Listen and Read : Poetry

  Indian Weavers

Weavers, weaving at break of day,
Why do you weave a garment so gay?......
Blue as the wing of a halcyon wild,
We weave the robes of a new-born child.
Weavers, weaving at fall of night,
Why do you weave a garment so bright?........
Like the plumes of a peacock, purple and green,
We weave the marriage-veils of a queen.
Weavers, weaving solemn and still,
What do you weave in the moonlight chill……
White as a feather and white as a cloud,
We weave a dead man’s funeral shroud.
- Sarojini Naidu

Audio Files of poetry . Touch/Click on the blue radio button to play audio.

 Indian Weavers      

Songs of the Open Road

 She Walks In Beauty
 

The Inchcape Rock
 

Have You Earned Your Tomorrow?

Father Returning Home  

O Money
 

Small Towns and Rivers

Innovative Teaching Application

Put the incorrect sentences on the board. Create some funny sentences. 

Ask students to think and correct. 

 1. Grass is singing. 

 2. Singer is growing.

 3. A mango eats a man. 

4. A letter has written me. 

5. A train 🚆 is flying on the track. 

6. English taught us Mrs. Joshi. 

7. We unwelcome the guests. 

8. Ripen fruits falls to the sky. 

9. Covid 19 is suffering from the world.

 10. Kites are flying children in the sky.

Developing Writing Skills

Mechanics : Capital letters at the beginning of sentences and for 

names of persons,days, months , cities etc. Periods at the end of sentences.

Each new sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with a

period (.) 

This is a good sentence, this is not correct 

Names begin with capital letters, too:

Mayank, Rajesh, Salman, Christopher, Jahir, Premjit, Akanksha, Jarina, 

Copy the sentences, and make all the corrections that are necessary.

1. i am varsha jagnade

2. i am from telangana

3. we are square dancers

4. dancing is our hobby

5. it is an american dance

6. akhtar and marsha are our friends

7. roshansingh and roshan are another couple

8. a couple is a man and a woman

9. yaswant is my husband

10. we are in the front of the picture

The Cop And The Anthem

Activity Sheet No 1

Read the extract and complete the activities given below: (12)

Soapy left his bench and strolled out of the square and across the level sea of asphalt, where Broadway and Fifth Avenue flow together. Up Broadway he turned, and stopped at a luxurious cafe. Soapy had confidence in himself from the lowest button of his vest upward. He was shaven, and his coat was trim and his neat, black bow had been presented to him by a lady missionary on Thanksgiving Day. If only he could reach a table in the restaurant unsuspected, success would be his. The portion of him that would show above the table would raise no doubt in the waiter’s mind. A roasted mallard duck, thought Soapy, would be about the thing with a bottle of wine and then some cheese, a cup of coffee and a cigar. One dollar for the cigar would be enough. The total would not be so high as to call forth any extreme of revenge from the cafe management; and yet the meat would leave him filled and happy for the journey to his winter island. But as Soapy set foot inside the restaurant door, the

head-waiter’s eye fell upon his tattered trousers and decadent shoes. Strong and ready hands turned him about and conveyed him in silence and haste to the side-walk and averted the ignoble fate of the menaced mallard. Soapy turned off Broadway. It

seemed that his route to the coveted island was not to be an easy one. Some other way of entering the limbo must be devised. At a corner of Sixth Avenue electric lights and cunningly displayed wares behind plate glass made a shop window attractive.

Soapy took a stone and dashed it through the glass. People came running round the corner, a policeman in the lead. Soapy stood still with his hands in his pockets, and smiled at the sight of brass buttons. “Where’s the man that done that?” inquired the officer agitatedly. “Don’t you think that I might have had something to do with it?” said Soapy, with a friendly voice, as one greets good fortune. The policeman refused to accept Soapy even as a clue. Men who smash windows do not remain to chat with the police. They take to their heels. The policeman saw a man half-way down the block running to catch a car. With drawn club he joined in the pursuit. Soapy, with disgust in his heart, drifted along, twice unsuccessful.

A1 Soapy’s attempts to get into Winter Island: (2)

Attempt 1 : Soapy tried to enter a luxurious cafe. He thought to consume enough eatables and refuse to pay the bill. That would enable him to land in to a Winter Island i.e. jail. But the waiter prohibited him from entering the cafe.

Attempt 2 : He smashed the glass with a stone and remained on the spot to get arrested.  

A2 Complete the given statement in 30 words. (2)

Soapy couldn’t enter the restaurant because………

Soapy couldn’t enter the restaurant because his shoes were decadent and trousers was tattered. The head waiter in the luxurious cafe found it and turned him away. Soapy missed the mallard duck. 

A3 Soapy had confidence in himself from the lowest button of his vest upward. Here the

lowest button of his vest upward means ……………. (2)

Ans : He was wearing a coat and a black bow. He was cleanly shaven. This suited to the luxurious cafe. But his tattered trousers and decadent shoes didn't suit the cafe. Here the lowest button of his vest upward means his appearance after sitting at the table.

A4 If a person tries to damage the public property, how you will react in such a situation.

(write your response in 3/ 4 lines) (2)

Ans : If a person tries to damage the public property, I will explain the importance of public property. I will try to convince him/her not to damage. We all are the owner of public property. How can we damage our own property.

A5 Do as directed. (2)

1) The policeman refused to accept Soapy even as a clue.

(Choose the correct alternative to transform as a negative statement)

i) The policeman didn’t accept Soapy even as a clue.

ii) The policeman had never accepted Soapy even as a clue.

iii) The policeman didn’t accepted Soapy even as a clue.

iv) The policeman couldn’t accept Soapy even as a clue.

3) “Don’t you think that I might have had something to do with it?” said Soapy.

(Choose the correct alternative to change the sentence into indirect speech)

i) Soapy asked if he didn’t think that he might have something to do with that.

ii) Soapy asked if he didn’t think that he might have had something to do with that.

iii) Soapy asked if he didn’t thought that he might have had something to do with that.

iv) Soapy asked if he didn’t think that he might had had something to do with that.

A6. Match the words in column A with column B: (2)

 A                                               B

1) stroll                   a) border place between heaven and hell

2) decadent           b) walk in a leisurely way

3) limbo.                 c) old and worn out

4) coveted              d) very hard and torn

                                 e) greatly desired

1) stroll -    b) walk in a leisurely way

2) decadent - d) very hard and torn

3) limbo  -   a) border place between heaven

4) coveted  -    e) greatly desired

Activity Sheet No 2 

A1. Global Understanding 

Complete the web chart. 

A2. Complex Factual 

Give reason : 1. Soapy was confident of himself to enter into cafe because .........

2. He could not enter the cafe because.....

A3. Inference 

Explain why Soapy misbehaved. 

A4. PRT

Write an incident when you felt scared of police. 

A5. Language Study

1. But as Soapy set foot inside the restaurant door, the head-waiter's eye fell upon his tattered trousers and decadent shoes. ( Rewrite using 'no sooner .... than ) 

2. Some other way of entering the limbo must be devised. (Begin the sentence with "Soapy.......)

A6. Find the words which mean: 

a. decorated b. without doubt c. danger d. greatly desired 

Key

A1.  Soapy thought to eat - 

1. a roasted mullard duck  2. cheese 3. wine 4.  coffee ( draw the diagram and put these there )

A2.(1) Soapy was confident to enter the luxurious cafe because he was shaven and wearing a decorated coat , black neat bow. 

(2) He could not enter the cafe because the head-water's eye fell upon his tattered trousers and worn out shoes. 

A3.  Soapy misbehaved. He took a stone and dashed it through the glass of shop window. He did this to get arrested as he utterly wanted a roof in winter days to save himself from the cold. 

A4. Once I got scared of police. I was riding a bike and I had no valid license for riding. At the corner I saw a traffic police checking vehicles. Seeing him there I got frightened. 

 A5. 1. But no sooner did Soapy set foot inside the restaurant door than the head-waiter's eye fell upon his tattered trousers and decadent shoes. 

2.  Soapy must devise some other way of entering the limbo.

A6. 

a. decorated - trim b. without doubt  - unsuspectedly c. danger -manaced  d. greatly desired - coveted 

Activity Sheet No 3

A1 State whether the following statements are true or false.

a) Soapy was hungry and trying to get food.

b) He was trying to get arrested.

c) He was drunken and so he was misbehaving.

d) Soapy wanted umbrella because it was raining.

A2. Arrange the following statements in order as the events occurred in the extract

a) Seeing the cop Soapy began to yell like a drunkard.

b) Two waiters threw Soapy on the pavement for not paying the bill.

c) Soapy picked up the umbrella and walked away.

d) Soapy consumed eatables at a restaurant and declared he had no money.

A3. The umbrella owner slowed his steps. Soapy did likewise. Explain the underlined expression. 

A4. Discuss what will you do to earn your livelihood.

A5. Language Study

1. In a cigar store he saw a well-dressed man lighting a cigar. ( Frame wh question to get the underlined part as an answer.)

2. Why don't you call a cop? ( Rewrite as an assertive sentence.) 

A6. Give the antonyms.

1. Disconsolate 2. Slowly 3. Harsh 4. buttoned 

Key

A1. a) Soapy was hungry and trying to get food. True

b) He was trying to get arrested. True

c) He was drunken and so he was misbehaving. False

d) Soapy wanted umbrella because it was raining. False

A2. 

d) Soapy consumed eatables at a restaurant and declared he had no money.

b) Two waiters threw Soapy on the pavement for not paying the bill.

a) Seeing the cop Soapy began to yell like a drunkard.

c) Soapy picked up the umbrella and walked away.

A3 Soapy did likewise means Soapy did the same the umbrella owner did . The umbrella owner followed Soapy as he grabbed the umbrella. When Soapy asked the man to call the police, the man slowed his steps. Soapy also slowed down his steps to make sure the man called the police. Soapy wanted to get arrested. 

A4 . I will set up a start up.  I will get necessary guidance from the expert. Thereafter I will apply for loan and set up a small business with the help of parents. 

A5. 1. Where did he see  a well-dressed man lighting a cigar?

       2. You should call a cop. 

A6. 1. Disconsolate - happy 2. Slowly - fast, hastily 3. Harsh - soft 4. buttoned - unbuttoned 

Vocabulary Test

Brainstorming Activities 

(A1) (i) Discuss with your partner and find out the different ways in which Soapy 

tried to get arrested. The first one is given.

(ii) Describe the atmosphere when Soapy reached near the Church.

(A2) (i) Read the story and match the incidents given in Column A with the 

consequences given in Column B.

Column A	Column B
(1) Soapy tried to enter a cafe.	A) The cop ran after another man
(2) Soapy broke a glass window.	B. Suddenly a wonderful change came in his heart.
(3) Two waiters pitched Soapy on  the callous pavement.	C. Dream of turning around in life was  shattered.
(4) Soapy heard the anthem being  played in the Church.	D.  He stood up slowly beating the dust  from his clothes.ch.
(5) Cop arrests Soapy for hanging  around.	E. Strong and ready hands of the head waiter turned him around.

Ans: 1-E, 2-A, 3-D,4-B 5-C

(ii) Give reasons and complete the following :

 (a) Soapy had confidence in himself because he was saven and his coat was trim.

 (b) The head waiter of the luxurious cafe did not allow Soapy to enter because his eyes fell upon Soapy's trousers and decadent shoes.

 (c) The cop did not arrest Soapy for breaking the glass window because he didn't believe Soapy had smashed the window glass.

 (d) The cop did not arrest Soapy for shouting and dancing because he thought Soapy was Yale lad celebrating.

(iii) Pick out the lines from the text which show that : 

 (a) Soapy wants to enter the cafe for two reasons. 

Lines: Yet the meat would leave him filled and happy for the journey to his winter island.

 (b) Soapy was afraid that he won't be able to enter the prison.

Lines : It seemed that his route to the coveted island was not to be an easy one.

 (c) Soapy was not caught by the cop for throwing stones at the glass.

Lines : The policeman refused to accept Soapy even as a clue.

 (d) Soapy actually did not want the umbrella.

Lines : He hurled the umbrella angrily into an excavation.

 (e) Listening to the anthem, Soapy remembered his good old days.

Lines: And the anthem that the organist played cemented Soapy to the iron fence, for he had known it well in the days when his life contained such things as mothers and roses and ambitions and friends and immaculate thoughts and collars.

(iv) ‘He would make a man of himself again’ – The word ‘man’ in the sentence 

means

(v) Soapy’s earlier life was much different from his present life. Complete the 

table to show this contrast. One is done for you.

Earlier life	Present life.
(a) Contained friends  and roses	( a) Unworthy desires
(b) Mother and ambitions	(b)No roof, No destination, degraded days
(c) Clean thoughts and collars	(c) Villainous attitude, decadent shoes dead hopes

(vi) After listening to the sweet and solemn organ notes, Soapy decides to : 

(a) Soapy decides to lead a simple life working hard to earn livelihood. He would try to be placed as a driver.

(A3) (i) O’Henry has used different words to indicate prison where Soapy wants 

to reach. Make a list of those words.

And : winter island, coveted island, limbo, the island,

(ii) Find out the words used for the 'degraded state of Soapy'.

Ans : degraded days, unworthy desires,dead hopes, wrecked faculties and base motives

(iii) The specific meaning of word 'anthem' in the content of the story is.......

Prayer offered in the church

(A4) (i) Convert the following sentences into negative without changing their 

meanings.

(a) The policeman refused to accept Soapy even as a clue.

Ans : The policeman didn't accept Soapy even as a clue.

(b) Soapy drifted along twice unsuccessful.

Ans : Soapy didn't drift along twice successful.

(c) Soapy stopped his unavailing racket.

Ans : Soapy didn't continue his unavailing racket.

(d) The island seemed very far away.

Ans : The island didn't seem near ( in his realm) .

(e) The island seemed an unattainable Arcadia.

Ans : The island didn't seem an attainable Arcadia.

(ii) Convert the following sentences into affirmative without changing their

meanings.

(a) Men who smash windows do not remain to chat with the police.

Ans : Men who smash windows avoid to chat with the police.

(b) Why don’t you call a cop?

Ans: You should call the police.

(c) On the opposite side of the street was a restaurant of no great pretensions.

Ans :On the opposite side of the street was a restaurant of less pretensions.

(d) Noisy; but no harm.

Ans : Noisy; but harmless.

(e) They seemed to regard him as a King who could do no wrong.

Ans: They seemed to regard him as a King who could do everything right.

Welcome 

Mind Mapping

Click here for Oral Test

Writing a Compering Script

Draw a mind map on 'Reusable and Organic Straws' 

Draw a mind map on 'Benefits of Games and Sports .

  

Use your imagination to make Mind Mapping creative and effective. See the following Mind Mapping. Learning of software programming.

Presentation On An Astrologer's Day

Vocabulary Test

Spelling Test

Glossary Test 

Test - Activity Sheet 1 

Read the extract from 'An Astrologer's Day' beginning with -  
" Punctually at Midday.........the end of day'

A1. Complete the web chart.

A1. Complete the web chart.

A2. People were attracted to the astrologer as bees are attracted to cosmos or dahila stalks. Give reasons.

A2. People flocked to fried groundnut vendor. Give reasons .

A3 Insufficient light suited the astrologer's business. Explain.

A3. Half the enchantment of the place was due to the fact that it did not have the benefit of municipal lightening. Explain 

A4. Astrologer's by the roadside deserves no wages. Give your opinion.

A4. Describe your plan about earning while learning. 

A5 Rewrite as instructed.

1. The colour scheme never failed. (Make it affirmative.)

2. The place was lit up by the shop lights. (Identify the voice.)

A6. Vocabulary Match the pair Column A                Column B 

1. Sacred.                   A. red pigment 

2. Vermillion             B. surprised  

3. Flanked.                 C. holy  

4. Astonished.           D. divided

Activity Sheet No. 2 

A1. Put the statements in order as the events occur. 

1. A client showed his palm to astrologer with challenge.

2. The astrologer began to bundle up his paraphernalia.

3. The astrologer sensed a man as his client and pressed invitation.

4. The nuts vendor rose to go home.

A2. State whether the following statements are true or false.

1. A client looked careworn.

2. The astrologer was challenged.

3. He charged four pies for a question.

4. A client did not agree to pay the fees.

A3. Guess 

The astrologer recognised the client but didn't show. Support the statements with proof from the extract.

A4. Opinion

Astrology is a truthful occupation. Give your opinion.

A5. Language Study.

1.) Choose the sentences of passive voice.

1. The nuts vendor blew out his flare.

2. The green shaft of light was blotted out.

3. This pact was accepted after a little further argument.

4. The astrologer caught a glimpse of his face by the matchlight.

2.) The astrologer felt very uncomfortable. ( Rewrite as exclamatory.)

6. Find the words from the extract which mean . a) seller b) hidden c) complained d) threw forcefully

Activity Sheet No. 3

A1. Complete the sentence by choosing an appropriate option.

• A client was surprised when....

1. the astrologer advised him to go home
2. the astrologer told him that the person he was looking for is dead.
3. the astrologer uttered his name ' Guru Nayak'.
4. he gazed at the astrologer.

A2. Write the thraits and advice the astrologer gave to the stranger. 

A3. ' A great load is gone from me today.' Explain it with providing reasons. 

A4. Express the feelings when you come to know that you were not wrong.

A5. Language Study.

1. Never travel southward again, and you will live to be a hundred. ( Rewrite the statement as condition. Or Rewrite the statement using ' If ..not')

2. It was nearly midnight when the astrologer reached home. ( Rewrite the statement without conjunction or Rewrite it as simple sentence.)

A6. Use the following words to complete the sentences meaningfully.

  (deserted, escaped, astrologer, stranger)

• When I opened the door, I saw a ........ .
• The stadium was ....... when the match came to an end.
• A man stretched his palm to an .......... to know what is wrong with him.
• A theif has ...... from the jail.

Activity Sheet No. 4

1. Read the extract and complete the activities given below: (12)

Punctually at midday he opened his bag and spread out his professional equipment,

which consisted of a dozen cowrie shells, a square piece of cloth with obscure mystic

charts on it, a notebook, and a bundle of Palmyra writing. His forehead was

resplendent (glorious) with sacred ash and vermilion, and his eyes sparkled with a

sharp abnormal gleam (shine) which was really an outcome of a continual searching

look for customers, but which his simple clients took to be a prophetic light and felt

comforted. The power of his eyes was considerably enhanced by their position placed

as they were between the painted forehead and the dark whiskers (mustaches) which

streamed down his cheeks: even a half-wit’s eyes would sparkle in such a setting. To

crown the effect he wound a saffron-coloured turban around his head. This colour

scheme never failed. People were attracted to him as bees are attracted to cosmos or

dahlia stalks. He sat under the boughs of a spreading tamarind tree which flanked a

path running through the Town Hall Park. It was a remarkable place in many ways. A

surging crowd was always moving up and down this narrow road from morning till

night. A variety of trades and occupations was represented all along its way :

medicine sellers, sellers of stolen hardware and junk, magicians, and above all, an

auctioneer of cheap cloth, who created enough din all day to attract the whole town.

Next to him in vociferousness came a vendor of fried groundnut, who gave his ware a

fancy name each day, calling it “Bombay Ice Cream” one day and on the next “Delhi

Almond,” and on the third “Raja’s Delicacy,” and so on and so forth, and people

flocked to him. A considerable portion of this crowd dallied before the astrologer too.

The astrologer transacted his business by the light of a flare which crackled and

smoked up above the groundnut heap nearby. Half the enchantment of the place was

due to the fact that it did not have the benefit of municipal lighting. The place was lit

up by shop lights. One or two had hissing gaslights, some had naked flares stuck on

poles, some were lit up by old cycle lamps, and one or two, like the astrologer,

managed without lights of their own. It was a bewildering crisscross of light rays and

moving shadows. This suited the astrologer very well, for the simple reason that he

had not in the least intended to be an astrologer when he began life; and he knew no

more of what was going to happen to others than he knew what was going to happen

to himself next minute. He was as much a stranger to the stars as were his innocent

customers. Yet he said things which pleased and astonished everyone: that was more a

matter of study, practice, and shrewd guesswork. All the same, it was as much an

honest man’s labour as any other, and he deserved the wages he carried home at the

end of a day.

A1. State if the given statements are True or False. (2)

i. The astrologer used to have the preparation of his business in quite professional way.

ii. The physical appearance of the astrologer hardly created an impact on the customers.

iii. The place was busy with a variety of occupations.

iv. The astrologer’s style of handling the business lies in his skills.

Ans : i. The astrologer used to have the preparation of his business in quite professional way. True

ii. The physical appearance of the astrologer hardly created an impact on the customers. False

iii. The place was busy with a variety of occupations. True

iv. The astrologer’s style of handling the business lies in his skills. True

A2. Complete the given web. (2)

1. Opened his bag and spread out professional equipment

2. Wound a saffron coloured turban around his head

3. Sat under the boughs of a spreading tamarind tree

4. Transacted his business of astrology

(Note : Draw a web chart and write these points in it.)

A3. The astrologer was a shrewd judge of a character. Explain with some details from the

extract. (2)

Ans : He was punctual in his work. Though he did not intend to be an astrologer, he used professional equipment for astrology. He dressed as an astrologer and chose appropriate place for the transaction . He accepted that study, practice and shrewd guesswork helped him to please and astonish his customers.

A4. We need to understand even the smallest details of the business in order to succeed.

Write your views. (2)

Ans : 

A5. Do as directed. (2)

1) It was a remarkable place in many ways.

(Choose correct alternative to rewrite the given sentence as an exclamatory

sentence)

i. It was a remarkable place in many ways!

ii. How a remarkable place in many ways it was!

iii. What a remarkable place in many ways it was!

iv. What remarkable in many ways the place it was!

2) He spread out his professional equipment, which consisted of a dozen cowrie

shells.

(Choose correct alternative to rewrite the given sentence as a compound

sentence)

i. He spread out his professional equipment but it consisted of a dozen cowrie

shells.

ii. He spread out his professional equipment and it consisted of a dozen cowrie shells.

iii. He spread out his professional equipment that it consisted of a dozen cowrie

shells.

iv. He spread out his professional equipment and it had consisted of a dozen cowrie shells.

A6. Find the synonyms for the following words from the passage. (2)

a. Confusing b. hanging around c. difficult to understand d. magical effect             2

a. Confusing - bewildering 

b. hanging around -  dallied

c. difficult to understand - obscure

 d. magical effect   - enchantment

Reading Competency Webinar Report

When the whole world is locked down and are under the grip of pandemic of Covid-19, work from home has become the routine of everyone. Schools and colleges also are closed so teachers’ known work of teaching is stopped. The most vigorous task of studying, updating and preparing for the next session (which is not considered as work by society) can never stop. ELLE Mumbai has taken initiative to organize a webinar for updating teacher fraternity of entire Maharashtra to meet the challenges of newly introduced course book of Std XII.

ELLE (English Language & Literature Explorers) Mumbai organised a webinar.

Dr.Deepak Damodare

The third session of the webinar was conducted on competencies of Reading Skill on 8th May 2020 at 4 p.m. The session was hosted by the tech-savvy pioneer of English language training Mr Nadeem Khan . Mr. Anil Bagade introduced the speaker Dr Deepak Damodare from Akola. The session was organised on Zoom Cloud Meeting. Almost 95 Jr. College teachers were the direct participants by joining Zoom. Many teachers have enjoyed the live session on FB.
Dr Deepak Damodare began his session stating about the necessity and scope of reading competencies.
What is reading?
Reading is a fluent process of readers combining information from a text and their own background of knowledge to build reading and the goal of reading is comprehension. – Nunan
Reading is built from two components word recognition and comprehension. – Anderson J.C.
He explained the purpose of reading. We read for pleasure, knowledge, information and motivation.
How to read (-----------------------------------------------)
He categorised ways of reading into general and specific. Silent reading is for self to understand the meaning, message, thoughts and ideas connected. Loud reading is for self and others for understanding and conveying information message etc. Skimming (running through lines) scanning (reading for specific information), intensive (very carefully, extensive. Classroom reading: model reading by teacher loud by teacher and silent and loud by students. Dr. Deepak Damodare shared tips for developing reading competency. Students should read in chunks, read the entire phrase, or a group of words. They should try to increase eye span. The teachers should facilitate it. While reading we need to flick backwards and forwards over the text.
In developing the reading competency reading plays a great role. Teachers should read variety of books related to his profession in the morning. At noon they should read fiction, stories and plays for pleasure. They should read motivational/ inspirational books, biographies and autobiographies in the evening or at night. He prescribed pills of reading three times a day for lifelong. He also suggested that reading can be done at any time of the day (five minutes or five hours) and any place. No excuses for the lack of time to read.
 He threw light on the area of development of reading competency. Most of the students are afraid of reading . Having less interest and remaining absent also leads to incompetency of reading. To develop the competency teachers should work on it. Pronunciation, intonation, stress and tone play a great role in reading factor. Comprehension, correctness and speed are the indicators of competency. He suggested to identify the weak and struggling readers in the class. The ways are day to day classroom reading, reading competition, reading test, reading games and calculating the reading place The process of developing the competency are alphabetic method, phonic method(pin, win, bin)word method single unit, phrase method (a group of words) , sentence method and story method.
He suggested simple Reading Techniques :

1. Read in chunks, group of words.
2. Keep appropriate distance, not too close, not too far
3. Focus/Concentration is must.
4. Read unimportant quickly and important part minutely /carefully.
5. Try to connect read part to visuals. 
6. Read the intro, preface, last page to get the overview.
7. For better comprehension ask questions what, why, when. how to yourself.
8. One should understand that different genres different speed (Novels can be read speedily while technical books slowly.)  

He elaborated classroom practices about reading competency.
Pre-reading : Give home work to read text in proper way, give samples, provide any other text related to the lesson.
While Reading : Read with proper pronunciation , stress, intonation and tone. Provide meaning of words.Bring contextual and hidden meaning to their notice . Train how to read between the lines.
Post-reading : Make students read after the teacher. Make them read properly.Let them read for comprehension creating interest.

ELLE's Webinar : Listening Competency

When the whole world is locked down and are under the grip of pandemic of Covid-19, work from home has become the routine of everyone. Schools and colleges also are closed so teachers’ known work of teaching is stopped. The most vigorous task of studying, updating and preparing for the next session (which is not considered as work by society) can never stop. ELLE Mumbai has taken initiative to organize a webinar for updating teacher fraternity of entire Maharashtra to meet the challenges of newly introduced course book of Std XII.

ELLE (English Language & Literature Explorers) Mumbai organised a webinar. The second session of the webinar was conducted on competencies of Listening Skill on 6th May 2020 at 4 p.m. The session was hosted by the tech-savy pioneer of English language training Mr Nadeem Khan . Mr. Pravin Muley a noted resource person introduced the speaker Mr. Avinash Rade from Palghar. The session was organised on Zoom Cloud Meeting. Almost 75 Jr. College teachers were the direct participants by joining Zoom. Many teachers have enjoyed the live session on FB.
Mr Avinash Rade who is one of the creators

of Std 12 Book of English initiated his

presentation explaining listening as an ability to accurately receive and interpret messages in communication process. It is a receptive basic skill of language. He threw  light on objectives for developing listening competencies. He stated the types of listening skills as informational, critical and therapeutic. Later he pointed out areas for developing listening skill and competency . Prose, poetry, novel extracts, icebreaking, brainstorming instructions, projects and exercises are the areas in the course book for developing listening skills. When teacher reads, explains, asks and instructs in English, students listen. Other areas which can be used for developing listening skills of students are oral test, audio clip, note taking exercise.
Mr Avinash Rade allowed his lecture to smoothly flow to the process of developing listening skill. He categorised the process in 4 levels as basic, intermediate, advanced and expert. Under basic he suggested to set activities, make students listen, allow speaker to speak and consider other’s points. At the intermediate level students are expected to (enable them) to listen carefully, pay attention to speaker, be patient to listen to people and consider opinion even when disagree. In an advanced level listeners are polite and patients during conversation. They are competent to digest before responding and keep eye contact with speaker. They refrain from interruption and allow speaker to make his point. Expert listeners practice attentive and active listening. They can paraphrase message for entire understanding and gets gist of the message. They can restate others opinion even when they disagree. The process of developing listening competency goes smoothly following the tricks of mouth closed , eye contact, no fidgeting, paraphrase, patient listening till the end, listening for content, non-verbal signals, unbiased listening.

He focussed on the teacher’s role in developing listening competency. According to him teacher should be a good speaker and innovative to avail the students opportunities of listening. He should be ideal for pronunciation and body language. He advised to be a friend and facilitator for the students to make them listen. Teachers need to tech-savvy as students are. Teachers can use technology for developing listening competency.

In the development of listening competency students play a vital role. Students should participate actively in the process of learning. They should be patient, self-learner and tech-savvy. They should try to remember, understand, clarify and respond to the content.

He pointed out classroom learning activities for developing listening competency. He suggested some of the activities such as use of audio-video device, assigning listening task, listen and follow, session for talk less ,listen more, finding key words , predicting speakers purpose. He clarifies testing and evaluating of listening skill.

The webinar was outstanding experience towards updating and upgrading teachers at far remote places. Avinash Rade enabled the participants to meet the challenges of newly introduced course book of Std XII. He
focused on different strategies applicable in classrooms. My dream of learning from the state level person came true with this webinar. The webinar has given the opportunity to teacher like me to upgrade well in advance. My effort of writing the detailed report on the session is to cement the information, knowledge and vision I got through the webinar. 

Post your views regarding the session in comment box.

The speakers  in a series of webinar :

Mrs. Manjushree Sardeshpande
Dr.Dipak Damodare .
Dr. Pravin mulay
Mr. Avinash Rade
Mr.Nadeem Khan

ELLE MUMBAI TEAM

Mr. Tushar J. Bagwe
Mrs.Sangeeta Bagade.
Mr.Anil Bagade

TECHNICAL SUPPORT.
Mr.Nadeem Khan
Mr. Avinash Rade.
Mr. Sahebao Mahajan

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