This years’ service-learning meeting was truly exceptional. Following the introductions and greetings, we delivered a presentation showcasing the English idioms we had developed for students in India. We explained many different idioms through a mix of English and Hindi, and the whole class pitched in with examples to help the students understand each one better. The students picked it up very quickly and gave good examples for some very difficult idioms. Overall, it was a great presentation!
In the breakout rooms, we had conversations in Hindi with one another. Students asked about activities and places worth visiting in their hometowns, favorite books, sports, and hobbies. We also discussed vacation destinations and how they contribute to the society they live in. Talking about movies and songs was always enjoyable and learning about the kinds of studies they are pursuing and their favorite subjects at university was especially insightful.
These discussions allowed us to learn about each other's lives and understand why cultural exchange is important. They expanded our knowledge of the world and its possibilities. I’m confident these conversations will stay with us for a lifetime.
These meetings provide a valuable opportunity to refine my Hindi by conversing with fluent speakers while simultaneously honing my ability to explain aspects of English to those less familiar with the language. This dual practice not only strengthens my linguistic skills but also enhances my cultural awareness and ability to bridge communication gaps effectively.
Here are a few comments from my classmates that are worth mentioning:
Sahil
The IP college conversation practice helped me realize both my progress and areas for growth in Hindi. When my partner asked thoughtful questions about American culture, I found myself naturally responding without mentally translating each word - a significant improvement from my early days of Hindi study. These authentic exchanges were far more valuable than textbook dialogues.
The most encouraging aspect was how the IP college students adapted to my level - slowing down when needed but also challenging me to express more complex thoughts. This balanced approach helped me gain confidence while still pushing my boundaries. One particularly memorable moment was when we discussed similarities and differences between college life in America versus India.
Yash
The service-learning meeting was a great experience! It was an exceptional speech to the students from IP college and I greatly appreciated how welcoming they were. Not only were they very graceful in our level of Hindi, but they also actively worked to understand our mixture of Hindi and English.
As for which questions we asked the IP college students, a lot of our conversation was surrounding the differences in school structure and also some of our favorite things from our cultures. We asked their favorite cricket team, actor, and place and also how they feel about only one weekend day.
Rowan
I had a great time at the service-learning activity with the IP students. I think my expectations were met and it was a lot of fun. The part I enjoyed the most was teaching them English slang and watching them try to use it. I am appreciative of the IP students because they took the time to meet with us and were super accommodating of our limited knowledge and helpful with teaching us Hindi and being patient with us, so I’d like to thank them for that.
Namit
My service-learning experience was amazing. I loved having the opportunity to engage in intercultural discourse with students halfway across the globe. Learning about the differences in schooling, language use, and daily life was fascinating and I appreciated that we could meet a few individuals in smaller breakout rooms.
The slang session was also really funny and an enjoyable way for us to practice our Hindi while teaching the IP students about American culture and language. Overall, I had a phenomenal time during the service-learning opportunity, and I hope we have more opportunities to engage with individuals from India and learn about their lived experiences.
Khushmeet
I really enjoyed the service learning experience! My expectations were definitely met. It was super fun to talk to students who have a very different college experience from us. I really enjoyed speaking with two of the students in the breakout rooms. They were really kind and funny. I also got to gain some insight into the life of a college student in India. For example, it was interesting to learn about how one of the students lives in an apartment with her siblings instead of her dorm/hostel. Overall, I was really impressed with how open and kind the students were and really enjoyed the experience.
Shrey
My expectations were exceeded during the service-learning meeting. One main challenge I faced during the meeting was speaking fully in Hindi. Although I tried my best, we have not learned some verbs/phrases in class, so at times I had to substitute some English words if needed. Overall, we were still able to communicate and understand each other pretty well. I really enjoyed getting to meet all of the students and learn about their interests, and it was cool to see how we share so many similar interests despite living in different countries. Learning Hindi slang and teaching them English slang was also very fun!
Dhruv
My expectations were exceeded for the service-learning meeting because I had a great time communicating and interacting with the IP college students. It honestly didn’t even seem like class, but was like a fun event. The thing I enjoyed the most about the experience was teaching the IP college students English slang. I think continuing to have these meetings and teaching the community members about our culture would be great!
Pranay
I had a good time at the service-learning meeting and talking to the IP college students. Most of it was very fun and I got to learn a lot about the students’ experiences and interact with them. I also really liked teaching them English slang/phrases.
Alisha
The service-learning experience definitely met my expectations! The students from the IP college were extremely welcoming and understanding of our elementary speaking level. I enjoyed talking to the student in the breakout room. I enjoyed the English slang the most, as it was very interesting to see how the two languages differ and how the slang is interpreted by those that do not speak fluent English. I would like to thank the IP students for spending time with us and being so understanding of our speaking level.
Pranav
This service-learning activity was very fun and educational. I loved meeting the Indian students and I loved their attitude towards learning from us. They were very excited to speak with us and learn our content. It was also very fun to prepare the slides with the class.
Purnima
My expectations were met! It was such an enjoyable time interacting with IP students and getting to know them. My favorite part of the experience was teaching IP students some English slang and hearing them use them! It was nice being able to exchange our knowledge of English and exchange that with their knowledge of Hindi through this interaction. Overall, I had such a great time talking with the IP students and I hope they know that they really made this service-learning experience an amazing one! I hope that for a future event, we can again interact with them hopefully with a better understanding of Hindi.
This event was supported and funded by Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Duke India Initiative and Duke Service Learning.