CCS senior brings Hindi to classroom

By Laura Mortkowitz

CCS senior Puja Aggarwal teaches while she learns.

The education major who is finishing a bachelor’s degree and planning to get a master’s in the College of Continuing Studies, volunteers her time to teach Hindi, one of the official
language of India and the world’s second most spoken language, to children and adults.

“Teaching is my passion and I never get tired of it,” Aggarwal said.

Aggarwal, who started her master’s degree in India, decided to move to the United States in 1996, a time when she was halfway done with the degree requirements. Since she was not able to transfer all of her credits, she needed to take a few steps backward, first obtaining a bachelor’s degree and then taking four more masters-level courses to complete her graduate degree.

Aggarwal said she is looking forward to finishing her studies so she can become an elementary school teacher.

One step that will take Aggarwal closer to achieving her goal is her experience teaching Hindi at the Durga Temple in South Brunswick and the Hickory Corner Branch Library in East Windsor. She is working at both places to fulfill a requirement for her College of Continuing Studies course Leadership and Community (GND 350), taught by Dr. Roberta Fiske-Rusciano, an adjunct assistant professor in the Political Science Department.

“The final component is that each student must do a ‘mini-internship’ in a non-profit agency,” said Fiske-Rusciano.

When Aggarwal called the librarian at Hickory Corner Branch Library about Aggarwal’s internship, the librarian suggested that she teach Hindi.

Aggarwal teaches Hindi mostly to children, but she also teaches some married couples and even a college student from Rutgers University.

After her first class at the library, Aggarwal said she was uncertain how many would stay interested.

“The first time they didn’t have pencils or paper,” Aggarwal said.

The Hindi teacher was afraid no one was going to return for the second lesson, until a crowd showed up.

“When they came back they had folders that were fully decorated,” she said. “It was amazing.”

The Hindi teacher was also surprised to find out that the students knew their vowels during the next class and had completed their homework.

According to Aggarwal, one of the reasons she didn’t think anyone would show up was because the students were all American-born and had seemed confused at the end of the class.

Aggarwal has been using a book to help her teach called Akshar Kosh, which means Hindi Alphabet. She has also taught them the Indian national anthem, “Jana-Gana-Mana,” which was originally composed in Bengali.

According to Fiske-Rusciano, Aggarwal’s Hindi classes are beneficial.

“Her teaching of Hindi is very helpful in the community as well as in the class, as it is a large part of her work in the class,” she said.

Aggarwal is pleased that she had the opportunity to volunteer her time to teach Hindi.

“I am glad I took Dr. Fiske-Rusciano’s course because it gave me a completely new experience in my life,” she said. “I always wanted to do something for the community and for other people. [I] just never got the chance.”