My growth in MTB-MLE

 

My growth in MTB-MLE

Previously we have written about our journey in MTB-MLE, whatever little I have written in last session, it has great impact on my life professionally or personally.

·         TCF has always given opportunity to people who has no or less specialization, for this clam I am the biggest example of it. I have no specialization in reviewing textbooks, helping in hiring, conducting assessment center, giving orientations to team, designing MTB-MLE language trainings, developing a language framework or conducting trainings.

I have a professional degree in Applied/English Linguistics which advocates the issues of teaching second language (English) in classrooms, and this degree has limited connections to the experiences mentioned above.

·         MTB-MLE in itself is a big learning of my life, but being part of it has benefited me with the most beautiful experiences. I have divided those in two categories.

 

My personal growth:

 

1.      Being a part of 4 member’s team and interacting with diverse people across the world was a very pleasing experience. I have learned so much from Ajay, Ayesha, and Anum. Ajay’s contribution in reshaping my personality is huge so I can give credit to him very happily. I always look at Ayesha and feel a kind of calmness, she is such a sweet person that never gets angry very easily, she always gives solution of problems without panicking (that’s what I want in me) she also taught me excel J.

Anum is very polite and generous, her way of putting things forward and being vocal for her needs is inspirational. She has adaptive to change, I have learnt from her to be positive every then and now. She also taught me making power points presentations.

2.      My first learning here was to convey my thoughts in a proper manner with a suitable selection of words. I was asked repeatedly to say a single sentence until it sounds good to hear, with that I also worked on my expressions (sometimes my words are not that much harsh but my tone and expression make it sound like that). Ajay always discouraged my tone, and selection of words (for which I am grateful to Ajay). Sometimes he scolded me, sometimes he made me realize, and sometimes his one look was enough to reflect on what I just said. I am more conscious to select words now while speaking. It counts in both personal and professional growth.

3.      The second thing that really counts in growth is to write emails. The same things which apply to spoken language, applies to the written language too. The language must be respectful, specific, well versed, and the tone must be acceptable. Whenever I wrote emails, Ajay wanted me to reflect as someone else has written to me and I am the audience. This changed my narrative, and I become very selective in words and expressions.

4.      I joined this project with a limited exposure to professional opportunities, previously I was a teacher who was connected with students and other staff at the university or school and has no interaction with outward world. When I joined TCF, I came across new people every day, I became acquainted with every new person. I made very beautiful relationships here (including my team) with I am still in touch.

Going for field trips, school visits, interviews, trainings or to meet professionals, I was never confused or out of words. There was always a two way communication with the hope to reconnect in long way. Meeting people, hearing them with patience with a sweet smile remained a big part of my behavior. I reflected that I had networking capacity but it never appeared before. This was the place where my good networking helped me to grow relationships (true relationships) Ajay also believes in relationship building so it became my encouragement.

5.      Travelling is always most desired part of my nature, when we travelled with team anywhere we remained connected, we trust each other more, we follow each other’s instruction, we enjoy the hectic routines, we live that traveling period with full of life and happiness whether the travel is for TCT, or for MTB-MLE filed trips to Tharparkar.

Professional Growth:

1.      Power Point Presentations and Excel:

For every meeting we needed to prepare ppts, and these ppts should have to be neat, clean, and specific with more visual than content. The same was with Excel document (I had no clue of using excel or making ppts).

2.      Reviewing textbook:

I had developed a research based rubric for reviewing textbooks, I reviewed each lesson and gave it score on rubric besides I wrote supporting arguments for the score I have allotted to each parameter. It was a complete rational task, where there was no need of baseness. Rubric and score allotment strengthen my thought process and rationality, I was asked critical questions for giving a particular score to a lesson or textbook. It helped me a lot to resist giving my personal assumptions. Secondly I was writing supportive arguments where I used to define why my score is correct with the required reasons and proofs that helped me to put forth my thoughts with a confidence that I am on right track. It took me months to learn and still I am learning. (The long essays I usually right is the outcome of those arguments)

3.      Conducting Assessment centers and hiring team:

I never experienced the hiring process, it was never required in my previous jobs so taking part in hiring, designing pre-works, reviewing those, calling applicants to HO and conducting assessment centers was altogether a new journey. I became part of hiring process where my contribution was meaningful to hire people. We all three people discussed the strengths and areas of improvements of every applicant after assessment centers, which helped us to take better decisions.

4.      Orientation to team:

Assisting and giving orientation to new team members always helped to make a bond with team members, I feel I have that tendency to make new team members comfortable.

5.      MTB-MLE Language Training Design:

Before developing the training manuals we have to develop the Learning outcomes of the training. The purpose and objective of the training needed to be clear. I learnt to write objectives first because I did not know how to write it. This part helped us to have bigger picture of the training in mind that was the teachers and students who are the immediate audience of this training. Module's layout and structure was new to all of us. Writing a manual through ABIC (Anticipation, Building Knowledge, Independent Practice. Consolidation) framework gave us experience of connecting activities throughout the training. We become conscious of division of activities, management of time, connectivity between each modules and following the ABIC formula.

Training development and delivery were new task for me. I had attended language trainings by Pakistan Reading Project in 2019 so I had some idea how things need to be done but I never did this before. I came out of my comfort zone and took this responsibility whole heartedly. I enjoyed the process of developing language training manuals. I with my team member researched on topics that were challenging. We took MTB-MLE's research and guiding principles for our reference too. This whole process helped us to developed good understanding of the language trainings design (content writing) and its delivery. We conducted simulation in February which helped us to think logistically that how we would manage trainings, time and participants. In simulation we had two teachers to train for few activities, there we faced teachers concerns about MTB-MLE and its philosophy. So we now have become more conscious to take into considerations all the concerns of the teachers, their burdens, their time, their efforts and other related concerns. Simulation helped us to think through these facts while developing these training manuals.

6.      Sindhi Framework Development:

We thought to develop a language framework for Sindhi for that purpose we reviewed Urdu language textbooks (Dastaras and Guldasta) and STBB revised textbook to compare and see what approach is used in these models for language teaching from early years. The review process enriched my understanding of the early years learning process of children, plus it gave me clear image of progression that can be used in Sindhi language framework too. I would say reviewing textbooks gave me insight of early year’s language teaching/learning. I am more conscious to add those components which I felt were missing or had quick progression in these models. The research process through which I am finding answers is really helping me to build my knowledge and credibility over this task. The process is comprehensive and detailed as I am comparing 4 language models along with a Sindh Curriculum and conducting primary and secondary research to find the exact answers, this helps me build confidence on the answers that I suggest. Also writing a rationale and action point help me to give my logics and reasons to my suggested answers. I have to think through valid reasons and facts before writing any suggestion for the answers. English team in FPD has worked on the English framework from Nursery to grade 5. We met Nayma many times to understand their research process, their approach towards language learning, their timeline and challenges. It was a huge learning. The understanding of framework and textbook development were increased. I was first time working on such task so taking help from Nayma and Manal gave my work a kind of direction. When I faced the challenge of unavailability of Sindhi relevant research and was not able to find answers of some most important questions then I started conducting primary research. I had to interview Sindhi authors and experts who have worked on language curriculums. This was the first time I had to lead the primary research. Before this I conducted interviews with other team members. So taking the lead on task build my confidence. The interviews helped me to find answers and speaking to renowned professionals gave my answers strong credibility. I found it helpful to build my personal capacity of building good relationships. This task nourished my professional as well as my personal skills of communication.

7.      Others:

Reading, writing, and happy hour sessions always been a source of inspiration and motivation. As I am a fond of reading and writing so it helped me to write my thoughts and give them a direction. I usually write about soul shaking subjects which sometimes I share and sometimes just leave them on my end but it helped me to vent out the negativity and regain the calmness. Reading is always another pleasure for me and discussion on the readings helped me to understand the different perspectives of people on the same piece of art. I hope these sessions restart again.

Two Years Journey in a Chunk

 

 MTB-MLE and Me

I joined the project as an intern back in December 2018, then it was Three Language Framework. I was called for one week’s internship to understand the project, work, meet people and see if I can be part of it. After my one week’s internship I was hired for the post of Project Associate 3LF.

 

At that time, we had 4 members team Ajay, Ayesha, Anum and me. Before I joined, the team had already done a lot of work as visiting MTB-MLE models, conducting socio-linguistic survey in Tharparkar, conducting primary and secondary research. The team made me familiar with all the research and its findings till then. I was impressed by the findings and the way forward that I was part of.

My major task was to review all Sindhi Textbooks used in Sindh’s schools, with that I was also part of conducting interviews and field works. I was scared of being who am I as I did not work full time before. I had teaching experiences. But never worked under a male with dominant nature. But I was also sure that this venture is going to place me where many desire to be. The learning opportunities were higher than expectations.

There are few things that I found to be useful to share:

·        I was not a rigid supporter of English at any time as it can be assumed from my degree (MS in English Linguistics) but joining here lead me to the path of realization of importance of familiar language and its importance in education.

·        I started working on the review process which in itself was so heavy. There were piles waiting for me in nowhere as we were placeless at that time. The team sat anywhere where there was chair and table. But still we enjoyed the process and kept ourselves happy, cherishing every moment of work and fun. It expanded my comfort zone, and enthusiasm to work under any circumstances.

·         I developed a rubric to review textbooks, it was a double dose at that time. When I was still learning about the team members, office culture, other teams, and making relationships, I was also working on some toughest tasks too.

·        We had weekly meetings with Riaz Sb and Unaiza, in those meetings we discussed the interviews, field works, review results, and way forward plan. In each meeting I learned some new things. I was inspired by Riaz Sb’s zoom in and zoom out strategy, when he made audience concentrate on the things which he wanted to show. Also he wanted things to be categorized in three major points one by one (the summary in three chunks) made me think of various ways to summarize the long hours meetings. Unaiza’s in-depth questions took my mind out of box every time. Questions asked always needed some sort of reasons and logics rather than assumptions (one can come up with so many answers but Unaiza would still say Dekh lo just to make you sure of your answers)

 

My first month in 3LF:

My first month of visits and interviews looked like bellow:

·        My first visit to Hyderabad was with Anum, we met Ishaq Samejo and Sain Qalander Shah. The lead was given to anum to ask questions and I was taking notes. I found that 3LF is going to be the far reached project for its depth of understanding and work. I was sitting in front of my teachers and asking for the best experiences they can share about their lives. Meeting with Ishaq Samejo helped me to understand many things, as I remember he said ٻار کي روئڻ ايندو ته پنهنجي ٻولي ۾ روئيندو يا انگريزي ۾ رويئندو at that time I smiled but then I reflected that yeah, we were going into wrong directions but now I have opportunity to understand the worth of my own language.

·        He also said when you are teaching Sindhi to Sindhi students then why aren’t you teaching Dhatki to Dhatki students? Both have different languages and different cultures, different religions so one must consider the differences and accept it. With a satisfaction that I am working for a Nobel cause I came back to Karachi.

·        I visited SAGA School with anum in Sachal Goth, we were told that this school is sindhi medium. We went there, met with principals, teachers, admin officers, students, and observed classes (all were conducted in Sindhi). There I found that students were so energetic, confident and well spoken. They were singing songs, sharing their life routines when asked. It was due the use of their own language which they understand and easily communicate in it.

Every visit, interview call, meetings with stakeholders, and experts gave me insightful thoughts ranging from major findings of mother tongue’s importance to the behavioral issues faced by students in young age, from parents longing for English to their desire of mother tongue’s inclusiveness, from expert’s suggestions to the design of program to the hurdles of govt policy making, every bit needed to be understood well.

I and Anum also started understanding the current TCF and its practices across Pakistan. We had meetings with internal teams of TCF head office in which we are told about their nature of work, their stakeholders, and the way forwards and teams responsibilities. It expanded our understating of the works TCF is doing for education.

In this way our research phase was completed, now we were moving towards design and implementation part of the program. This was challenging because of some technicalities. We had to hire team including the project manager (because Ajay had become senior manager and was looking at two projects), which has proficiency in Sindhi language as well as in the content they are supposed to design. We always had so many applications but we needed to be cautious to choose. Till then the 3LF has changed to Mother Tongue Based Multi-Lingual Education (MTB-MLE) because our language ladder design has 4 languages (Dhatki, Sindhi, Urdu and English).

Finally we had team in September 2019 (including the project manager) and we started designing the curriculum, mostly curriculum was adopted from TCF’s current practices but Sindhi Textbooks was to be designed with the research based Framework, the idea came later.

Our team was diverse from different corners of Sindh Province from upper to lower Sindh. With the diverse background, the diversity in language dialects was also visible. We started learning from everyone’s experiences. The time was to build relationships and make strong mutual understandings before working together. 8 members team was designing the MTB-MLE program’s curriculum.

Further, my designation was changed from project associate 3LF to Project Associate Language Trainer MTB-MLE. For me again it was the time when everything was new, the people whom I was working very closely were all new, my reporting line was changed, my nature of work was changed. I was in discomfort for many months but I knew that in the back everyone is supporting me to adjust.

Meanwhile in the design phase there were challenges that we all faced like language differences the team had, has pushed us back to sit and discuss which vocabulary to use, the individual differences always turned us to become reluctant sometimes. I had my own big challenge of managing my own task besides facilitating the team in their tasks.

When we all were to settle down somewhere, the pandemic started. It sucked all the peace, mental relaxation, and productivity. Although the pandemic was disturbing but the design of MTB-MLE was so exciting that it did not affect it completely. We all were sitting home but designing the curriculum, and trainings for the teachers. It was all a new experience.

After 5 months of lockdown period we all united in the Head Office with the condition of half team would work from home and half would be in HO. Our work was so connected that we all team members needed to be in the office (also work from home has become unbearable).

As we came to our office routines, we were told to prepare for the training in Tharparkar. Another milestone to achieve.

 

This journey has some sweet and some bitter experiences too, it has many more personal experiences some that has impacted me inward and some outward. The journey has made me cry as well as laugh too. This journey is not just mine but of everyone that is in the team. I have learned ways of living life, ways to think and solve problems, new ideas and strategies to use when stuck in any situation. Still a long way to go.

I call MTB-MLE as my baby and I mean it.

My New Year Resolutions

Suffering can be easier when someone listens to it with patience

It never stop the pain but can lessen the mental trauma,

When you are being heard by your well wisher,

When you are being commanded to make some promises with yourself,

When you learn, your suffering causes demage to your other relations,

When you see space arround you becomes heavy,

When you feel the dust and smoke in front of your eyes,

But still the love and affection serves the purpose of your being,

That is the time to step back and reflect,

Which chapters to close and which to reopen again,

Which part of suffering is more painful, and remove it,

How to follow your words, and keep the promises,

When to hold emotions, tears and crys,

And when to burst these all to feel lighter,

Unpredictable mood swings and silence,

Support the negativity to rise,

One common thing to understand,

To unconditionaly love without keeping expectations,

The lesser the expectations, the lesser the pain.

Always invest in yourself, 

So that you can never lose and regret.

ٿرپارڪر ٽريننگ

 

ٿرپارڪر ٽريننگ:

آچر جي ڏينهن بتاريخ 14_09_2020 ، MTB-MLE اڌ ٽيم سان گڏجي ٿرپارڪر، ٽي سي ايف ۽ ٽي ايف جي استادن جي ٽريننگ جي صفر تي نڪتم. دل ۾ ڪافي وسوسا ۽ خوف به هئا ته پهريون دفعو مان ٽريننگ ڪرائيندم ۽ اها ٽريننگ ٻولي سيکارڻ جي هوندي. منهنجي لاءِ ٽريننگ جي تياري ڪرڻ ئي نئين ڳالھ هئي ته هتي ٽريننگ ڪرائڻ ۽ ان سان گڏ EYRD ۽ ڪجھ ٻين شين جي لاءِ به ذميداري ملي هئي جنهن جي لاءِ عديل سان گڏ 11 ڏينهن تائين مونکي هتي رهڻو هيو_ ان لاءِ ذهن ۽ دل گڏو گڏ ڪشمش جو شڪار هئا.

مونکي ٽريننگ سان منسلق جيڪي به خدشات هئا پر جڏهن هِن خوبصورت ۽ پُر جوش صفر تي نڪتاسين ته سڀ ڊڄ ۽ خدشات ڄڻ ڪنهن خلا ۾ غم ٿي وي. صفر ڏاڍو سٺو گزريو، مِٺي ۾ گاڏي خراب ٿيڻ جي ڪري ڪجھ وقت انظار ڪرڻو پيو. شام جي تقريبن 7 وڳي اسان ٽي سي ايف اسلامڪوٽ جي اسڪول پهتاسين جتي اسان کي ايندڙ 9 ڏينهن ٽريننگ ڪرائڻي هئي. ايڊمن سان ملي اسڪول جي انتظامن ۽ ماني وغيره جو پُڇي اسان ٿر لاج وياسين ۽ ٿوڙي دير آرام ڪري، رات جي ماني کائي ٻئي ڏينهن جون تياريون ڪرڻ شروع ڪيوسين.

اسان صبح سوير اسڪول پهتاسين، اسڪول پهنچي سڀ انتظام ڏسڻ کان پوءِ تقريبن 9:30 تي اسان ٽريننگ شروع ڪئي. ڪل 31 پارٽيسيپينٽس هئا، 13 ٿر فائونڊيشن جا ۽ 18 ٽي سي ايف جا. ٽي ايف جا 10 مرد پارٽيسيپينٽس هئا ۽ 3 عورتون هين. ٽي سي ايف جون سڀ عرتون پارٽيسيپينٽس هيون. انهن ۾ ڪجھ مسلمان ۽ ڪجھ هندو پارٽيسيپينٽس هئا.

اسان هر ڏينهن جي شروعات دعا ۽ پوجا سان ڪندا هئاسين.

هر ڏينهن پنهنجي پاڻ ۾ هڪ نئون تجربو هيو. پهرئين ڏينهن اسان MTB-MLE جي فلسفي کي متعارف ڪرايو جنهن ۾ اسان ڏٺو ته سڀ پارٽيسيپينٽ ڪجھ حد تايئن ان فلسفي سان راضي هئا پر ڪڏهن ان ڳالھ کي سامهون کان ٻڌي مڃڻ جو موقعو نه مليو هيو. هي اهو وقت هيو جنهن ۾ هنن ان ڳالھ کي دل سان قبول ڪيو ته ٻار جي لاءِ شروعاتي سالن ۾ پنهنجي ٻولي ۾ پڙهائڻ ضروري آهي. اسان کي سڀني پارٽيسيپينٽس جا پنهنجا سوال ۽ والدين جي ناراضگي جي خدشي ۽ فقر کي سمجھي ڪري پوءِ جواب ڏيڻو پئي پيو. ڪجھ جواب ته اسان وٽ پاڻ وٽ به نه هئا جيڪي ڪا انوخي ڳالھ نه آهي.

اسان اهئي 9 ڏينهن ڏٺو ته سڀ پارٽيسيپينٽس الاهي پُر جوش ۽ نيون شيون سکڻ لاءِ متحرق هئا. ان سان گڏو گڏ انهن جي سوچ ۽ سمجھ به ڪافي وسيع هئي پر هنن کي دنيا ۾ نيون شين جي ڄاڻ  ڪجھ حد تائين هئي جنهن جي ڪري انهن جا سوال ۽ خدشات ڪافي حد تائين ظاهر پئي ٿيا. اهيو سڀ ڏسي ڪري اسان فيسيليٽيٽر کي ننڍا ننڍا فيصلا جلدي ڪرڻا پوندا هئا. ڪڏهن ڪڏهن ته اسان کي سرگرمي به ملتوي ڪرڻي پوندي هئي. ۽ ڪڏهن وري ڪنهن سرگرمي کي وڌيڪ آسان ڪرڻو پوندو هئو.

مان ان ٽريننگ ۾ سٺا دوست ٺاهيا جيڪي هيئنر تائين مونکي ميسيج ڪري حال احوال پڇندا آهن.

منهنجي لاءِ سڀني پارٽيسيپينٽس سان هڪ رشتو هجڻ، احساس ۽ اعتماد هجڻ لازمي آهي ۽ ان لاءِ مان پنهنجو وقت هر پارٽيسيپينٽ سان ڳالهائڻ انهن کي سرگرمي ۾ حصو وٺڻ لاءِ حوصلا افذائي ڪرڻ ۾ لڳايو. ان لاءِ سڀ پارٽيسيپينٽس مونسان ڪافي حد تائين ملي جُلي ويا هئا.

ٻولي جي سکيا ۽ EYRD جي سيشنز ۾ انهن جي ذاتي تجربن کي ڏسي، سمجھي ۽ ان کي سرگرمي سان ملائڻ آسان نه هيو پر هو سڀ ايڏا پُر جوش ۽ حقيقت پسند هئا جو انهن کي هي سڀ نيون شيون مڃڻ ۽ انهن تي عمل ڪرڻ ڪو وڏو مسلو نه لڳو.

ايئن ئي انهن اسان کان ۽ اسان انهن کان گھڻو ڪجھ سکيو. انهن جا ذاتي تجربا جيڪي اسان جي ماڊيول ۾ نه ٿا اچي سگھن، مان سکيو ته سنيڪ ٽائيم ۾ هندو ۽ مسلمان ڪيئن گڏ ويهي کائي سگھن ٿا، ڪيئن چوائس ٽائيم ۾ ٻار پاڻ ۾ وڙهي ڪري، وري دوست ٿي سگھن ٿا، نيوز پيريڊ ۾ ٻارن جا احساسات ڪيئن پُڇي سگھجن ٿا.

هنن وٽ زندگي جا وڏا تجربا هئا جيڪي هنن اتي سيکارڻ جي دوران يا ان کان پهريان حاصل ڪيا هئا.

منهنجي لاءِ هي سڀ پارٽيسيپينٽس هڪ نئين ۽ معني خيز تجربي جيان هئا. انهن جو اعتماد ۽ پيار ڏسي مونکي لڳو ته نيون شيون سکڻ جو چاھ هجڻ ۽ انهن کي دل سان مڃڻ ئي تبديلي جي شروعات ٿي سگھي ٿي. هنن ڪنهن به شيءَ تي جلدبازي ۾ ردعمل نه ڏنو هيو. هو پنهنجا خيالات ٻڌائڻ ۾ به جلدبازي نه ڪندا هئا، هنن وٽ ڪنهن ڳالھ جي جلدي نه هئي. انهن جي لاءِ زندگي ۾ سڪون جو نسخو ئي آرام سان هر ڪم ڪرڻ هيو، چاهي اهو سوچڻ هجي يا ڳالھ ٻولھ ڪرڻ هجي يا ردعمل هجي انهن کي ڪا به جلدي نه هئي.

هن ٽريننگ منهنجي پنهنجي ذاتي زندگي تي مثبت اثر آندو آهي. مان هاڻي عملي طور سوچڻ لڳي آهيان.

ان خوبصورت سفر جو اختتام افسرده هيو پر ان اميد سان اڳتي وڌياسين ته هي سلسلو هاڻي جاري رهندو.

اسان خميس جي ڏينهن 24_09_2020 تي (12 ڏينهن کان پوءِ) واپس ڪراچي پهتاسين.