A time to enjoy urdu versions of popular childrens' songs and poetry with your child, along with story time in a fun environment.
Here's an opportunity for you to provide an environment that stimulates the learning of Urdu for toddlers and pre schoolers.
28/08/2013
'Kahani Time' made it to the local newspaper. Hiba Masood
'People think it isn't cool to talk in Urdu' - The National Kahani Time is a new Urdu-language initiative for children that is garnering keen interest from Urdu-speaking parents around the UAE.
Ramadan Kareem to all and their families.
"Taqi is not a one-off case. There are several international students who visit Delhi, primarily to learn Urdu. “Recently, a girl flew in from the US to learn Urdu at St Stephen’s College. She didn’t know any Indian language but her love for Urdu brought her to India for six months,” says Dr Shamim Ahmed, a lecturer at St Stephen’s, which offers Urdu as one of four BA subjects.
The increasing number of local and international students desirous of learning the language calls for many more Urdu teachers."
Do you love Urdu by Vimal Chandar Joshi
http://www.hindustantimes.com/HTEducation/Chunk-HT-UI-HTEducationSectionPage-GreatCareers/Do-you-love-Urdu/SP-Article1-545124.aspx
Do you love Urdu? - Hindustan Times This site provides information about various career and study options in India and abroad
"Much as I loved English, the lack of adjectives and even pronouns was bothersome. There is a well known cliché about how everyone is addressed as ‘you’ in English but Urdu does the job better for different relationships; ‘aap’, ‘tum‘ and ‘tu‘ all convey the same meaning, but cannot be used interchangeably." - URDU AND I, A LOVE AFFAIR by Nabeel Jafri
http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/17074/urdu-and-i-a-love-affair/
15/06/2013
"Urdu, the national language of Pakistan, was created around the 1600’s in Central Asia. The word ‘Urdu’ comes from the Turkish word ‘ordu’ meaning ‘camp’ or ‘army’...
Urdu vocabulary contains approximately 70% Farsi and the rest being a mix of Arabic and Turkish. The grammar takes some elements from Farsi and Arabic but also has elements that are unique and different from all three of its mother tongues. In current times, however, many Urdu speakers have adopted many English and Hindi terms following the effects of globalization and the success of Bollywood, the Indian film industry, in Pakistan".
(http://www.theurdulanguage.com/)
It is a beautiful language we know and speak, so why not pass it down to our kids the way we understand and love it. So join us and share the joy of Urdu with your kids.
14/06/2013
*Show Me the Love*
Can all the Duba/Sharjah/AbuDhabii Mamas please stand up?
There’s a special event coming up next week and I am SO excited to share it with you.
I’m going to be doing a story time! In Urdu! For your kids! At a local café! and I would LOVE it if you all came!
Come and show me some Mama – love and support. And come, cuz I really want to meet you guys and your children. Also, come because I need everyone in the audience to send me their encouraging, relaxing, zen vibes because I think we all know, keeping calm is not a strength of mine. And finally, come, because if no one shows up it will be so embarrassing to have to read to the café staff, who will only be there cuz they are paid to be.
Have you been to a story time recently? Or any reading? I love readings. The men and women who do readings (whether of their work or someone else’s) sound thoughtful and calm. This is exactly how I would like to sound at my reading next week.
Unfortunately, I am convinced I will end up sounding like how I usually sound when I am nervous/excited. Behold…
Other readers: I am reading in a serene and deliberate manner, my words clearly enunciated and carefully measured.
Me: I’M READING! SO FUN! I’M JUMPING UP AND DOWN JUST SO YOU KNOW I’M TOTALLY IN THIS. WHOOPS AM I TOO MUCH? APOLOGETIC LAUGHTER TEE HEEE HEEEE!
Other readers: I smile politely every now and then at the audience then continue with my skilled oratory performance about this and that. I am unruffled at your silence.
Me: I ASK YOU QUESTIONS AND MORE QUESTIONS WHILE GIGGLING TO SHOW THAT WE ARE ALL HAVING FUN! AND I TALKREALLYFAST! WHEEEE!
Other readers: I’m sounding mellow and sophisticated as I philosophize on deep topics covered in the book I am reading.
Me: NOW I WILL MAKE JOKES SO YOU KNOW I’M FUNNY! LOOK AT MEEEE! SNICKER!
Other readers: I will proceed to wrap this up so we can tranquilly mingle and do a polished meet and greet.
ME: I CAN’T STOP. I LOVE READING AND TALKING AND HUGGING YOU, TRA LA LA!
Okay, so maybe I won’t be so bad. I might actually be quite good. But you won’t find out either way if you don’t come now will you?
Also, making fun of me is fun for me…don’t read too much into it. “Read”, get it? Har, har. But what IS true is that my social skills have gone to whack since I spend all day every day with the little people.
All the better that this reading is for kids. Bless their hearts, THEY won’t mind me chittering away like a bird on crack. They will just consider me one of their own.
Last class for this term, this Thursday. Dates for next term, along with venue details will be posted soon.
"Apna daya hath daalo, apna dayaa hath nikalo, apna daya hath daalo air zor se hilaao, mazey ke gunn gaatey gaatey poorey ghoom jaao, itni si baat tau hai..."
Our song of the day!
(Sung to the tune of hokey pokey). The kids love it!
"One language sets you in a corridor of life. Two languages open every door along the way"
Frank Smith
Urdu mother-child sing song/storytime session every thursday at 3:45pm, in Thanya.