Frequently Asked Questions

Note - High School Students must submit an application form to the school district and their counselor for approval for this class by first week of school. Send email to hindionline@comcast.net to request a copy of the application form.

Q - How can parents be sure about the approval and credits by Fremont Unified School District?

A copy of the page is posted here from FUSD Board of Education meeting on May 23rd when this item was approved by the board.

http://www.insidebayarea.com/search/ci_6402271?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com

We have highly qualified teachers, but we are not required to find credentialed teachers.

Q - How can the teachers be credentialed for Hindi?

Setting credential standards and finding credentialed teachers is like a catch 22. Currently there is no CSET (California Subject Examination for Teachers) to prove subject proficiency, but I know it will happen in next 3-5 years.

Q - Why wouldn't the district offer a class in Hindi as against letting a private institution offer it?

Apparently it is very expensive for districts to introduce new programs/classes. They have to hire teachers for multiple levels.

I am sure once we can prove the strength in interest for Hindi language, they will hire and implement the program, but this might take a few years.

As a private institution, we will probably be monitored closely, but it does not cost the district a single penny.

I understand that Mandarin started in the same way. Even when schools start to offer the program as part of their curriculum, accredited private institutions can still offer the classes.

Q - Do you have approved books and curriculum?

We did not have to get the books approved, only the curriculum.

I have reviewed a few books that are available in the market. A group of us is currently working on putting material together for our first batch of middle and high school students. Mr. Arun Prakash of Houston, Texas has also put some material together for high school students, and we are seriously considering his material for this year.

MBK Language Center is a non-profit organization. There is no State or Federal funding available for these classes right now, and the organization is incurring expenses for teacher salary, facility rental, insurance, marketing, planning, hiring and training teachers, and much much more. Fees collected are used to cover these expenses.

The curriculum or course of study was approved by FUSD Board of Education in Board meeting on May 23rd.

Linh Tat, a reporter from The Argus covered the story on Wednesday July 18th, and has interviewed Dr. Brown of FUSD, and confirmed the accreditation status of these courses.

Q - Can I take Hindi for Foreign Language Credit in place of the foreign language courses offered through my school?

Yes, Madhu Bhasha Kendra in partnership with India Community Center submitted the curriculum for three years of course of study for Hindi as Foreign Language, and the curriculum submitted has been accredited by the UC System and FUSD Board of Education.

The community response has been overwhelmingly positive. It took so much time and effort and paperwork to get to this stage, we expect to make it a success for everyone.

These classes are for every one. We are hoping to work with federal institutions like FAFSA for student grants. For those in need of financial help, write to the director of language programs Madhu Aggarwal to discuss options.

Teachers are carefully selected for this program, and are required to meet the state and district standards for teaching as a substitute. There is no credential program or standard test in place right now for qualified teachers to prove their knowledge and proficiency in Hindi, but selected teachers are getting training and guidance from experts in this field. All elementary and secondary school teachers of Indian languages at ICC attended a 4 day workshop in Oral Proficiency Interview offered by American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages (www.ACTFL.org). Teachers are required to attend a summer workshop to share thoughts and ideas for effective, well planned lessons.

Have a question? Please write to Madhu Aggarwal, Director of Language Programs at MBK.

Madhu Aggarwal wrote the curriculum outline for three year program with help from Dr. Duarte Silva, Executive director or California Language Teacher Association. Curriculum was also reviewed and approved by Mrs. Usha Jain, professor of Hindi at UC Berkeley, and by Mrs. Gyanam Mahajan, professor of Hindi/Urdu at UCLA.

Madhu is part of a ten member team writing National Standards for Hindi Language for a chapter to be added to 'National Standards for Foreign Languages in the 21st Century' published by American Council of Teachers of Foreign Language.

Madhu has been teaching Hindi in Fremont since 1987, and has been offering Hindi as an after-school program in the Bay Area Schools since 1999.