ams - Literary Commemoration - December 31, 2024

 

ams - Literary Commemoration - December 30, 2024

 

ams - Literary Commemoration - December 29

 

ams - Literary Commemoration - December 28

 

ams - Literary Commemoration - December 27

 

ams - Literary Commemoration - December 26

 

ams - literary commemoration - December 25

 

ams - Literary Commemoration - December 24

 

ams - Literary Commemoration, December 23

 

ams - literary commemorations - December 22, 2024

 

ams - literary commemoration - December 21, 2024

 

The Plan by Kendra Adachi - An Idea Dump poster

 

ams - literary commemoration - December 20, 2024

 

ams - literary commemoration - December 19, 2024

 

No Mud, No Lotus - Thich Nhat Hanh

The ideas are drawn from the book by Thich Nhat Hanh, a global spiritual leader, poet, and peace activist known for his impactful teachings and bestselling writings on mindfulness and peace. Pain is inevitable in life, but suffering is not. When life becomes complex, we often avoid confronting it; instead, we escape into distractions. Mindful presence can help us become more authentic and peaceful. We should refrain from falling into the trap of avoidance. The distractions we seek only provide temporary numbness to our problems. We are merely masking symptoms while the underlying injury continues to worsen. The more we escape, the greater the damage done. 

The author encourages the creation of 'bells of mindfulness' throughout the day. We must use these moments to engage in mindful activities. One suggested action is to inhale and exhale while placing a hand on your belly, allowing you to feel its rise and fall. This practice should be performed daily, whether you feel sad or happy. 

As mentioned before, pain is inevitable, but the choice to suffer rests with us. The Buddhist concept of 'two arrows' deepens our understanding of this. The first arrow signifies life's unavoidable pains: failure, loss, injury, and rejection. The second arrow is entirely self-inflicted. While you may experience a stumble because of the first arrow, the second arrow can make you experience a fall. It all depends on the narrative that we create for ourselves. Mindfulness can come to your aid in this situation. When you think only of the sting of the first arrow without dwelling on the second, you can recognise that you have cultivated a sustainable relationship with suffering. 

Another source of mental trauma is the comparison trap. Some of us may feel superior, while others feel inferior. Both attitudes stem from the belief that we must defend our identities. Today's victory may become tomorrow's forgotten memory, while today’s defeat transforms into next year's valuable lesson. Mindful walking is another technique to consider. This practice turns our everyday steps into moments of stillness. Walking and breathing (inhale and exhale) can seamlessly integrate into any environment.

ams - literary commemoration - December 18, 2024

 

ams - literary commemoration - December 17, 2024

 

Teaching Resilience to Students

This blog is inspired by the classroom activity held in the First-year B.Com General English class on December 13, 2024. One of the main highlights of the activity was how the students used their mobile phones to learn. 

The first-year students in their second semester at the University of Madras have Resilience as the overall- theme in the English syllabus. 

Students are given a wordlist of 32 words after introducing the word Resilience by writing the word on the board. 

Class - I B.Com A.  

Time - One Hour 

The following words related to Resilience 💪 were used for  the activity: 

Fortitude

Perseverance

Durability

Tenacity

Stamina

Hardiness

Grit

Robustness

Adaptability

Bounce-back

Flexibility

Recovery

Elasticity

Rebound

Renewal

Revitalisation

Courage

Determination

Optimism

Self-reliance

Inner strength

Hope

Willpower

Equanimity

Persistence

Triumph

Resourcefulness

Ingenuity

Survivability

Endurance

Overcoming

During the class activity, several observations highlighted the effectiveness of independent learning strategies. Activities included finding the meanings of words and creating example sentences, allowing students to engage with the material more deeply. The group-based, technology-enabled setup facilitated student interaction, enabling a natural assessment of their social skills and collaboration. The activity allowed the students to interact with one another, with noticeable differences in how they completed their tasks. The students had two primary functions: first, to copy words into their notebooks, and second, to find their meanings and write example sentences for each word. Translating the words and their meanings into Tamil proved beneficial for struggling learners. Contextual learning emerged as crucial for vocabulary acquisition. Additionally, group work fostered confidence, encouraging students to answer questions collaboratively. The activity could be further enriched by having students share their findings in a Class WhatsApp group and organising a spelling bee contest or an activity that involved matching the words with their meanings.

ams - literary commemoration - December 16, 2024

 

ams -literary commemoration - 15-12-24

 

The Challenges for an English teacher in India

Students often need to recognise the importance of the English language. They need more motivation to learn, and there needs to be more encouragement for them to speak or write in English. While students can write University Semester exams in either English or Tamil, many need more exposure to the language. 

Additionally, the influence of their mother tongue, combined with varying levels of English competency among students in the classroom, creates challenges. Socio-political pressures and peer pressure can lead to bullying and ridicule for those who attempt to speak in English. 

Large class sizes further complicate learning, especially given the need for trained language teachers. English teachers must consistently use the language they teach to create an effective learning environment. Unfortunately, there is often no English-speaking atmosphere, and many students feel intimidated by English grammar and pronunciation complexities.

Moreover, traditional teaching methods remain prevalent, with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) primarily used for core subjects. Language classes at the departmental level tend to be totally ignored. Many major instructors need to deliver lectures in English, and access to language labs is limited. Unfortunately, licensed language software is not installed in these labs, and library resources related to the English language often must be more effectively used.

ams - literary commemoration - 14-12-24

 

ams - literary commemoration - 13-12-24

 

ams - literary commemoration - 12-12-24

 

The Significance of Resilience

The Significance of Resilience

 

Ross Edgley is a British athlete, ultra-marathon sea swimmer, and author known for his numerous world records. He is also regarded as the modern-day pioneer of endurance. His most notable achievement is completing the World's Longest Staged Sea Swim in 2018. He was motivated to rediscover human resilience and courage and demonstrate to the world that we can overcome challenges. The first obstacle he faced was scepticism. Edgley trained his mind to push beyond self-imposed limits. He found inspiration in the concepts of stoicism and the training methods of the U.S. Navy SEALs. Thus, he employed both ancient wisdom and modern technology to combat scepticism. Stoicism holds that while we may not control external events, we can control ourselves and our reactions. Ross Edgley practised stoicism through journaling, which helped him gain mental clarity.  

 

As mentioned, Stoicism teaches us how to manage our responses to the external environment.  

 

The three basic tenets of stoicism are:  

 

1. A good body houses a healthy mind.  

2. The mind can always overpower the body.  

3. Logic over emotions.  

 

According to Ross Edgley, speed can be fragile, while a slower approach might be more substantial and assertive. Edgley believed in the concept of periodisation, which is a cyclical strategy of preparation, competition, and recovery. He teaches us that life is like an ocean with elements we can and cannot control. He encourages us to cultivate a spirit of understanding and acceptance when faced with things beyond our control, warning us that resisting or wrestling with these things is futile. He introduces the concept of ‘amor fati’ - a Latin phrase that means "love of fate" or "love of one's fate." A Stoic mindset involves accepting everything, including suffering and loss while finding meaning. He urges us to discover contentment in simplicity and to embrace the uncontrollable. The other side of what we cannot control pertains to what we can control. This applies not only to the external world but also to our internal world of emotions and thoughts. He refers to this space as an inner citadel or a mental bastion, resembling the Japanese concept of the Eightfold Fence, which has appeared in Japan's history and the 2024 TV series Shōgun. Edgley uses the example of Admiral Stockdale, a prisoner of war, to illustrate the importance of maintaining ‘mental poise amid external chaos.’

The ideas are adapted from this book: 

  

Why is setting goals essential in life?

 

Goal setting is beneficial in both the professional and personal aspects of life. Establishing a goal gives individuals a clear sense of direction. The goal-setting process aids in achieving aspirations that reside in one’s mind. Firstly, it is crucial to identify the specific goal one intends to achieve, which a strategic plan should follow. The final stage of this process is the action phase. One must reflect on one's priorities before creating a plan or selecting a goal. The Wheel of Life includes seven essential life areas and can help you choose or focus on goals. These areas encompass Financial, Family, Spiritual, Career, Social, Intellectual, and Health. Goals promote balance among these seven vital elements of life, as they are interdependent and interconnected. Additionally, goals should meet the SMART criteria: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

 

Upon successfully achieving goals, it is advantageous to visualise one’s success. One might consider writing goals on paper, creating a vision board, or keeping a diary or journal. Productivity apps such as TickTick, Habitify, or Todoist can be used. I prefer TickTick, which offers a more seamless experience than the Fantastical and Todoist.

 

Goal setting will help a college student in the following ways: 

 

To plan and design the future. 

To make the best out of the available time. 

To learn more than what is in the syllabus. 

To become more productive and active in life. 

To have a competitive edge over others. 

 

 

Several concepts for this blog post are inspired by the book ‘Ready Aim, Fire! A Practical Guide To Setting And Achieving Goals’ by Erik Fisher and Jim Woods.

ams - literary commemoration - 11-12-24

 

ams - literary commemoration - 10-12-24

 

ams - literary commemoration - 9-12-2024

 

ams - Literary Commemoration - December 8, 2024

 

ams - Literary Commemoration, December 7, 2024

 

ams - Literary Commemoration - December 6, 2024

 

ams - Literary Commemoration - December 5, 2024

 

A Day to Honor Wildlife and Biodiversity.

 

India accounts for 7-8% of all recorded species, including 45,000 plant and 91,000 animal species.

 

India is known as a megadiverse country.

 

December 4^th of every year is observed as World Wildlife Conservation Day.

 

Four of the 34 globally recognised biodiversity hotspots, namely the Himalayas, Indo-Burma, the Western Ghats-Sri Lanka, and Sundaland, are found in India.

 

As the most populous country in the world, with 65% of its population under the age of 35, India's growth trajectory suggests a significant demand for natural resources such as land, wood, timber, forest products, precious metals, and coal. Unfortunately, this demand often conflicts with wildlife habitats, bringing terrestrial and avian species closer to human settlements.

 

Indian culture promotes a tradition of worshipping and conserving wildlife. Unlike in Africa, hunting as a licensed recreational sport is prohibited in India.

 

As of 2022, the most updated estimates by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change show 73 "critically endangered" species in India. This is an increase from the 47 endangered species recorded in 2011. 

 

Eight of the nine species of mammals considered critically endangered are endemic; their habitat is limited to a small geographic area within India.

 

These include the Kashmir stag or Hangul, Malabar large-spotted civet, Andaman Shrew, Jenkin's shrew, Nicobar shrew, Namdapha flying squirrel, large rock rat and Leafletted leaf-nosed bat.

 

There is a lot of media and political attention on the three endangered animals: lions, tigers, and cheetahs.

 

The Great Indian Bustard is a bird that is currently facing extinction.

 

This blog summarises the article that appeared in The Hindu today to mark World Wildlife Conservation Day. 

Large Rock Rat 

Kashmir Stag

Namdapha flying squirrel

Malabar large-spotted civet

Tiger 

Lion 

Cheetah 

Andaman Shrew

Great Indian Bustard

Leafletted leaf-nosed bat

ams - Literary Commemoration December 4, 2024

 

ams - Literary Commemoration - December 3, 2024

 

Dr. Joseph Doriaraj exhorts academia to break the silos

One of the poems of the famous English poet John Donne is “No man is an island.” The poem discusses humanity's interconnectedness and the shared nature of human existence. Donne uses the metaphor of an island to emphasize that no person is completely independent or self-sufficient. Instead, each individual is part of a larger whole, like a piece of a continent. This concept can be applied to traditional pedagogical methods, which celebrate exclusivity and allow professors to confine themselves to their respective areas. 

In an article that appeared in the Hindu’s Education Plus today, Dr Joseph Doriaraj, the Emeritus Professor at Gandhigram Rural Institute, Tamil Nadu, wrote about the need for academicians to break the silos and promote integrative and collaborative approaches to teaching and learning. 

Today, an integrated approach to teaching and learning is essential as we face urgent challenges such as climate change, poverty, and migration. We must prioritize this strategy to address these pressing issues effectively. Educators must adopt interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary methods in our classrooms and seminar halls. It is time to overcome the silo mentality and explore ways to incorporate various disciplines into the curriculum. 

For instance, it is highly beneficial for language departments—such as Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, English, and French—to collaborate and examine translation and comparative literature themes. Students’ assignments should not be limited to their syllabus topics but should be collaborative and inclusive. By training students in an innovative and holistic curriculum, we can help them develop into well-rounded individuals. 

The departments should collaborate, innovate, and explore new areas of knowledge.

Let’s break our knowledge silos and shed academic tribalism, and foster interdisciplinarity in our classrooms and on our campus.

ams - Literary Commemoration - December 2, 2024

 

100 Day Idioms Challenge