Youth Hindi Week celebrations at Bensalem High School, Bensalem, PA

Bensalem, Pa (USA): `Yuva Hindi Saptah’ (Youth Hindi Week) was celebrated with great enthusiasm in the premises of Bensalem High School, Hulmville Road, Bensalem, PA, USA between August 6 and 14.

According to the programme director Ashok Ojha, different activities were held during this week. Students attended a 30 minute yoga session in the gym before heading to their respective classes. Students in beginners classes were engaged in activities, such as, making their identity cards, family posters, and playing language games, such as, bingo, fly swatter, and role plays.

Instructors of beginner level classes, Rashmi,  Alka and Sanjyot motivated students with a variety of activities. They moved around in the class while participating in interpersonal activities and making visual presentations.

Besides, participants were introduced to real life stories about major festivals of India, such as, Diwali, Holi, Rakhi, Id and X’mas. They demonstrated some level of cultural understanding about these festivals due to their heritage background. The teachers helped them organise their thoughts and expressions in Hindi as they have varied level of proficiency in reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Day 4 was the day of fun and joy. A variety of cultural products were at display in classrooms which were used to recreate atmosphere of festivities. Students engaged in activities, such as, inviting their classmates for celebrating their favorite festivals. They demonstrated understanding about major festivals learned in the classroom in interpersonal conversations with their classmates and teachers.

Similarly,Day 5was the day of fun and joy. A variety of cultural products were at display in classrooms which were used to recreate atmosphere of festivities. Students engaged in activities, such as, inviting their classmates for celebrating their favorite festivals. They demonstrated understanding about major festivals learned in the classroom in interpersonal conversations with their classmates and teachers.

Day 6 of YHS Bensalem STARTALK Hindi programme took off with varieties of activities based on celebrating birthdays and weddings in India. Students engaged in conversation about inviting friends for their birthday celebration as well as accepting and declining such invitations. Teachers had tailored their lessons to meet students needs reflected in exit cards that they submitted during previous classroom sessions. Novice students in Rashmi’s class demonstrated their language learning by engaging in telephonic conversation with friends.

On Day 8, it was a coincidence that India’s Independence Day fell on the day of learning the unit sub theme of Celebrating India’s Independence. The activities began with unfurling the Indian flag immediately after the morning Yoga session in the Gym with singing of Indian National Anthem and brief speeches about India’s independence. Marlene Guidos, the school coordinator was invited as the chief guest who spoke on the topic. Sweets were distributed as symbol of sharing joy. 

On Day 7, the topic of Birthday and Wedding Celebrations helped students engage in conversations in Hindi using new information as well as information learned in previous units. It was observed that they were experimenting with the language with creativity for inviting, accepting and declining invitations for attending celebrations and events. During the lunch hour students watched new video clips about Indian weddings as well as their own activities on various topics learned in the class.

Varsha Naik was the final day programmes’ Cultural Instructor/Choreographer..

(Watch unfurling the Indian flagduring celebrations of `Yuva Hindi Saptah’ (Youth Hindi Week) in the premises of Bensalem High School, Hulmville Road, Bensalem, PA, USA).

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