Learn Kannada in thirty Sundays

Learn Kannada in thirty Sundays
Raghavan teaches Kannada to many non-Kannada speakers in the city.
Deccan Herald

Way back in 1973, B.V. Raghavan’s parents advised him to “spend his Sundays usefully”. They suggested that the way to set about doing this was to teach Kannada over weekends. Three decades on, he is still passionately using the one day of rest to spread Kannada amongst the non-Kannada speaking populace in the city.

After 17 years of teaching Kannada at Tamil Sangam–ironically, the pioneers of teaching spoken Kannada in Bangalore–Raghavan started the Kannada Prasaara Parishad, in response to requests from students.

Today the organisation has ten teachers. Seniors Raghavan and Nataraj originally received their teachers training from the Central Institute of Languages, Mysore where they now are called upon sometimes to assist in teaching fresh batches. Every Sunday between 10 and 1 p.m. at St. Euphrasia’s High School, Richmond town, the Kannada Prasaara Parishad gives an opportunity to 70-odd non-Kannada speakers of various ages and from walks of life to spend their Sundays usefully.

The main thrust is to teach conversational Kannada. Raghavan points out that this is a unique feature of these classes. Initially, the course does not touch grammar. But, says Nataraj, by the end of the course students are speaking grammatically correct Kannada.

The students are a study in diversity: there are ophthalmologists, bank officers, printers, retired telephone personnel and housewives.

Classes are lively, teaching methods interactive and students are encouraged to speak Kannada in class.This approach stands in stark contrast to the way Kannada is conventionally taught through a script based approach. The Parishad also imparts knowledge of script but it is not a necessary precursor to learning the language. Written Kannada too is taught innovatively and as a result many learn within three months what would otherwise take longer.

For each of the 6 month modules a fee of Rs. 300/- is charged. This goes towards overheads and the delicious coffee provided during the break.

After completing the modules interested students can learn higher Kannada, the three levels of the Kannada Sahitya Parishad exams. Once students pass the highest level they are eligible to apply for an MA in Kannada, which is what a few of their students have done, says Raghavan proudly.

The organisation has taught Kannada to foreign nationals living in Bangalore, in the recent past to a UK national and an American with considerable success. A six-month course was also successfully completed at Max Mueller for German Nationals.

The Parishad receives regular requests to conduct courses for hospitals, medical colleges and offices like HAL, besides venues like the Bangalore club.
Now perhaps for others too, as for Maharashtrian housewife Aarati Athavale, Kannada will no longer be a foreign language.