A ballet lesson to improve your algebra skill, wake up the little artist in you to enjoy your English lessons, and take up pool dancing or Russian dancing for a shining report card. Learning just became more fun for the younglings in the city as the classroom turns global, and happening creative hubs that aim to develop global citizens out of the kindergarten kids. How? By inviting faculty and trained educationists from across the globe to give a peek into their culture and define learning, literally.

Since we got introduced to thematic learning, school is no more about textbooks and class tests. Instead it's about cultural and intellect exchange, starting young. "Learning is about widening your horizon, something out of the textbooks. Breaking stereotypes at young age is important," says Mona Shree, director, The British School-44.

In an effort to make their classroom global, they have introduced playful activities as part of classroom activities, inculcating learning through fun way. Their global faculty includes trained teachers from Russia, Poland and the UK. Working with a mantra-- laugh, learn, share and grow, the British School has introduced TASEC-- the after school enrichment centre which conducts activities like arts and crafts, singing, dancing and group activities for its students.

"These teachers help kids develop their oral skills, arts and craft, besides giving an opportunity to learn about different cultures. We also have a student and teacher exchange programme under our global school participation with schools from China, Japan and the UK. Students from class IV onwards can participate and we encourage them to share ideas online," says Mona Shree. Currently they have two foreign teachers, Elena Litvinova from Russia and Kornelia Janik from Poland.

Coming back to the significance of after-school enrichment programme, Geetika Sethi, director, The British School, Panchkula, shares, "Most kids go back home from school and spent their time either in front of a TV or computer. This passive lifestyle affects their well-rounded development. Put the most hyperactive kid in an activity class and see the difference in his academics. And that's what most parents eventually look for."

Atul Khanna, director, Strawberry Fields-26, takes it as an added advantage that works in favour of both, students and teachers. "We have been organising special workshops on music, arts and crafts twice every year, where highly trained professionals from reputed global institutes come and interact with our faculty as well as students." Most of the teachers include Montessori teachers from the UK, teaching German, Spanish, sharing their concepts in teaching and adding value to teaching. "Our programme starts for kids above the age of four and parents can join in too," he adds. And what's the advantage? "These activities bring in clarity and facilitate learning. Also, they bring in commitment from the teachers towards their students' overall development," he says.

Innovative concepts and healthy learning for a child is understood but what's in it for teachers? "The basic problem in India is that teachers training is considered least important. A B. Ed or M.Ed degree defines a teacher. But for better guidance and understanding, a teacher should be confident of the ways and means to get across with his students. That's where these trained professionals come into the picture," says H. S. Mamik, chairperson, Vivek High School-38. Vivek High too invites international faculty for interaction programmes. "We want to create a 'thinking child' and that needs effort. We have plans to tie up with Critical Thinking, an education centre in Canada, for getting more such teachers and professionals on board," he says.

One or two months long workshops give a chance to ask questions, explore the possibilities and expose the young mind to the global concepts. "The faculty members often come back for the feedback," says Mamik. That's presenting a world's eye view for our young comrades.

neha@lifestyletribune.com

A musical bonanza of rainy season, classical melodies concluded waiting for the rains in vain. But the performing maestros gave memorable performances drenching the soul of music lovers with showers of melody, luxury of sur and perfect cadence at the Malharotsva-2009 organised by the Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi and the Indian National Theatre. The Pune-based maestro Arati Anakalikar shared her views on music with Life Style after the concert.

What is the role of the gharana in the making of an artist?

The gharana literally means a particular music tradition or a discipline, formulated to represent their school of performing music with patent features of raga delineation and styles in executing their bandishes. Normally, with three successive generations of its progenitor into the art realm entitle the recognition of a gharana. But the with shedding of conservative attitudes, a new perception and atmosphere of sharing the best of each gharana has emerged. I owe my allegiance to the Agra, Gwalior and Jaipur- Atruli gharana. Incidentally there is no gharana tradition in the South. However, the role of musical traditions should be to ensure that music flows for generations.

With your lyrics in Sanskrit or Hindi, both beyond the grasp of foreigners, how do they relish your recitals?

Music has a language of its own. Besides, our classical music is sublime and all about emotions and I attempt to induce that emotive feel in the performances which were an acid test for me. The foreigners listen with rapt attention just like the audience here.

Do reality shows really inspire youngsters to learn classical music?

Reality shows have nothing to do with classical music or for that matter for any form of music. It's purely business-oriented affair.

Bollywood seldom uses classical compositions. After Sardari Begum, anything new?

Not true. In fact, all songs are composed under the shades of ragas only but their orchestration is western, giving you a different feel. Projects come, but not very encouraging. 

Ram Gopal Varma says he has cut out a smoking scene from a song in his upcoming Agyaat for television after the censor board objected to it. The filmmaker also stressed the movie is a thriller and not a horror flick as people are perceiving it to be from the promos.

"We have altered the song because the censor board thinks it is not viable for audiences of TV, which is a mass medium, though the big screen version might carry it in accordance with the certification of the film. The DVD version will however carry the scene without any doubt," Varma said.

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had asked the director to re-edit the music track "Jai Shri Shambhu" as it encourages substance abuse. The track shows leading lady Priyanka Kothari puffing a chillum (pipe) while she sings Dum Maro, yeh hai Sahara.

This is not the first time Varma has been associated with controversies. He first sparked one when he visited the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel, one of the sites of the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai, with then Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and his actor son Riteish. Protesters thought he was collecting material for a film on the tragedy -- something the director has denied.

He was again in the news when the censor board refused to clear another of his forthcoming films Rann unless he removed a song Jana gana mana rann -- a take-off on the national anthem, which he refused to remove.

Asked if the controversies were coincidental or a publicity gimmick, Varma said: "I take a subject matter which is very hard hitting and obviously many people have problems with that and raise their voice against it. Produced by Varma and Ronnie Screwvala, Agyaat is about a film unit on a shoot in a dense forest and then crew members start getting killed one by one under mysterious circumstances by an invisible creature.

Shot mostly in the Sigiriya jungles of Sri Lanka and the Athirapally forests in Kerala, the film's location was crucial for Varma, considering the invisibility of the creature.

"As the basic point was not to show the creature at all, the location had to make up for most of it. And among all the jungles I've been to in my life, Sigiriya is the most scary of them all where the bulk of the film is shot. "My excitement was also to shoot a jungle, as it has been never done before, which I achieved with the background score, special effects and camera movements," he explained. Varma's future projects include Rakta Charitra and a three-dimensional film. — IANS

Bollywood heartthrob Saif Ali Khan may be playing a casanova in his latest film Love Aaj Kal but the actor says that he tries his best to be an ideal role model for his children.

The actor who has two children with ex-wife Amrita Singh and is currently dating Kambakkht Ishq star Kareena Kapoor says that he tries his best to shield his children from the media frenzy surrounding his life.

"He copies what I do, so I have to be careful with my actions. I don't want to be a bad role model but ultimately the relationship between us is friendly. I want to keep him away from the media as much as possible," says Saif, who is currently in the city promoting Love Aaj Kal.

The 38-year-old star said that his relationship with his son Ibrahim is completely different from the equation he shared with his father, cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.

"My relation with my son is not like my relation with my father as there was gap in our relation when I was younger, but I am more friendly with my son," he said. The actor who is touring the country promoting his debut home production Love Aaj Kal said that he decided to become a producer because he wanted more creative involvement in the process of filmmaking. "Job of an actor is simpler, just finish the shooting and go home, but I wanted to have more creative share of film and wanted to learn more about the industry so entered production," Saif said. — PTI

Jessica Alba has said that she loves watching her 13-month-old daughter Honor Marie, growing up, but she has to be a "constant watchdog" since her kid has started moving. The Sin City star has said that she is constantly on her guard because Honor Marie, who is "her first child with husband Cash Warren", has become "so mobile" in recent weeks. However, the actress has confessed that she sometimes wishes to have more time to appreciate every stage of the tot's development.

"Life moves so fast as a new mom. Sometimes I wish time would slow down," a website quoted her as telling a publication. "Every milestone is memorable, from the numerous wardrobe changes in her first five months due to her explosive diarrhea to the first time she said, 'Mama,'" she said. 

When asked to give advice to other first-time parents, Jessica said to trust your instincts but still listen to advice. She said: "What works for you may not work for others and vice versa. I have also found that it's more useful to stop and listen than to try and always have the answers." — ANI

Jude Law is facing legal action from a photographer whom he allegedly attacked outside a London restaurant recently. The Holiday star was surrounded by snappers as he exited Automat nightclub in the early hours of last Thursday morning, and was pictured lashing out as he tried to get to his car.

The 36-year-old actor was accused of hitting Harsha Gopal on the head, and slapping her in the face when she tried to take his picture. However, the Hollywood heartthrob has since denied the accusations. "This is all nonsense. Last night's incident was an accident. Jude was blinded by the camera flashes when he left the restaurant, raised his hand to shield himself and inadvertently struck somebody standing very close.

He apologised and left. Pictures of this sort can often be misleading," a website quoted a statement from his lawyer, Graham Shear, as saying. However, Gopal reported the incident at Charing Cross police station on Thursday night. She told a paper, "I felt his hand come across my face... There was a massive thud and my face is still stinging."

A police spokesman said: "On the evening of Thursday, a 28-year-old woman attended a central London police station to make an allegation of common assault. The woman alleges that she was assaulted by a man, aged in his 30s, earlier on Thursday. Westminster officers are investigating the allegation." — ANI

A medicinal science that found its origin some 6,000 years ago is being used to cure lifestyle diseases so recent. It doesn't involve popping pills or some serious medication; in fact, all it does is make you integrate the treatment as part of your life. Ayurveda, which first found its mention in Rig Veda, has evolved for sure, in accordance with the changing times.

It provides cure for most of the physiological and psychological disorders irrespective of age of the subjects. "And that makes it a viable option for a large segment of the population. It cures by strengthening the psychosomatic system, a cause behind many problems," informs Dr Ajayita Chanana of Charak Ayurvedic Panchkarma Clinic-44.

So, we have ayurveda curing lifestyle related diseases like depression and stress that also affects the vital body systems. "These days fifty per cent of the patients coming for ayurvedic cure are youngsters as they are more prone to lifestyle diseases. We evaluate them on the stress levels and immune system and then treat them with de-stress therapies accordingly," he says.

Other cause of worry for youngsters is sick building syndrome, a result of unhealthy working conditions. Ajayita adds, "Youngsters from the corporate sector often complain of lethargy, tiredness, swelling in lower extremity of the body and aching eyes. These are the effect of working for 10 to 12 hours on computers in closed air-conditioned rooms and sitting in wrong postures." The ayurvedic treatment of these lifestyle problems is though not very complex. Yogic and breathing exercises that one cam do while sitting on the office chair helps in the elimination of toxins.

Ayurveda also removes toxins from the body that are a cause of various skin related problems. Dr Meenakshi Chauhan, Health Centre-22 says, "Young executives and college-going students prefer ayurvedic skin and hair treatments to allopathic, since the former doesn't have any side effects. Herbal and natural products balance out the harmones and render permanent treatment."

She gets patients suffering from acne, pigmentation and excessive hair fall. "Youngsters are aware that allopathic treatments can be harmful for the body in the long run. To cure hormonal imbalances ayurvedic treatments are beings opted for." Girls are increasingly going for ayurveda for breast enlargement.

In some cases, ayurveda gives faster results than any other medicines. Dr Yuvraj Singh Khullar, Khullar Clinic-44, talks about it, "Urinary-tract infections, acidity and other gastric problems that are a result of unhealthy eating habits can be cured within a day with herbal medicines."

However, before taking on any case, he makes sure to inform the patient about the advantages of ayurveda, "Medicine wouldn't show the desired results unless the patient is confident about it. I convince them before prescribing them any medicine about how effective is ayurveda." We are convinced!

ashima@tribunemail.com

If your child, despite eating several chapattis a day is not gaining height or is losing weight and getting anaemic, the chapattis could be the reason. For many, eating wheat-based products is like inviting plethora of diseases caused by the presence of a protein called gluten.

In a major revelation, experts at PGI have found that that celiac disease, caused by protein gluten present in wheat, that was earlier believed not to afflict Indian population, has an overwhelming presence. A study conducted by the Department of Endocrinology at PGI puts forth that as many as 5,600 patients were tested for celiac disease, out of which 176 patients were of short stature and 27 were confirmed to be suffering from it.

Dr Sanjay Bhadada of the Department of Endocrinology, PGI, who has been working on celiac disease (CD) for years, guides us more about the disease.

The most common cause of short stature in patients is allergy from wheat. While the linear growth is one of most prominent symptoms of the disease, other symptoms can be anaemia, weight loss, persistent diarrhea, delayed puberty and pain in bones.

The cure is rather theoretically simple, but it is difficult to follow in North India, where wheat is the staple food.

What is celiac disease?

Celiac disease is a rapidly growing condition, wherein the body develops an immune reaction or sensitivity to gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and oats. This damages the intestines and reduces the body's ability to absorb food and nutrients. It gradually leads to serious illnesses and malignancies that can be fatal.

Symptoms

In children the most obvious symptom is complaint of stunted growth. If expression of the disease is at a later stage, the patient complains of diarrhoea, abdominal discomfort, constipation, bloating of stomach, low energy, weight loss, joint pains, itchy skin and skin related disorders.

Diagnosis and treatment

This is a highly under diagnosed but fully controllable disease. "Tissue Transglutaminase Antibodies is a blood test that can help detect celiac disease and is fully controllable if the patients follow a strict gluten-free diet.

Hidden dangers

Gluten is found in many other processed foods as well, among them yogurt with fruits, ketchup, cheese spreads, salad dressings, and canned soups. Some food labels may list gluten as an ingredient. Others refer to it by other names. Here's what you need to watch out for. Distilled white vinegar Hydrolysed vegetable protein Malt or malt flavouring Modified starch or modified food starch Monoglycerides and diglycerides Products that list 'natural' or 'flavourings' Red or yellow food dyes Vegetable gum or vegetable protein

anujaj@tribunemail.com