Singapore-based teacher launches free website to help students learn Tamil

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Screengrab from www.sorkkal.com, a free website to learn Tamil, launched in Singapore. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Screengrab from www.sorkkal.com, a free website to learn Tamil, launched in Singapore. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Having spent over 40 years as a teacher, P.M.A. Amanullah, a Singapore national, has launched www.sorkkal.com , a website that he hopes will help more people learn Tamil easily.

“Three years ago, I designed a set of webpages to help my school-going granddaughter with her Tamil lessons in Singapore. Later, I realised that perhaps this could be expanded to benefit a wider group of people, especially those of Indian origin settled abroad,” Mr. Amanullah told The Hindu over telephone on Saturday.

The website has been developed by Mr. Amanullah,and was launched in Singapore earlier this week. It is available globally, and is free of charge to users.

“Language learning has four parts: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The website has 46 activities that work on these four verticals, compatible for users of all ages. It is a self-learning method where artificial intelligence (AI) tools help students test their progress through audio and writing modules,” he said.

“Based on user feedback, we will tweak the features and add more lessons if required. The aim is to help students understand the concepts through any available device, whether personal computers, laptops or smartphones,” Mr. Amanullah said.

A native of Koothanallur in Tiruvarur district, Mr. Amanullah studied Mathematics at Jamal Mohamed College in Tiruchi from 1981 to 1986, and worked briefly as a teacher in his alma mater. He migrated to Singapore 36 years ago with his family.

“I noticed that many Tamil-origin children abroad tend to speak English more often than their own native language. Even their thought processes are influenced by English. Engaging tuition teachers is expensive. The website will help parents and children to connect better through their mother tongue,” said Mr. Amanullah.

The portal has been kept free for a reason. “It is basically to benefit students. I have been a teacher for 40 years, and make my living from education. This website is a way for me to give back to the community,” he said.

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