults can be hugely satisfying as you help them achieve their life objectives, the classroom environment can often be serious and overly goal-oriented. This puts additional pressure on teachers as they expect top-quality teaching class after class to get the grades they need.
On the other hand, teaching students in primary school usually means more time spent on behaviour management, more time spent building basic language skills and certainly more time spent developing engaging lesson plans and resources. And of course, there’s parents to deal with too!
5. Handling parents
Many language teaching institutions are privately-run businesses with demanding, paying customers. Parents want to ensure that their children are getting the best education possible and that they are making or exceeding expected progress. Parents can therefore be a regular and sometimes unwelcome classroom presence for both students and teachers. Setting clear boundaries and building a positive communication and relationship with parents does therefore pay dividends.
If you’re teaching overseas, it’s also important to carefully research the culture of the country or region that you’re working in. Every parent will be different, but being culturally aware can help you avoid unintentionally offending someone and causing a major diplomatic incident.
6. You’re in charge
In the classroom, the teacher is in charge. You set the course of the lesson, you look after the students in your care, deliver the learning outcomes and control the learning environment. Language educators, and all teachers, therefore have a huge responsibility every time they walk into their classroom. This doesn’t suit everyone but the best teachers see this as a unique opportunity and a privilege.
7. Classroom resources
Many language educators take the opportunity to use their skills to travel and to see different parts of the world. Depending on where you end up, the school may not have all of the educational technology or materials (e.g, apps, broadband, laptops, textbooks etc) that you’re used to. This can understandably come as a shock and forces teachers to rethink which language teaching methodologies they can use and the resources that they have available.
In other settings, teachers may be presented with a strict curriculum or schemes of work that they must follow and resources that they must use. If you’re used to being creative in developing your own materials that are tailored to each class, then this type of environment can also present its own challenges for educators.
8. Support and assistance
Wherever you teach, it’s vital that you have support and back-up when you need it. Teaching a room full of strangers a new and foreign language can be difficult, so building a network of peers who you work with is invaluable. Whether that’s for sharing teaching resources, tips for professional development, student insights and, of course, for socialising! If problems arise with students or with parents, it’s vital that your head of department and school leadership are available to help and support you.
While the core principles of effective language teaching apply to teaching any modern language, including English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Arabic or Mandarin, there may be some differences in emphasis or approach depending on the specific language being taught. However, these differences are generally minor, and the most effective teaching methods can be adapted to suit any language.
For example, Communicative Language Teaching (CLT), Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT), and Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) are all highly effective for teaching any language. These methods prioritize authentic communication, meaningful tasks, and contextual learning, which are essential for successful language acquisition regardless of the target language.
However, certain aspects of a language might require more specific attention or focus. For instance, English has a more complex phonology and a larger vocabulary compared to some other languages, which may require additional emphasis on pronunciation and vocabulary building. Spanish and French have grammatical gender and more verb conjugations than English, which may necessitate a more structured approach to teaching grammar.
Sunday, 20 July 2025
Denija And Her Gunyucholo
I have been engaged in Gunyucholo program this weekend.In Nepal, when girls turn into the age of 7 or 8 (usually 7) they are given a “GUNYO CHOLO” which is a traditional dress like the picture above which includes a cholo (top/blouse) and a sari (skirt like) and lots of jewelleries. This is to symbolise that she is slowing turning into a woman soon. It is a very typical tradition held for all Nepalese girls no matter where you are born or raised when you reach this age this ceremony will take place.This little girl here is my niece and she has officially turned age 7 and she has been given the “GUNYO CHOLO” to symbolise for “coming age of a girl”.The gunyo cholo tradition or gunyo cholo ceremony is very important in Nepal and is observed by Nepali girls regardless of where they are born or raised. It is also known as the 'coming-age-of-a-girl' ritual.Parents (especially parents and grandparents) used to give their daughters a set of conventional garments (sari or Guniu-Cholo) and do some rituals before they reached puberty in the past.By doing this, the girl is saved from having to endure a room where she can see no male members nor even a single ray of sunshine when she reaches her first menstruation cycle, which is a custom still widespread in rural communities in Nepal).
This coming-age-of-a-girl ritual is usually performed at home, in front of close family and friends.
During the ceremony, the girl is first bathed in holy water. Then, she is dressed in her gunyo cholo and given a flower garland to wear around her neck.
Tika, a mixture of vermilion powder, banana, and yogurt) is put on her forehead by her parents or grandparents and flowers are placed in her hair as a symbol of prosperity and good luck.
The young girl then performs a small puja (worship) ceremony, after which she is blessed by the elders present.
After the puja is over, the girl is free to enjoy the rest of her special day with her friends and family. She will often receive gifts such as clothes, jewelry, and money from her loved ones on this occasion.
It is generally given on special days like holidays or Dashain and in accordance with the lunar calendar.
The young lady is given a set of traditional clothes that include Guniu-Choli, fariya, and patuka, as well as other ornaments such as lachi and sir-bandi.
After that, the rest of the family puts tika on her forehead and flowers in her hair. They give her blessings with gifts and money.
In this way the puja is completed, and the young lady enjoys the rest of the day with friends
Here is the list of items you need for the gunyo cholo ceremony:
A gunyo cholo dress
Jewelry
A pair of shoes
Makeup items
Hair accessories
Nail polish and nail art supplies
A gunyo cholo invitation card
A gunyo cholo cake
Food and drinks
Songs
Gifts
Balloons and streamers (optional)
Gunyo cholo banner
Tika - a mark made on the forehead with vermillion powder, turmeric, yogurt, and rice.
Mala - a garland made of flowers.
Chura - red and white bangles worn on the wrists.
Jhumki - earrings.
Kanthi - a necklace made of beads and gold.
Pote - bracelets made of silver and coral.
Rings - Gold or silver rings worn on the fingers.
The gunyo cholo ceremony is a time for family and friends to come together to celebrate a young girl's transition into womanhood. It is also an opportunity for the girl to learn about her own culture and heritage. During the ceremony, the girl is typically dressed in a gunyo cholo dress and jewelry. She is also given a small puja or worship ceremony. A feast is usually served afterward, which typically consists of traditional Nepali dishes
Denija has been my favourite girl since birth and her presence in my family has a great value we encourage her to be happy and confident like ordinary girl.
Friday, 9 May 2025
Bratabandha is a pivotal coming-of-age Hindu ritual marking a boy's transition into adulthood within Nepali and broader South Asian culture. Also called the "sacred thread ceremony," Bratabandha traces its origins back over 3,000 years historically demarcating childhood's end around age 12 and charging new adults with societal responsibilities.
In Nepal, Bratabandha carries enhanced cultural weight amidst the dominant Hindu population. The extensive rituals connect present citizens to ancestral heritage, conferring identity within the ancient caste system through the wearing of the eponymous sacred janai threads diagonally crossing the chest. Beyond just familial celebration, communities recognize the oaths of devotion to learning, faith, and dignity boys take becoming grown men who shall lead households and perpetuate traditions into the future.
While the rigidity of caste identity loosens in modern Nepal, Bratabandha still echoes through the ages - transmitting timeless cultural code into masculine identity. As Nepali society evolves, so too does the integration of ancient rites of passage with contemporary realities facing coming generations. But at its heart, the Bratabandha ceremony channels the interwoven threads of being Nepali into those stepping up to shape the nation going forward.
The rituals in Bratabandha vary from community to community. In Hindu communities, rituals during the Bratabandha represent the banishment of the boy (symbolization of Lord Ram’s exile) whereas, in Buddhist communities, the rituals represent the abandonment of worldly pleasures by the boy and transition to a monk (symbolization of Buddha’s retreat from worldly pleasures).
During the Bratabandha ceremony, the boy is given a sacred thread, which is known as a yajnopavita or janeu. The thread is typically made of cotton or silk and consists of three strands, which symbolize the three aspects of the Hindu trinity (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva). The thread is worn over the left shoulder and under the right arm, and it is considered to be a symbol of the boy’s commitment to his faith and his spiritual journey.
The Bratabandha ceremony is usually performed in the presence of a priest or a religious leader, and it involves the recitation of mantras and the offering of prayers to the gods. The boy is also required to follow certain rituals and practices, such as observing celibacy and abstaining from certain foods, as a part of his spiritual discipline.
After the ceremony, the boy is considered to be a dvija, or “twice-born,” and he is expected to follow the rules and duties of a Hindu householder. The Bratabandha ceremony is an important part of Hindu culture and is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy by the family and community.
During the Bratabandha ceremony, the boy is typically dressed in traditional Hindu clothing. This may include a dhoti, a garment worn around the waist that is made of white cotton or silk, and a kurta, a long tunic that is worn over the dhoti. The boy may also wear a shawl or a scarf, known as a chadar, over his shoulder.
In some cases, the boy may also be required to wear a turban or a head covering as part of his dress for the ceremony. This is usually made of a long piece of cloth that is wrapped around the head and is worn as a symbol of respect and honour.
In addition to traditional clothing, the boy is also given a sacred thread, known as a yajnopavita or janeu, which consists of three strands of cotton or silk. The thread is worn over the left shoulder and under the right arm and is considered to be a symbol of the boy’s commitment to his faith and his spiritual journey.
Overall, the dress worn during the Bratabandha ceremony is typically simple and modest, reflecting the spiritual significance of the event. It is a time for the boy to reaffirm his commitment to his faith and to begin his journey on the path of dharma, or righteousness.
List of things required for Bratabandha.
Here are some of the things that are required for the Bratabandha ceremony:
A sacred location to do the ceremony (mandap)
A fire pit or 'Agni Kunda.'
Wooden plank
Ghee
Cotton wicks
Matchbox
Sandalwood powder, Sandalwood paste or oil,
Nauni in two brass bowls,
Kush,
Curd (yogurt)
Ghee (clarified butter) made of cow milk
Cow dung
Water
Flowers
Fruits
Rice
Honey
Scissors,
Razors,
Three pieces of yellow cloth inside mustard barley,
Dubo (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers; Bermuda grass)
Shrikhand
Other things required for the Bratabandha Ceremony
Nepali Bratabandha invitation card (Bratabandha card design)
Bratabandha gifts
Bratabandha dress
Bratabandha banner
Bratabandha decorations etc.
The Bratabandha ceremony, also known as Upanayana, is an important event in the life of a Hindu boy and marks his transition into manhood. The ceremonies vary between communities but usually involve the boy reciting sacred phrases, wearing a sacred thread around his neck, and being presented with gifts by family and friends. In certain Hindu groups, the head is shaved for the ritual, indicating a purification from their old lifestyles. The baby's head is shaved except for a patch of hair (Choti) tied with a string by the priest. This ritual is performed to ward off evil spirits and bless the child with good health, long life, and prosperity. After bathing, new clothing is donned. Family and friends' presents and prayers are frequently accepted.
FAQs
What is the Bratabandha ceremony?
The Bratabandha ceremony is a sacred Hindu ritual in which a boy is initiated into manhood.
How is the Bratabandha ceremony performed? What happens during the Bratabandha ceremony?
During the Bratabandha ceremony, the boy is made to recite sacred phrases known as Gayatri Mantra, which are kept secret. The boy pleads for food and money in front of a family's beautifully attired women to mark the life of a monk, which is a part of the tradition. Then, he is presented with a Janai (sacred thread) draped around his shoulder to signify that he is now a man and is ready to take on family responsibilities.
What is the significance of the ceremony?
The significance of the Bratabandha ceremony is that it is used to acquire the caste's ancient regulations, ceremonial obligations, and ceremonies. It is also a way for the boy to transition into manhood and take responsibility for his family.
When is the Bratabandha ceremony performed?
The Bratabandha ceremony is performed on the day of a specific date chosen by the family. It is usually done early in the morning.
What are some of the things required for the ceremony?
Some of the things required for the Bratabandha ceremony include a sacred location such as a mandap, a fire pit or 'Agni Kunda,' a wooden plank, ghee, cotton wicks, sandalwood powder or paste, flowers, fruits, rice, honey, and scissors.
Why is Bratabandha ceremony necessary? What is the purpose of the Bratabandha ceremony?
The Bratabandha ceremony is necessary because it is used to acquire the caste's ancient regulations, ceremonial obligations, and ceremonies. It is also a way for the boy to transition into manhood and take responsibility for his family. The purpose of the Bratabandha ceremony is to initiate a boy into manhood and to teach him the responsibilities that come with being a member of the family.
What is the right age for Upanayanam?
There is no age limit when you can do Upanayan, but it is usually done at a young age and in odd years.
Can Upanayanam be done after marriage?
An Upanayana ceremony is a solemn event that signifies the end of a boy's adolescence and his entrance into manhood. A boy leaves his childhood with this ritual, moves on to become a man, and follows the route of gaining knowledge. This rite is done before a guy gets married.
Who can participate in the Bratabandha ceremony?
The Bratabandha ceremony is a Hindu ritual performed by the boy's family. It is usually done early in the morning on the day of a specific date chosen by the family.
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