C-6-Unit 2-Teaching prose in Sanskrit

Teaching prose in Sanskrit
General objectives of teaching a prose lesson in Sanskrit (Bloom’s Taxonomy)

To enable students to get general acquaintance with Sanskrit language and its different linguistic arrangements.
· to get familiar with unfamiliar words and their meanings
· to make students familiar with different literary forms in Sanskrit prose.
· to understand the theme of the lesson.
· to use those words in their own sentences
· to develop skills in oral and written expressions in Sanskrit
· develop reading skills in Sanskrit
· develop vocabulary of students in Sanskrit
· to develop interest , love and proper aptitude for learning Sanskrit
· to nurture the character of students through inculcation of values among students.

These are some very general objectives of teaching prose in Sanskrit. The general objectives would vary as per the literary form of the prose lesson. For instance, the general objectives for a drama lesson would be different from a story lesson or from an extract of classical prose work.

Generally prose lessons are useful for making the students familiar with linguistics arrangements and vocabulary in Sanskrit. That is why while teaching prose lesson, discussion of new words, verbs, compounds, indeclinable, tenses etc used should be given adequate attention to. Prose lessons are normally taught through grammar translation method. However lessons in different prose literary forms are to be dealt with suitable corresponding methodologies. For instance, stories should be narrated by the teacher in Sanskrit using story telling method, while extract of drama such as karnasya kavach kundaldaanam and lesson like krishnasya mrutikabhakshanam from class IX should be enacted through dramatization. The conversational type of the lessons should be presented through role plays and simulations. For instance, lessons like falkryanam and Relsthanake in std. IX and VIII respectively should be taught by the same. There are some prose lessons which are extracts from prose works of scholars of Sanskrit literature. For instance, lesson Lakshmichritam from class X requires the use of grammar translation method due to the difficulty level of the text.

Normally prose lessons are taught with a view to developing reading skill among the students, however certain prose forms are to be taught through different methods as discussed above to develop skills other reading in Sanskrit. A prose lesson used for reading skill will have following steps to teach.

Stages of teaching a prose lesson

v Introduction
v Oral reading
v Teaching key as well difficult words, verbs, sandhis and other linguistic aspects
such as use of cases, tenses, indeclinable etc.
v Silent reading by students
v Questioning, probing and translation for ensuring comprehension of students
v Discussion of the content matter through questioning and illustrations
v Evaluation of the linguistic components and content learnt.

Specific objectives of teaching a prose lesson in Sanskrit (Bloom’s Taxonomy)

· Students will be able to state meaning of the words in English correctly.
· Students will be able to state number of characters of the drama.
· Students will be able to tell synonyms of the words
· Students will be able to tell antonyms of the words
· Students will be able to disjoin the sandhis
· Students will be able describe the main episodes of the lesson in their own words
· Students will be able to translate the lesson in English in their own words.
· Students will be able to give their examples related to the content.
· Students will be to locate the sandhiyukta words, compounds in the text
· Students will be able to make their sentences using the new words/verbs learnt.
· Students will be able to answer the questions based on the text
· Students will be able to explain the theme of the lesson in English.
· Students will be to compare the lesson with the other story/ episode/proverb
· Students will be able to read sandhiyuka words correctly.

Students will be able to write a paragraph based on the words and verbs learnt and
so on.

Methods used for teaching prose

Direct method, grammar translation method, storytelling, and Dramatization