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This project explores the use of realia and environmental assets to teach English as a Foreign Language (EFL) to Himalayan Buddhist nuns. The teachings support refugee survival, sacred teachings, and global justice, leveraging local culture through handicrafts, tourism, and volunteerism. Unique learning spaces emerge in monasteries and their surroundings, transcending traditional classrooms. Activities include oral storytelling, song-sharing, and hands-on interaction with local materials. This innovative approach connects language learning with environmental and cultural contexts rich in tradition.
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Using Realia & Environmental Assets: EFL for Himalayan Buddhist Nuns
Why English? H.H. Dalai Lama says “It’s All Good”: • Refugee Survival • Sacred Teachings • Global Justice
Int’l EnglishOpens the Way to: • Handicraft Sales: jewelry, weavings, etc. • Tourism $$ • Int’l volunteers • Int’l donation $$ • World Buddhist network
ESP Targets for Nuns • Tourism • School Teacher • Handicrafts • Nurse-Midwife • Political Action
Where the Convents Are:No Next-Day Deliveries • In Spiti,Himachal Pradesh (India)
Nepal • Near Mt. Everest • Lovely in summer-autumn • FREEZING in winter!
Deboche-Tengboche (Nepal)Winter-time • Himal = Snow • Laya = Land
Jungle MonasteriesIndia, Bhutan • Hot & Steamy • Built in Caves • Snakes, Spiders, Scorpions • Books Crumble • Ink Runs • Chalk Dissolves
Himalayan Realia & Environmental Assets • No classroom – • Where is the space? • No paper or pens – • How to write? • No books – • What texts? • No materials – • What to talk about?
Where is the learning space?Monastery Grounds • Space is cramped inside • Most EFL happens outside • Teacher keeps this spacecentered
How to write?On the hillside, in the courtyard ABC’s • In dirt, with sticks • In mud, with fingers • In snow, with sticks • On riverbank, with pebbles
What are our texts?The Teacher’s Memory Fairy Tales! • Cinderella • Snow White • Hansel & Gretel • Your Childhood Favorites
What are our texts?The Teacher’s Memory Songs with Movement! • Farmer in the Dell • Hokey Pokey • Your Childhood Favorites
What are our texts?The Teacher’s Memory Poems with Rhythm • One Fish Two Fish • A.A. Milne • Limericks • Your Childhood Favorites
What are our texts?The Students’ Memories • Folktales – can be acted out in simple words • Himalayan students know DOZENS of folktales!
What are our texts?The Students’ Memories • Songs! • Students sing one in Tibetan • Teacher sings one in English • Learn to Sing Each Others’ Songs!
Class Materials?Realia:Khukuri’s Knives & scythes • Talk about: • Cutting animal feed • Cooking • Harvesting grains • Carpentry • House-building • Shearing yak & sheep
Class Materials?Realia: Butter-Churn Chang • Talk about how to make: • Salt-Butter tea • Barley Beer • Rice Beer • Wheat Beer • How Girls Learn to Cook
Class Materials?Realia: In the Gompa • Talk about: • Colors • Room parts: floor, ceiling, wall • Furniture: shelves, tables
Class Materials?Current Events =New Vocabulary • “Eye Camp” 3 days away • Talk about: • Eyes • Cataracts • Blindness • Doctors • Surgery • Health-care
Class Materials?Current Events =New Vocabulary • “Mani Rimdu” morality play • Talk about: • Demons • Protectors • Big Lamas • Guru Rinpoche • Sherpa Stories
Materials to Talk About?Realia: They Walk thru Town • Yak & Sheep • Talk about: • Where to graze • What they eat • Dairy milk, butter, cheese • How to shear their wool • How to tame a wild yak
Class Materials?Realia: Hitched Out Front • Pack Animals • Talk about: • Load size? • What altitude?
Class Materials?Assessment: Find A Tourist A fun test to do in the Village: • Waylay a Tourist • Teacher requests Tourist to ask a polite English question: • “Where can I drink tea?” • See if students can answer in English! • (or if they get scared & run away!)
Resources: • www.tnp.org - Seattle & Dharamsala • www.jamyang.org - San Diego & Zanskar / Spiti (Ladakh)
