Interview by: Zahra
khuzema
B.S part III Roll# 103
Nov 5, 2013 at 9:31 PM
Aiming
to Promote Education
Miss Fatema Modi, head of Assessment
Department, Habib School Girls Karachi. In her busy schedule she wrote three
academic books for the deprived children. She aims that every child in our
country should not face the consequences of illiteracy.
1. Did you choose to write or someone made
you to write?
The principal of my school, Ms. Nargis Alavi,
recommended my name to TCF in the year 2009 when they were in search of people
to write a very comprehensive teacher’s guide for English of grades IV and V.
(TCF is a professionally managed, non-profit
organization set up in 1995 by a group of citizens concerned with the dismal
state of education in Pakistan. It promotes education to the deprived children
of Pakistan, thereby removing barriers of class and privilege.
It was a challenge for me as it was the
first time for me to be a writer.
2. When was the first book of yours
published?
The first two books were published in April
2009 by Noorani publishers. The third book for the series ‘Advance with
English’ was published in the year 2011.
3. What was the hardest part of writing
this book?
It was a learning experience for me to bring
my level down for the deprived ones and thing according to their needs. It was
hours and hours of research – books, internet, talking aloud sessions with
teachers and coordinators. I felt the thrill of the challenge till the very
last full stop of the books.
4. What did you enjoy most about writing
this book?
Planning a lesson always fascinates me. I used
my creativity to its optimum for animated, learning lessons and then compiling
the collected data into its related skill, i.e. speaking, reading, listening,
writing, grammar and vocabulary.
5. Are there any concepts in your books
that are new to the reader?
For TCF teachers, there were a lot of new
words and ideas; but the best part was that they showed their keenness to learn
and adapt all. I have provided a glossary for vocabulary, and names of books
and websites for references.
7. What process did you go through to
get your book published?
I
was assigned by the TCF so the technicalities with the publishers were handled
by them only. But yes, I definitely was involved at every step with them.
8.
What do you like to read in your free time?
I
enjoy all kind of reading – light to heavy – according to my mood. Paulo Coelho
and Mitch Albom are one of my favorite writers. Amongst the many favorite
books, Alchemist, Harry Potter series, Eat-Pray-Love by Elizabeth Gilbert,
Tuesdays with Morrie, Have a little Faith, Seven Habits of Highly Effective
Teenagers by Sean Covey, Daughters of Arabia by Jean Sasson, Kane and Abel by
Jeffery Archer, etc.
9. What are your plans for future?
As a professional, I aim to make headway in my forte i.e. Formative
Assessment. Also, I would love to write more for the classrooms and teachers.
10. What do you think is the future of
reading and writing?
The culture of reading has generally gone down.
We teach children to read and to inculcate the habit of reading for pleasure.
We need to equip them with books that they enjoy, giving them access to those
books. The first place for this is school. Good readers would eventually
produce good writers.
ORIGINAL:
Aimimg
to Promote Education
Miss Fatema Modi, head of Assessment
Department, Habib School Girls Karachi. In her busy schedule she wrote three
academic books for the deprived children. She aims that every child in our
country should not face the consequences of illiteracy.
1. Did you choose to write or someone made
you to write?
The principal of my school, Ms. Nargis Alavi,
recommended my name to TCF in the year 2009 when they were in search of people
to write a very comprehensive teacher’s guide for English of grades IV and V.
(TCF is a professionally managed, non-profit
organization set up in 1995 by a group of citizens concerned with the dismal
state of education in Pakistan. It promotes education to the deprived children
of Pakistan, thereby removing barriers of class and privilege. The teachers are
fully occupied with their time in the campus; therefore, it is difficult for
them to take out time to plan effectively. A detailed, step by step, guidance
with complete resources was the need of the hour.)
It was a challenge for me as it was the
first time for me to be a writer- J - and also, I did not want to let down my
principal’s trust in my talent.
2. When was the first book of yours
published ?
The first two books were published in April
2009 by Noorani publishers. The third book for the series ‘Advance with English’
was published in the year 2011.
3. What kind of books have you written?
Teachers’ guides for English of classes IV, V
and VI. Academics related.
4. What was the hardest part of writing
this book?
I
had to visit the TCF schools, to be in the classrooms, and then only I could
perceive the challenges of the teachers as well as the time allocation for
lessons to be conducted in the class. It was a learning experience for me to
bring my level down for the deprived ones and thing according to their needs.
It was hours and hours of research – books, internet, talking aloud sessions
with teachers, coordinators, etc. But without doubt, I felt the thrill of the
challenge till the very last full stop of the books.
5. What did you enjoy most about writing
this book?
Planning a lesson always fascinates me. I used
my creativity to its optimum for animated, learning lessons and then compiling
the collected data into its related skill, i.e. speaking, reading, listening,
writing, grammar and vocabulary.
6. Are there any vocabulary words or
concepts in your books that may b new to the reader?
For TCF teachers, there were a lot of new
words, concepts and ideas completely new; but the best part was that they gave
me such a positive response by accepting and showing their keenness to learn
and adapt all. I have provided a glossary for vocabulary, and names of books
and websites for references.
7. What did you find most useful while writing this book?
My own perception augmented and a whole new
world opened before me for exploration. I got to see a world which most of the
blessed ones simply watch for a while on TV or read about it in books. While
visiting one of the TCF set up, as I was observing a class, a child fainted.
After she was taken care of, I came to know that the child had not eaten
anything for the last 36 hours. ‘Stunned’ is the only word to describe my
feelings at that moment. Sharing this incident anywhere and anytime still
brings tears to my eyes. From that day on, I often pep talk about the deprived
ones with my children to make them realize how blessed we are.
8. What process did you go through to
get your book published?
I
didn’t have to do much. I was assigned by the TCF so the technicalities with
the publishers were handled by them only. But yes, I definitely was involved at
each and every step with them.
9.
What do u like to read in your free time?
I
enjoy all kind of reading – light to heavy – according to my mood. Paulo Coelho
and Mitch Albom are one of my favourite writers. Amongst the many favourite
books, Alchemist, Harry Potter series, Eat-Pray-Love by Elizabeth Gilbert,
Tuesdays with Morrie, Have a little Faith, Seven Habits of Highly Effective
Teenagers by Sean Covey, Daughters of Arabia by Jean Sasson, Kane and Abel by
Jeffery Archer, etc.
10. What are your plans for future?
As a professional, I aim to make headway in my forte i.e. Formative
Assessment. Also, I would love to write more for the classrooms and teachers.
11. What do you think is the future of
reading and writing?
The culture of reading has generally gone
down. The simplest way to make sure that we raise literate children is to teach
them to read, and to inculcate the habit of reading for pleasure. We need to
equip them with books that they enjoy, giving them access to those books, and
letting them read them. The first place for this is school. Good readers would
eventually produce good writers.
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