{"id":1501,"date":"2016-06-17T11:20:11","date_gmt":"2016-06-17T11:20:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sisa2016.ii.lsa.umich.edu\/?p=366"},"modified":"2016-06-17T11:20:11","modified_gmt":"2016-06-17T11:20:11","slug":"learning-how-to-learn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/courses.lsa.umich.edu\/sisablogs\/2016\/06\/17\/learning-how-to-learn\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning How To Learn"},"content":{"rendered":"

When\u00a0my sisters and I went to college my father\u00a0left each of us with the same truth: “College is about learning how to learn”. It was not, of course, until after we failed our first exams and called home in frenzies (as college students do) that the line unveiled its impact. Our parents knew that each of us would call home in our first\u00a0fall semesters saying that we were not cut out to be at\u00a0the University of Michigan and therefore they were prepared to remind us\u00a0that “everyone fails” or\u00a0“we are putting too much pressure on ourselves” but\u00a0most importantly they would say that, “College is about learning how to learn”.<\/p>\n

Pratham’s Second Chance Program instills this\u00a0same value in its students. When I speak to the women I ask each of them if\u00a0they feel like that they\u00a0have been changed from the program, to which each one answers yes. With definite growth in each of the\u00a0seven subjects, it is the\u00a0increased confidence that has had the strongest effect on the women.\u00a0One student, Safiya, answered that, “Before this I\u00a0did not have any idea about my\u00a0life or what I\u00a0wanted to do. Now I\u00a0have the confidence to do something, anything.” I am able to quote her directly, mind you, because I was\u00a0able to speak with her one-on-one. Safiya is a 21-year-old woman who has\u00a0nearly perfected her English throughout her one-year\u00a0at Pratham, after being away from school for nine years. To say she is amazing would only be selling her short. She not\u00a0only spoke to\u00a0the value of her own education, but also what she has learned about educating the larger majority. Safiya\u00a0emphasizes\u00a0the importance of a\u00a0mother’s role in a\u00a0child’s life, stressing that to educate a mother is to educate India as a whole.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_0563\"
Safiya after her attempt to perfect her American accent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Safiya
Safiya and Tauseef<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

The Second Chance Program succeeds in both written instruction as well as cultivating\u00a0personal growth in women and I have personally seen it play out in each woman\u00a0that I have spoken with. Safiya is one of the many examples. Though Pratham’s success\u00a0does show through many\u00a0of the women passing the final exam, The Second Chance Program\u00a0focuses on much more than teaching to the test. The program articulates the many forms of education beyond the classroom, and the many roles that women can take now that they have their education. Most clearly stated, Pratham’s Second Chance Program is about “learning how to learn”.<\/p>\n

Over the past two weeks I have been given the opportunity to visit each of the three urban centers across Jaipur– Chandpole, Eidgah and Bhatta Basti.<\/p>\n

\"English
English class at the Chandpole center<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The
The students teaching me to say “My name is Grace” in Hindi.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I have also been to three of the six rural centers within villages outside of the city of Ajmer.\u00a0Without surprise, each center that I have visited and each person that I have met has been inviting and welcoming. Further, the girls at the centers have been some of the most admirable people I have met. Through nothing short of perseverance, personal strength and dedication they have made the choice to continue with their education.<\/p>\n

My boss ensures me that my speaking with the women\u00a0will help to motivate them in their education. She says that their\u00a0hearing the similarities between\u00a0American and\u00a0Indian culture as well as sharing how\u00a0our experiences are similar will further motivate them. However, I am not sure if\u00a0she knows just how much each woman\u00a0is motivating me. I am strengthened\u00a0by each woman’s\u00a0drive to learn and her dedication to herself; Her perseverance to continue with her education, no matter what is standing in her way. Each woman has truly taken it on herself to become empowered through her education.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When\u00a0my sisters and I went to college my father\u00a0left each of us with the same truth: “College is about learning how to learn”. It was not, of course, until after we failed our first exams and called home in frenzies (as college students do) that the line unveiled its impact. Our parents knew that each of us would call home in our first\u00a0fall semesters saying that we were not cut out to be at\u00a0the University of Michigan and therefore they…<\/p>\n

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