Gone are the days when it was a common sight to find youngsters swaying back and forth in a classroom, holding their slates, and parroting chants such as, ``two ones are two.'' Endless repetition, in a loud voice, was then considered the mantra for learning.

Now, schools are trying to bring fun back into the classrooms, and to make learning as interactive as possible. Be it English, maths, science or history the focus is on trying out new teaching methods and aids to sustain the interest of young learners.

In an age of SMS, teaching English particularly, is a challenge. As Usha Ram, principal of Laxman Public School, puts it, students are shying away from learning grammar as the language has turned more colloquial. ``Kids are asked to do exercises in a workbook to learn the language together with the literature. We are making the language applicationoriented and functional,'' says Ram.

Though English has become the dominant language of communication in India call it the legacy of colonial rulers or a gift of globalisation picking up correct oral and writing skills is not a cakewalk, as it is after all a second or foreign language. But innovation in teaching methods can make learning easier and more fun.

``English is the most vibrant subject, endless experiments can be done in the pedagogy,'' says Shyama Chona, principal of DPS, R K Puram.

One learns best through activity-oriented lessons, says Chona, ``For example, while studying `Daffodils', students are asked to write four lines about their favourite flower. This helps us to assess whether the child can write correct English while putting down his thoughts in paper.''