The Swaminarayan Sunday School at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London partnered with the National Gujarati Core Team to deliver an insightful seminar on preparing for the GCSE Gujarati exams.
The three-hour event was designed for parents, students and teachers which brought together more than 200 participants from London as well as other towns and cities from the UK.
The session began with welcome and context from Shaileshbhai Pujara (Gujarati Core Team Member). This was further elaborated by video messages from senior sadhus who spoke of the importance of the language.
Manoharmurti Swami further elaborated on the ‘Why’, ‘How’ and ‘What’ of learning Gujarati, such as:
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Why one should learn Gujarati
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What teachers should focus on
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Why creativity is important in learning
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How to make learning constructive
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How to improve memory and concentration
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How to perform well in the exam
Laljibhai Ladwa (Head of Gujarati at the Swaminarayan Sunday School) shared important information related to the subject, and addressed questions from delegates.
A video interview of a family from Manchester illustrated the success of a 12-year old boy during his GCSE Gujarati studies, providing motivation and encouragement.
Attendees enhanced their learning through practical sessions conducted by various experienced Gujarati teachers to develop speaking, listening and reading skills, supported by expert advice.
Advice on interacting with students and parents through practical examples was particularly beneficial for teachers.
All attendees found the seminar very useful and offered positive feedback on their experiences. Many benefitted from understanding a clear outline of what is involved in studying GCSE Gujarati and spoke of the usefulness of practical techniques.
One of the parents added, “This has come at a crucial time. It has been a very good seminar. I am glad that we came and that we now have a better understanding to prepare our son. I will start applying my learning immediately.”