Exciting Learning Environments

    The Velammal group has been receiving many Global Cooperation Programs and delegates from other nations every year. This environment brings an international dimension to teaching and learning, where the students and teachers interact with delegates from another nation and improve a sense of collective ethos and identity.  Recently the Velammal NewGen School,South campuses viz,Medavakkam,Madipakkam,Shollinganallur,Navalur and Kelambakkam had a project on Indo-Japanese Cultural Exchange during the dussehra time from 12^th October 2018 to 17^th October 2018 and the excitement was in the air in these schools. The project had the displays of the Indian Golu and the Japanese Hinamatsuri doll displays, one beside the other. The students did a "Comparative study of cultural traits of Indo & Japanese cultures with special reference to Golu and Hinamatsuri".The Hina doll display was done with the support of the Culture and Information wing of the Consulate of Japan in India, Chennai and by the OMR Franchise of the ABK AOTS Dosokai. Mr.Loganathan from the Consulate presided over the program in the Medavakkam School and gave lot of information on the way Hinamatsuri is celebrated in Japan. The Madipakkam school had as guests, native Japanese teachers Mr.Sakuji Hakozaki,Ms.Yoko Hakozaki and Mr.Sonobe Junzo from the Japanese School Education Trust of Chennai, who spoke about the significance of Hinamatsuri and also sang the hinamatsuri song. The conversation between the Japanese teachers and the students was translated from Japanese to English and vice versa by Ms.Vaishnavi Kumar, Director of the OMR Franchise of the DOSOKAI. The schools were thronged by visitors from the neighboring schools, community and parents on these days. By sharing experiences, backgrounds, cultures, opinions through this project helped expand teachers’ and pupils’ horizons and increase intercultural dialogue and understanding

                     As a sequel to this project,  six students from all schools of Velammal NewGen South campuses are invited to present the "Comparative study of cultural traits of Indo Japanese cultures with special reference to Golu and Hinamatsuri" at the Consulate’s program on the 27th October 2018 and also interview Ms.Megumi Shimada,Advisor,Culture & Information section,Consulate of Japan. All this provide ample excitement and exposure to the students of Velammal as it nurtures citizenship and make students learn about their identities and communities and about different places in the world.  

                                                               -Ramya Ramanan

                        School Group Head,Velammal group of schools,Chennai.