Class 8 English Chapter 6 A New Day, A New Way
Subject: English
Board: SEBA Assam
Medium: English
Introduction
Seema Deka is a working mother who lives with her daughter Swati. One evening Seema feels worried because she has to pay twelve thousand rupees for Swati’s school fees, but her salary will be delayed. Seema sits thinking about how she will manage. Swati notices her mother’s worry and asks what the matter is.
Seema explains her problem. Swati’s calm and hopeful attitude surprises Seema even though Swati is only in class ten she sounds mature and confident. Swati tells her mother about a lady from a local NGO who visited their school to talk about entrepreneurship and self-reliance. Swati suggests she could approach the NGO for help.
The next morning Seema meets the lady from the NGO and tells her of her wish to set up a small business to support her family. The NGO, called Brave Mothers, runs vocational training and supports women with small loans and mentoring. The lady explains different vocational options toy making, embroidery, tailoring, cookery and catering and offers Seema training and a loan to begin.
Seema chooses culinary training because she loves cooking. The NGO assures guidance and a small loan; Seema will be assigned customers and can save money in a bank account opened in her name. Encouraged and supported, Seema begins training and feels hopeful. She returns home filled with new plans and a brighter future.
Short summary
Seema worries about money for her daughter’s fees. With Swati’s idea and help from an NGO, Seema learns a skill, receives training and a loan, and starts a small business showing how self-help, training and support can change lives.
Activities
1. Answer the following questions from the lesson
- Why was Seema upset?
- What did Swati suggest to her mother?
- What happened when Seema met the lady at the NGO office?
- What did the women of ‘Brave Mothers’ do to help Seema?
- What was Seema interested in learning?
- How did the NGO help Seema to start the business?
2. Check your comprehension choose the correct answer
- Seema looked at Swati’s calm and resolute face. Which word best matches resolute?
- (a) sad
- (b) adamant
- (c) brave
- (d) determined, firm
- “I would like to choose culinary training as a vocation.” What is vocation here?
- (a) tailoring
- (b) toy making
- (c) embroidery
- (d) cooking
- Her heart brimmed with new dreams. ‘Brimmed’ most nearly means:
- (a) lacked
- (b) overflowed
- (c) loaded
- (d) exhausted
3. Match the words with their meanings
Draw lines (or write letters) to match column A with column B.
A
- edge
- adored
- jotted
- hugged
- embossed
B
- put one’s arms around somebody to hold them tightly
- wrote something quickly
- a raised design on a fabric
- loved somebody very much
- the outside limit of an object, a surface or area
4. Grammar: Prepositions
Fill the blanks with the correct preposition from the choices given.
- Seema was upset ______ the information. (with / in / by)
- Swati told her ______ a lady who lived here. (about / of / for)
- She asked Seema to see the lady ______ her office. (on / at / by)
- She was the boss ______ the NGO. (for / by / of)
- Swati goes to school ______ bus. (by / on / with)
5. Writing task Letter
Read the example letter (below) that Seema wrote to the bank. Then write a similar letter to the NGO Brave Mothers asking for a loan to start a toy-making business.
To The Branch Manager Assam Co-operative Milan Bank NaharGuri, Assam Date: 1 January 2019 Sub: Application for sanction of a loan amount of Rs 10,000/- Sir, I have been a customer with your bank for over five years. I would like to apply for a personal loan of Rs 10,000/- to set up a catering business. I have done the necessary market survey and have submitted all the necessary documents. I will be very grateful if you could sanction the loan at the earliest. Thank you, and looking forward to hearing from you. Yours faithfully, Seema Deka
6. Speaking / Role play
Work in pairs. Imagine one of you is Swati’s mother and the other is the lady from ‘Brave Mothers’. Write and enact a telephone conversation between them asking for help.
7. Make a signboard / Advertisement
Using information from the lesson design a signboard for the NGO ‘Brave Mothers’ or prepare a small newspaper advertisement for Seema’s catering service.
8. Poem — Recite
A House A Home
What is a house?
It’s brick and stone and wood that’s hard…
(Use the poem to practise recitation and then write a short paragraph about your own home.)
9. Project ideas
- Prepare a poster on “Prevention is better than cure” or “Entrepreneurship for women”.
- Create a short plan showing how a small loan and training can help start a business.
- Make a list of local services a small catering business can offer and estimate startup costs.
10. Vocabulary web
Make a word web for “entrepreneurship” — include related words from the lesson such as: training, loan, mentor, savings, customers, kitchen, catering.