Educational Resources

From Student to Teacher: Carrying Forward a Legacy of Change.  My Tryst with This Noble Profession On this day of remembering the enormous impact that teachers have on our lives, I cannot help but reflect on how their guidance shapes not just individuals, but entire societies. A good teacher does more than impart knowledge—they instill values, nurture confidence, and spark curiosity. Their influence goes far beyond the classroom, leaving imprints that continue to guide us in the choices we make, the paths we follow, and the people we become. In many ways, teachers are the unseen architects of a more compassionate and enlightened society. For me, this journey has been deeply personal. From my early school days, in my hometown in Andhra Pradesh and in Salem, Tamil Nadu, I looked up to teachers who patiently nurtured my love for learning.  In my college life at the great Loyola and Presidency, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, my professors expanded my horizons, introducing me to new worlds o...

The Gender Divide The gender divide refers to the unequal treatment, opportunities, or expectations placed on people based on their gender. It is the gap that exists between men and women (and sometimes other gender identities) in areas such as education, employment, wages, decision-making, healthcare, politics, or even everyday roles at home. For example: In many societies, men are expected to be breadwinners, while women are expected to focus on caregiving. Men often dominate leadership positions, while women face barriers like the glass ceiling . In technology and finance, men are encouraged to participate more, while women are sidelined or underrepresented. In short, the gender divide is the imbalance in power, access, and recognition between genders , caused largely by cultural norms, stereotypes, and structural inequalities. One of my favourite explanations about this topic is well presented visually by PayTM App, named 'The Divide'. Please watch this very i...

Gender Roles A gender role, or sex role, is a set of socially accepted behaviors and attitudes deemed appropriate or desirable for individuals based on their gender or sex. Gender roles are usually centered on conceptions of masculinity and femininity. For example, - Men's gender roles revolve around characteristics such as dominance, assertiveness, and strength.  - Traditionally, men's gender roles include breadwinner, leader, and protector. - Women's roles revolve around characteristics such as submissiveness, passivity, and weakness. - Traditionally, women are seen as caregivers, nurturers, homemakers, and helpers. 

  The Brand 'Me' "The Brand Me"  is an engaging and reflective activity designed to help individuals identify and articulate their unique characteristics, values, and strengths.  It fosters self-awareness and encourages personal branding. Here's how it could be structured: Objective: To help individuals explore their personal identity, strengths, and values, and present themselves as a "brand." Steps: Introduction Briefly analyse the concept of personal branding. Highlight how everyone has unique traits that make them stand out. Self-Reflection Reflect on questions like: What are my strengths or skills? What values are most important to me? How do friends or family describe me? What are my passions or interests? What sets me apart from others? Define Your Brand Summarize your reflections into key components: Core Values : Creativity, Empathy, Integrity, Gratitude, Authenticity, Resilience, Compassion, Courageous etc. Strengths/Skills : A list of abilitie...

  Misplaced Modifiers A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is separated from the word it describes, creating confusion and ambiguity. This occurs when the modifier is placed too far from the word it's intended to modify, leading to a sentence that doesn't make sense or has a different meaning than intended. Here are some examples to illustrate the concept: Incorrect: "I saw a man on the hill with a telescope." This sentence could imply the man has a telescope on his head. Correct: "With a telescope, I saw a man on the hill." This clearly states that you used a telescope to see the man. Incorrect: "We ate the pizza on the table with pepperoni." This suggests the table has pepperoni on it. Correct: "We ate the pizza with pepperoni on the table." This clarifies that the pizza had pepperoni. Incorrect:   The boy rode a bicycle wearing a red cap. ( Implies the bicycle is wearing a red cap. ) C...

Phonetics Phonetics   is the study of human speech sounds, focusing on how they are produced, transmitted, and perceived. It explores individual sounds (phonemes) and the physical aspects of speaking and listening. English Phonetics Chart The  English Phonetics Chart  displays the phonetic symbols for sounds in English, often using the  International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) . It includes: Consonants : Sounds produced with airflow restrictions, like /p/, /b/, and /s/. Single Vowels/ Monopthongs : Open sounds without airflow restrictions, such as /a/ in  cat  or /i/ in  see . Double Vowels/ Diphthongs : Blended vowel sounds, like /aɪ/ in  time . The chart helps learners accurately pronounce English words by visualizing sound types and positions.

    Tips for an effective PPT Presentations and Topics for Students A PowerPoint (PPT) presentation is a visual tool used to convey information through slides, combining text, images, charts, and multimedia elements. It helps presenters organize and share key points in a structured, engaging way, making complex information easier for audiences to understand and retain. Commonly used in educational, business, and professional settings, PPT presentations enhance communication by visually supporting the speaker’s message. Here are some tips for an effective PowerPoint presentation: Keep Slides Simple : Use minimal text, bullet points, and avoid clutter. Engage with Visuals : Include images, charts, and infographics to illustrate points. Consistent Design : Stick to a cohesive colour scheme and font style. Practice Timing : Keep slides moving at a steady pace without rushing. Focus on Key Points : Highlight only the most important information per slide. Use Animations Sparingly : ...

  Gender-Based Reviews of Films Gender-based reviews of films analyze movies through the lens of gender dynamics, representation, and portrayals, focusing on how characters, narratives, and settings reflect or challenge gender norms. These reviews often explore how women, men, and non-binary characters are depicted and examine whether their roles reinforce or subvert traditional gender stereotypes. Additionally, they may critique the diversity and complexity of characters, scrutinizing issues such as tokenism, the presence of the "male gaze," and the representation of LGBTQ+ identities. Such reviews are essential in understanding media influence on societal perceptions of gender, as films contribute significantly to shaping cultural narratives around gender roles and expectations. For instance, the Bechdel Test—whether a film includes at least two named women who talk to each other about something other than a man—has become a popular metric for assessing female representatio...

Noun-Pronoun Agreement Noun-pronoun agreement refers to the requirement that pronouns must agree with the nouns they replace (also known as antecedents) in terms of number (singular or plural), gender (masculine, feminine, or neuter), and case. Here are the key rules and examples: 1. Number Agreement Singular Noun with Singular Pronoun When a noun is singular, the pronoun that replaces it must also be singular. Example : "The girl lost her book." Here, "girl" is a singular noun, and "her" is a singular pronoun. Plural Noun with Plural Pronoun When a noun is plural, the pronoun that replaces it must also be plural. Example : "The girls lost their books." Here, "girls" is a plural noun, and "their" is a plural pronoun. 2. Gender Agreement Pronouns must match the gender of the nouns they replace. Examples : "The boy forgot his backpack." (masculine) "The woman took her purse." (feminine) "The dog wagged...

  Tips for an effective JAM (Just A Minute) Session and Topics for Students JAM (Just A Minute) is an effective activity that aims to let students showcase their Oral Communication Skills in front of a crowd. It is an activity that requires students to prepare in advance (If the topics are given before) or talk on the spot instantly on a given topic.  This activity tests the students on various levels such as - their preparation, the content of the topic given/ chosen, arrangement and delivery of the content logically,  relatability with the audience,  grammar, vocabulary, the loudness of the voice and the voice modulation, non-verbal communication like facial expressions, head nods, eye-contact, hand gestures and the standing postures, proper examples, usage of famous quotes/ phrases/ sayings, and the time management.  Some of the important points students need to keep in mind to give an effective JAM:  Gather enough content from various sources like books...

R. Madhavan's Speech at Harvard University about 'India: 2030' R. Madhavan is a famous Indian actor, producer, writer, and director who predominantly works in Tamil and Hindi Films.  His speech at Harvard University about 'India: 2030' is a wonderful insight about India, its culture and traditions, its heritage, its people's progress, values, courage, way of living, and how each individual can have dreams and work towards them. He cites many great people as examples like Dr. Abdul Kalam, Gandhi Ji, Bhagat Singh, Abraham Lincoln etc. He also talks highly of mothers and motherland and tells how pressure is also good at times by giving examples from his own life. What is admirable in this speech is the way he expresses his love towards India by saying that he wanted India to have blue cards and develop rural areas as smart villages etc. Delve into his mind and know more not only about this great dreamer of India but also his beautiful dreams by watching this wonder...