English - Made in Iran

Students call her by different names… Some call her Sara, someone else Zohre. Never mind, she has left it to the students. After all she knows that her name is not easy for a Malayali tongue to pronounce. She is Zohre from Iran, with over 18 years of teaching experience in Kerala. The lady, who doesn’t follow any recognised syllabus for teaching, is now one of the most sought after English Language teachers in Trivandrum, thanks to her earnestness towards the profession.

"I am very particular that they (students) should make improvement in their English language communication skills to my satisfaction and theirs", says Zohre, and this emphasises her commitment towards the job, in-fact a service for her. "I advice my students to read books and watch TV. Like in developing any other faculty, English language learning too requires an upbeat mindset, which I will make them achieve", she adds.

People in between the age-group of 10 to 60 years, coming from all walks of life attend the classes at her residence in Desabhimani Road. The duration equation is simple – one and half hours daily for a month. "But some students may need more time, which I will provide them with free of cost", says Zohre.

Zohre, who initially came for medical education in Rajasthan, ended up with a graduation in zoology. Later, she came to Kerala with her husband, who then was an Engineering student in Trivandrum Engineering College. After securing Post Graduate degree in Sociology from Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupathi, she made up her mind into the field of English language teaching.

She, who doesn’t like to have large classes, now teaches at schools like St. Shantal, Malamukal, and S. F. S. Vizhinjam and industrial institutions like KELTRON, Escube Technologies etc. "Thanks to my two-wheeler, which helps me reach all these places on time", says Zohre.

Apart from Spoken English she gives classes for IELTS too. Zohre, from Abadan in southern Iran, is happy with what she is now. "Even though I haven't become a doctor, I am happy with what I am", she concludes.

Text by Kiran S. Nair Designed by Reshmi

Da vinci code'"is not as remarkable as Novel

Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code was an intellectually stimulating novel with a scandalous yet plausible theme. It was an engaging page- turner about the quest for the Holy Grail. But Ron Howard failed to capture the action and suspense of the quest on screen. If you have read the book the movie is bound to be disappointed. And if you haven’t you are lost!

in Time could have been a major limiting factor. There is too much to say in too little time. The first half an hour of the film is a complete mayhem. Everybody seems to be in a hurry to get down to the business of finding the Grail. The script is lousy with underdeveloped characters and situations. Howard makes a desperate attempt to establish the plot right away stealing the drama and intensity of the situation so wonderfully etched out by Dan Brown in the book. Its only after the protagonists confirm the chase for the Grail that the film fallstrack.

Tom Hanks as Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon has done his bit to justify the character. In spite of his dull looks he seems to be genuinely involved in the plot. The celluloid version of Sophie Neveu the super’s mart French cryptologist may not match the one in our imagination. But Audrey Taotou is too attractive a woman to be dismissed. Her portrayal of Sophie may not win the admiration we had for the bold agent in the novel who stood unflinching on the face of tragedy. Instead what we feel for her is the sympathetic affection for a young woman whose only kin has just been murdered.

The best thing that happened to the movie was Paul Bettany as Silas. Bettany breathed life into the murderous albino monk disillusioned by his own life, faith and conscience. Ian McKellen as Sir Liegh Teebing has too much to say and too little to do. The greatest disappointment of the movie though was captain Fache; the aggressive French cop nicknamed “the Bull” for his ferocity and commitment. The Fache of the film is anything but aggressive. He looks more tired than committed. And as for Collet you just wished he were at least a bit younger. The Da Vinci Code is about history and the distortion of it. It’s about the secrets that shake the very foundations of our faith. Thankfully the historical part of the film is rendered convincingly. Judicious use of special effects blended through skillful editing has done the job. The film also has some amazing camerawork. The fascinating places and monuments described passionately by Brown in the book are really worth watching.

The movie Da Vinci Code may not be as remarkable as its print version, but its definitely not a dud. This is evident from the fact that the film continues to attract the ire of fundamentalists around the world. Long queues pouring out of theaters and audiences sitting in rapt attention within are added proof. It’s just that Da Vinci Code was too fast a tale to narrate for the director of ‘A Beautiful Mind’.

Text by Sangeetha Unnithan Designed by Manu