HINDI LANGUAGE COURSE FOR MISSIONARIES IN NORTH INDIA
June 06-28, 2016
The objective of the Hindi Language Course is to help missionaries working in North India to learn to communicate in Hindi, which is the spoken and written language of 80 per cent people, and to learn culture, custom and religious practices of the people. It is also a sign of love and appreciation of the language and culture of the local people. It brings a sense of solidarity and belongingness among the people. It helps the missionaries to integrate with the people, lest they will be considered alien to the land.
The course began on June 6, 2016 at 8.30 a.m.; the participants were divided into two groups based on their knowledge of Hindi language: A-Advanced Group and B-Beginners of Basic Hindi Group. Advanced group was guided and taught by Mr. Simon Peter, who is the lecturer in St.Thomas Inter College, Shahganj; Basic Hindi Group was guided and taught by Sr.Laetitia, SRA and Dr.Fr.V.Sebastian, who have experience in teaching Hindi to the beginners starting with the Alphabet. The methodology used for teaching is lecturing, exercises, audio-visual, skit, drama, praying and singing, loud reading and speaking, mock marketing, etc. The participants had appreciation and esteem to the teachers as they were kind, considerate, gentle, patient and perseverant, diligent, approachable, helpful, paternal and maternal in their dealing with all. They felt that they require more days to study Hindi, but it is a great service to the missionaries and need to be continued in the future. The course came to an end with a programme in the eve of June 27, 2016, for which Rev.Fr. Ronald D’Souza was the chief guest, who inspired and motivated them to continue to learn to reach perfection and proficiency in language. He stated that Nav Sadhana has sown the seed for Hindi language; it needs to be nourished and cherished. The participants had the banares darshan on June 18, 2016. They visited the Ganges and its ghats with boat ride, M.C. Convent at Shivalaghat, B.H.U and its temple, Sarnath Archaelogical Museum and Monastery, Buddhist Temples, and the Bible exhibition at St.Mary’s Cathedral at Varanasi. They articulated that the director and staff of Nav Sadhana were amiable, amicable, friendly, cordial, approachable, affectionate and concerned with everyone’s welfare. They appreciated the homely atmosphere, spacious accommodation, tasty food, prayerful milieu. All came as strangers and returned as camaraderie with delight and lots of happy memories of friends.
