Originally posted on June 19 =========
The first session of Konkani lessons in the GTA will be concluding tomorrow (Friday, June 20) after sixteen weeks of tutoring. Unfortunately I will not be there to celebrate, as I have to be in Goa to attend to urgent family matters.
On behalf of the fourteen students, I would like to extend a very warm word of thanks to our tutor, Mr. Joao Manuel Pereira who inconvenienced his own family and went out of his way to teach us Konkani (and Konknni) the way it is spoken today. Dev borem korum tuka ani tuji famil.
And congratulations to all the fourteen students who completed the course. You all did extremely well.
The purpose of this first session of Konkani lessons was two-fold. The first, of course, was to learn amchi bhas. The second was to gauge the level of interest in the GTA on learning our native language. One our students traveled every Friday from Bomanville to Mississauga and back (over an hour's drive each way on the Highway) to attend the two hour class.
It became obvious to us that there is quite a lot of interest in learning Konkani. Although only fourteen students took the first session, there were many more who would have liked to have taken the course but did not due to other prior commitments.
It has been decided to continue the Konkani lessons in a formally structured
manner on an on-going basis. There will be two semesters a year. Each semester would consist of ten lessons over ten weeks. Lessons would be on Friday evenings and will continue to be held at St. Matthew's School in Mississauga.
The first semester is planned to start on September 12, 2003 The second semester is planned to start on January 9, 2004
The students in each class will be divided into three sections (or as required) - Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. At the completion of the two semesters, in any one category, the student will be awarded a Certificate of Completion.
All those interested in registering for the semester starting September 12 should send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] This e-mail has been set up specially for this purpose.
It is estimated that the cost of each lesson will be $5.00. (i.e $50 per semester). This is used to remunerate the teacher, teaching materials and cover costs of reproduction, handouts and other incidental expenses. Surplus
funds (if any) will either be returned to the students or donated to a charity of the students' choice.
And, Oh! Yes!
VIVA GOA!!!
Tim de Mello [EMAIL PROTECTED] Goa, INDIA
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