FAQs:

Q1. Tell us something about your background.

We are a group of native Hindi speakers; well-trained, experienced, and passionate teachers. We apply the best instructional approach to Hindi learning for today’s 21st-century learners. Over the last decade, we have taught in several Federal government-funded Hindi programs that follow stringent World-Readiness Standards for the teaching of World Languages. We have also managed and taught in Community-Based Hindi schools in the Tri-state area. We follow the most effective teaching strategies to prepare our learners for real-life scenarios. HLA is conducted by ESHA (Educators Society for Heritage of IndiA) a non-profit 501(C)3 Educational organization incorporated in NJ in 2003.

Q2. What age groups do you teach?

We offer once-a-week classes for 5 to 18-year-old students. Our classes are divided into three categories a) Elementary School b) Middle School 3) High School. Each category has sub-levels, based on the proficiency of the learners. We also offer customized private lessons for the adult age group. For such classes, the learner will follow an individual class schedule with the available instructor.

Q3. What is the criteria or selection process for different classes?

The program is open to all – heritage and non-heritage students. Placement is based on age and proficiency level at the time of entry into the program. An informal proficiency test will be administered to determine the student’s level at the time of entry. Once you enroll your student in the program, one of our instructors will contact you to hold an informal interview to assess learners’ proficiency and based on that will assign him/her to a specific weekly class. Students will advance to the next level only upon successfully fulfilling the criteria of their current level.

Q 4. Will there be homework?

Home assignments are proven to be a successful method for reinforcement in any educational system. We give minimal homework depending on the age group and level of the student for their extended learning. Our home assignments are concise & interesting. They intend to develop one of the three modes of language learning – Interpretive, Interpersonal & Presentational. Some examples could be: watching an assigned Hindi video of a specific topic or story, making an audio recording of a spoken assignment, making a multimedia presentation, etc.  It is expected of students to finish their home assignments in a timely manner. Teachers are always open to suggestions / discussions from parents regarding this matter.

Q5. Will there be exams? If yes, how many?

In order to measure learning, students will be assessed through formative and summative assessments over the year. Assessments will be geared towards the use of Hindi in real-world scenarios. At various levels, it will include different criteria such as speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. We will formally conduct 2 exams, at the end of each unit. It will be a project-based assessment. Parents and students will be notified well in advance.

Q6. What is your Curriculum?

We design, create and follow our own customized curriculum that is specific to age and proficiency level. We follow thematic units and all our content is related to that specific theme. Our curriculum is a beautiful blend of language and culture. We teach grammar by embedding it in our lesson plans within the theme. We follow the World-Readiness Standards for language learning to prepare a holistic curriculum. Our teachers apply this curriculum and impart knowledge to the students by following the most updated & effective teaching strategy. You can get more details on the curriculum page of our website.

Q7. How much do you charge?

We are a Non-Profit Organization involved in youth education for many years. Our charges are very minimal and reasonable.  In order to cover administrative and online tools cost, we charge a yearly fee in the range of  $ 275 – $ 300  per child. This includes the cost of all educational tools, cultural immersion programs, teacher’s appreciation gifts, and Holiday gifts for the students. A sibling discount of $25/child is available.

Q8. What is the starting date, time, and location?

In 2019,  Hindi Language Academy was founded in Hillsborough, New Jersey as a regular in-person class. But since Covid, we have switched to online mode and now all our classes are offered in online mode. All our classes are conducted on the Zoom platform and we use Google classroom as our Learning Management System. Our classes run through the second week of September till the last week of May or the first week of June to accommodate the needs of learners from all over the USA. Our weekly online classes are mostly held in the evenings of the weekday between 6-8 pm EST. Based on the student’s age and proficiency they will be assigned to one of the classes. Currently, the High school group also meets on Sunday mornings.

Q9. Are there any make-up classes if a child misses a class?

No, there are no makeup classes as such. If a child misses 1-2 classes, then along with parents’ help, teachers will try their best to help a child catch up on the missed instruction. Teachers can be contacted through email or WhatsApp groups for updates and homework if needed. Also, there will be weekly updates from instructors after every class which will keep parents updated about their class happenings. If a child is frequently absent then it is the parent’s responsibility to help them catch up. They can discuss their situation with the teacher in this matter.

Q10. Do you offer in-person classes too?

At this point, we only offer online classes. We do not offer any in-person classes as of now. In the future, if we observe adequate interest and have enough staff then we might offer in-person classes too.

Q11. How are students immersed in Indian culture at your school?

In our school students are immersed and exposed to Indian culture at many levels. First of all, each lesson plan is carefully planned to embed culture in an age-appropriate way. Secondly, besides the topics/contents, we also expose kids to culture by celebrating different festivals, showing traditional objects, creating projects on specific cultural practices, traditional games of India, videos/ documentaries on various aspects of Indian culture, creating products related to Indian culture and by hosting our once a year annual cultural event. We also try to give them real-life conversations with native speakers. From time to time, we invite native speakers from different parts of India to talk about their specific cultures and practice.

Q12.Do you teach only conversational Hindi or reading writing as well?

Our philosophy is to teach language in the same sequence as we all have acquired our native languages.  Language learning consists of 4 skills – Interpretation, Speaking, Reading & Writing. When we start learning a language then first we all start interpreting then speaking, then the reading & writing part follows. That is why, at the initial time, we focus on the interpretive and speaking skills while slowly introducing them to the literacy part of language learning. Once a student develops enough confidence in speaking Hindi then we start putting more emphasis on the reading and writing part of language learning. Hence, literacy building will be a goal in later levels, but first, we want students to get comfortable in listening and speaking skills. Also, most of the students go for the Seal of Biliteracy test in Hindi, and to pass that test all 4 skills are required at the Intermediate level.

Q13. What is a Seal Of Biliteracy Test? How is the State Seal of Biliteracy different from the Global Seal of Biliteracy? How it is beneficial for students?

There are two types of Seal Of Biliteracy – The State Seal Of Biliteracy & The Global Seal Of Biliteracy. The State Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by a school, district, or state in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by High school graduation. This award is generally awarded to High school seniors, but in many states is only available to students who attend public schools. Criteria for state seals are determined by a state, district, or school as determined by each state. The Global Seal Of Biliteracy is a language credential issued in collaboration with a school or organization and the Global Seal Of Biliteracy. It can be awarded to anyone, student or adult, from any state or country, that has met the criteria for one of its two award levels on one of its qualifying tests. The Global Seal Of Biliteracy is serial numbered and can be listed as a credential, not just an award, on a CV or LinkedIn digital profile. Being able to speak more than one language is a valuable asset that can open up many doors in an individual’s life. A Seal Of Biliteracy can be a powerful tool to earn college credits, apply for a scholarship or study abroad program, access greater employment opportunities, and qualify for pay differentials. Hence, it is beneficial for students to earn the seal at many levels.

Q14. Do you have any volunteer opportunity for youths?

Absolutely! We encourage our youth to come and assist us in the classes. In the process, they advance their own Hindi language, community service and leadership skills. They will earn volunteer/leadership hours depending on their performance and level of commitment. Even if an interested youth doesn’t know Hindi, but wants to learn, this could be a good starting point as well. This is a great way for them to stay connected with their heritage.

Q 15. What is the best way to contact you?

We may be contacted at: hindilanguageacademy@gmail.com OR Mamta Tripathi: 908-304-5734 Soma Vyas: 732-983-2788 Avani Shah: 732-491-7286

Q16. How will learning Hindi help my child?

Learning the Hindi language has many benefits. Besides getting connected to their roots in India and its rich cultural heritage, learning another language improves mental function. Research has shown that the soft skills valued in leaders are byproducts of foreign language acquisition. Please check out this article for even more benefits: https://blogs.transparent.com/language-news/2018/01/01/sorry-stem-google-just-made-the-case-for-more-foreign-language-education/

Q17.How many Hindi levels are there?

We follow ACTFL ( American Council for the Teaching Of Foreign Languages) guidelines for proficiency. There are many levels of Hindi proficiency but we mainly focus on three main levels – Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced. Each level has 3 sublevels as Low, Mid, and High.  Our classes’ divisions are based on these levels and sublevels.

Q19.What is the class size and teacher student ratio?

In each classroom which has a capacity of 10-12 students, we have two teachers. Our aim is never to exceed the ratio of 8:1

Q 20. Is it possible to join the school even after the classes begins?

Our registration opens for the new session in the month of May-June of that year and it closes by the end of september, approximately two weeks after school starts. After that enrolling a student will be dealt with, on a case to case basis and will be determined by many factors such as – space in the class, the teacher’s willingness to take the new child, the student’s proficiency level, parents’ willingness to help their kid catch up the work and bring them up to class level. Only when these criteria are met we enroll new students after registration is closed.

Q 21. I am only interested in conversational Hindi. It doesn’t matter to me if they can’t read or write. Do you focus on conversation more than reading and writing?

Being able to use the Hindi language in a real-world setting, is our primary philosophy. We all speak and listen to Hindi a lot more than we read and write. We will prepare the students accordingly. Eventually, we aim for them to attain a well-rounded proficiency in Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing skills so that they can qualify for the Seal of Biliteracy on their High School transcript or can appear for the Global seal test. It is proven through research that conversational Hindi becomes more fluent if they have a basic knowledge of the Hindi alphabet and its sound. However, if you don’t want literacy at all then you can opt for private lessons so that the teacher can customize a lesson plan for the student.

Q 22. Do you plan to bring Hindi in the mainstream Public school education?

With strong community interest, this is certainly achievable. We can join hands and work towards bringing Hindi into public schools. There are many Dual Language Immersion schools that have started in the USA, especially in California and New York City. There are two requirements:(1) There should be enough students who want to learn Hindi in several schools in a district so that hiring a teacher can be justified, and (2) an NJ-licensed teacher is available to teach Hindi. When these requirements are met, and the community gets together and demands due recognition for their language, the local school district administration will certainly consider offering Hindi as a World Language.