Today we’d like to introduce you to Anshu Jain.
Anshu, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am an engineer by profession and was born and raised in a Hindi speaking family. Given my knowledge of the teaching system in the USA and my comfort with the Hindi language, I was asked to tutor expat students in during a 2-year stay in Bangalore, India. I took on the challenge and soon discovered that students liked the classes but disliked doing their homework. I used my IT background to create online activities e.g. quizzes, reading assignments, matching exercises for students as homework and that worked! My students did well and I enjoyed the experience immensely.
Upon return to the US in late 2006, with recession just around the corner, most companies were on a hiring freeze, especially in their IT departments. Few of my friends who were planning to move to India asked me to tutor their children so they will have an easier time with Hindi classes once in India. Well versed with the Indian curriculum, I was able to prepare students to help ease their transition. In time, more parents contacting me to teach their children in hopes to keep children connected with their heritage while growing up here.
I started exploring ways to create a strong and fun language program for children growing up here. I was fortunate to be selected by UCLA Center for World language for their teacher-training program followed by two weeks of equally intensive teacher training at New York University. This is how “I Learn Hindi” program was born.
It started from my hometown, Cerritos and is now offered at a few locations in Los Angeles with the help of a small number of extremely dedicated teachers. We offer classes to students 4 years and up at Cerritos, Cypress, Huntington Beach, Irvine and West LA. We also offer one on one online classes to students 13 years and up.
We open new locations if there is an interest in the community and enough parents contact us with the same.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It is always challenging to start something on your own. I did not realize that soon there would not be enough hours in a day. It is still the same 🙂 but I understand my limitations much better now and try to maintain a balance with work in life.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Indus Heritage Center – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Indus Heritage Center aims at building connections between Indian and US cultures and connecting our upcoming generations with their heritage and culture.
We offer Hindi and Gujarati language classes to heritage and non-heritage students. Students learn with the help of poems, stories, skits and role-plays. We are known for noisy classrooms and as long as the noise is in the target language, we are proud of it! Our passionate teachers set us apart and remind me of the energizer bunnies. Teacher’s energy is infectious which helps in keeping the class energy high. Our online component sets us apart as well. Students (7+years) receive online homework where they get a chance to practice what they learned in class. In addition to that our annual session which lasts from Sept. to June, culminates with students proudly performing their role-plays, poems, skits and quizzes for parents and their friends. Videos are at www.youtube.com/ilearnhindi
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We will like to see our students perform their skits for the bigger audience for this coming year. One such venue is Artesia where India’s Independence Day celebrations are held each year and Irvine where Diwali mela is celebrated. Performing on a bigger platform will inculcate confidence in our students and an opportunity to share their language with a larger audience of their heritage.
Pricing:
- Group classes range from $700 – $850 for one academic year (Sept. to June)
Contact Info:
- Address: 17923 Chaparral Way, Cerritos, CA 90703
- Website: www.ilearnhindi.org
- Phone: (562) 546-3870
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ilearnhindi
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/indus-heritage-center-cerritos-3
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/user/ilearnhindi
Image Credit:
Kiran Lodhie and Ms. Meenu
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
