For a beginner, especially a child, reading is often boring in the usual scenario. The initial steps must be interesting to ensure they stay engaged. The initial sounds, words and sentences should be interesting for the kids, that’s the only way to make them sit for learning sessions, Malayalam is a dynamic language, initially, it will only look like curves and symbols, but when we start to realize it becomes more interesting – it feels like a grandmothers’ lullaby, a legend told by grandfather while visiting the ancestral home in Kerala, everything consist of our sweet Malayalam. There is no Malayali without Malayalam. We must be connected to our roots, the main anchor – Malayalam.

If you’re looking for a Malayalam online class for your kids, Akshharam offers a comprehensive plan, with attractive, interactive sessions, so that your kids will love Malayalam with their hearts.

The Alphabets Are Not Scary as it Looks Like

The Malayalam script might appear overwhelming to those seeing it for the first time. It is rounded and fluid and looks nothing like the Roman alphabet. However, the thing that people do not know about it is that it is based on phonetics, that is once you know the sound, what you see is almost what you say.

Malayalam has vowels (സ്വരങ്ങൾ) and consonants (വ്യഞ്ജനങ്ങൾ). Don’t try to intake all 53 sounds at once, instead try to divide them. Here, we are dealing with kids, so we can simply divide the sounds and learn easily.

Simple Words to Begin With

Once your kids have got an idea about the words and its sounding, we will slowly progress to the next step. Once letters are okay for them, we will step to simple short words. These words will become the best friends of your kids, they will have heard it, but now we present them in a new visual form along with the script. Try with:

Animals(മൃഗങ്ങൾ)

• പശു - pashu — cow
• പൂച്ച - poocha - cat
•  കാക്ക - Kaakka - Crow
• കുരങ്ങ് - kurangu – monkey

Family (കുടുംബം)

• അമ്മ - amma - mother
• അച്ഛൻ - achan - father
• അനിയൻ - aniyan - younger brother
• ചേച്ചി - chechi - older sister

Everyday Objects

• പുസ്തകം - pusthakam - book
• വീട് - veedu - house
• വെള്ളം - vellam - water
• ഭക്ഷണം - bhakshanam – food

Your kids have already heard these words, using such words is encouraged in the case of beginners. While seeing the words, the kids should not feel like meeting a stranger. They should feel it like a known person, but in another form.

The Next Step – Sentences

If the words are satisfying. Sentences give the impression of opening a door. Malayalam sentence construction generally follows the pattern of Subject, Object, Verb, unlike English, but let's not bother about the grammar for now. we will just focus on reading, indulge in reading, so your kids can read without any hindrance.

• അമ്മ വരുന്നു - Amma varunnu - Mother is coming.

• ഞാൻ വെള്ളം കുടിക്കുന്നു - Njaan vellam kudikkunnu - I am drinking water.

• കുട്ടി പുസ്തകം വായിക്കുന്നു - Kutti pusthakam vaayikkunnu - The child is reading a book.

Read these sentences aloud, it's not just advice. Ears will definitely help your eyes in the further learning process.

How The Practice Sessions Must Be?

Ten minutes daily will take you far beyond one hour on weekends. The human brain retains knowledge more effectively if it goes through the process repeatedly. This concept applies particularly well to script-based learning since skills are acquired slowly.

Harishree (ഹരിശ്രീ), which is offered by Akshharam as part of its initial learning program, operates on the same principle described above. The curriculum aims at acquiring the ability to recognize and understand different sounds and their alphabets before advancing to short words. No pressure will be placed on the kids as worksheets, periodic assessments, and individual attention ensure that any weaknesses are identified and attended to without causing undue stress. For kids from non-Kerala backgrounds, Akshharam will be the place where it is easy to learn Malayalam for beginners, specifically designed for kids.

Some Common Mistakes Committed While Learning & How to Overcome

1. Attempting to perfect your pronunciation even before you begin reading. You’ll get used to it while doing it. Just start reading and the sounds will come out.

2. Jumping into transliteration too soon or too late - It is just a stepping stone. Do it initially, but let yourself outgrow it once you’ve become familiar with the script.

3. Reading only when studying. Utilize every chance, read the names on food packets in your pantry, the names of that lullaby, etc.

Only Slow Progress Leads to Permanent Changes

Reading is merely an entry point. When simple words start feeling natural, the next step will be constructing short and simple sentences, conjugating verbs, and ultimately engaging in conversation. It may sound far off, but it really isn't that distant a future.

The path of education provided by Akshharam starts with the basic knowledge taught in Harishree and ends with Vaayanashaala (reading and writing fluency), Thoolika (sentence building and grammar), and Kilikonchal (practice in real-time conversations). As always, each subsequent level presupposes the previous one. A linear pathway is followed for ease of understanding.

If you are one of the parents in the Malayali diaspora, the Malayalam script awaits you, a structural learning practice by Akshharam is the only thing your kid needs, nothing more.