Kala Nand is a well-known Hindi teacher in Christchurch, New Zealand. She has been teaching Hindi since 1968 and has been offering classes in Christchurch since 2007. Having worked as a primary teacher in Fiji before moving to NZ, Nand is passionate about passing on her knowledge and love of Hindi to the next generation.
Nand believes that it is important for Kiwi-Indian children to learn Hindi as it connects us to our heritage and culture. She teaches basic Hindi, such as varnmala, phonetics and matras, in an interactive way using various activities. Her classes are held on weekends and are free for both children and adults. She provides fun assignments to keep her students engaged and loves to see them grow and develop their language skills.
Nand temporarily suspended her classes due to the Covid-19 pandemic but has returned to teach around 15 students again. She is grateful to the families who help her pay for the community hall hire charges and to the parents who donate or pay for teaching materials and books. She also wants to thank the Indian High Commission for its encouragement and support.
Nand's students showcase their skills during community events like Diwali celebrations, where they recite poems and songs in Hindi. This helps them become more confident and proud of their language and culture. They also celebrate the annual Hindi Diwas where all students get an opportunity to perform and showcase their learnings.
Nand recognises the importance of keeping our children connected to our language and culture.
“Language is the gateway to our shared culture, and I love teaching my language to new learners. It is my passion that keeps me engaged. I spend a lot of time preparing for my classes, curating the various activities, charts and other material to ensure my students don’t find the classes boring.”
Nand’s tireless dedication to the Hindi language combined with her passion for teaching, make her an invaluable asset to the community. She hopes to continue her classes and attract more students in the future, as she believes that learning Hindi is crucial for the future generation and will help connect them to their roots.
Nand has been recognised and awarded for her work including the Pride of Workmanship Award by the Rotary Club of Christchurch South and the Language Development Indian Community Service Award by the Indian Social & Cultural Group.
If you live in Christchurch and want your children to learn Hindi, reach out to Nand to enrol them in her free classes which are held at Sydenham Community Centre Hall, Christchurch.