Week 30, 2025

Summary

Successfully cleared s2s S1 level exams with A+ grade (over 95%), which feels fantastic. Since it included a सम्भाषणम् test, I am glad I was fluent enough to clear that. Attending an in-person immersive camp was also a huge advantage, since we got to learn so much from just being around. The sad reality is that once the classes ended, we have stopped practice.

Progress

Over the weeks following my last update, we completed the rest of the विभक्ति lessons. I think I have a good grip on them, but I don’t think I know all of it. Since it was grammar heavy, I felt that it became harder to keep my family motivated to keep going. But, I am sure, with time, things will improve.

The exams were very interesting. The written exam coincided with the immersive camp, so we requested an alternative time. The questions were tricky at times, but I think I got nearly all but a few of them right, which was a great relief. The oral exam was fun to prepare for, though I did it last minute (as usual). My assigned partner was cooperative, so the process was smooth for me (though not at all for some others I know).

Just before the exams, we took part in the Gangotri shibiram, and it was one of the best weekends I’ve had ever. The whole community was welcoming, and we shone through the levels we were registered in. Our skit at the end was also a great success, and we got to meet many inspiring people. I can’t wait to continue to engage with this group or similar ones where ever I go. It was such a big upgrade from online classes, and the amount of peer learning was incredible. The main reason I got familiar with speaking was the exposure we got that weekend, and for a few days after, I naturally spoke Samskritam even in regular settings. It has provided enough motivation to keep continuing our pursuit.

Future Projects

I want to create an audio repository of the stories in पञ्चतन्त्र कथाः as well as other story books I know, so that I can loop them often. There are some pre-existing resources, but they all lack a few things here and there.

I also want to create a recap video of my S1 level portions before we begin S2, just so that it will serve as a quick reminder for key concepts.

Thoughts

If you ask me to take the exams today, I will not do as well. I am sure I can try to keep up a conversation, but I certainly will lack quite a bit of fluency. Going forward, I hope to establish a routine for daily exposure to some form of Sanskrit, even if it’s only for a few minutes.

Overall, I am pretty pleased that this journey is a proper part of my life now.