Tips to Teach Hindi Matra (Vowels in Hindi)

Hindi matras can be very confusing and it is essential that the concept is clear from the beginning. Hindi matras are usually taught in school from senior KG or Class 1, when the child is beginning to read and write Hindi. Hindi matras are symbols associated with each swar or sound in Hindi and the word is pronounced according to the matra linked to each letter. The sound pronounced is that of the swar that the matra is associated with. Here are some tips for you to teach Hindi matras.

Read aloud

While teaching and practicing Hindi matras, pronunciation is the key. The best way to teach pronunciation and sound is by reading aloud. It helps the child understand how a word is pronounced thus helping him or her understand how a matra is used with that word. There are two types of sounds in Hindi, short and long, and each matra is pronounced accordingly. For example, ‘u ki matra’ has a short sound while ‘oo ki matra’ has a long sound. This concept can be quite confusing and reading words for each matra will help your child understand which matra to put depending on how it is pronounced.

Read while writing

Hindi worksheets for class 1 are a handy tool to help your child practice writing matras in Hindi. There are a variety of Hindi worksheets for class 1 available online, including writing, tracing, picture worksheets, matching, coloring and so on. Using these worksheets your child can practice in many different ways. Make your child read while writing including the matras, similar to how he or she spells in English. For example, while writing he or she should say the matras and letters in the order in which they are written. This way your child will not only learn the pronunciation of a word but also how to spell it. When using Hindi worksheets for class 1 it is suggested that you use worksheets for one matra at a time and follow the sequence as per school curriculum.

Practice to avoid confusion

Kids often get confused between similar matras. For instance, ‘badi ekimatra’ and ‘choti ekimatra’ are written in very similar ways, the first one comes on the left of a letter and the second one on the right of a letter. The symbols being mirror images of each other, it is confusing for a child to understand which matra to use. To avoid this confusion make sure your child understands how the pronunciation and sound changes with each matra. Making him or her understand the difference and practicing this in the beginning itself will ensure that there is no mix-up while writing the matras.

Practice using dictation

Dictation is a method where you will say a word aloud and your child will write it. This is a good method to make your child understand the difference between short and long sounds, understand the sound and write the matras accordingly. Writing barakhadi is a good way to begin, where you ask your child to write the matras with every alphabet of Hindi language and also pronounce it while writing.

Practice using pictures

Using Hindi worksheets with pictures is also another option to make your child practice writing without looking at a word. In this method, ask your child to look at a picture and write what he or she sees in the picture. Ask him to read aloud so you know he or she is pronouncing it correctly. Only correct pronunciation will make sure that he or she is using correct matra while writing a word.

While Hindi language may seem overwhelming in the beginning, consistent practice will ensure that your child understands the correct usage of matras in Hindi. There are many different ways in which you can teach to see what method works best for your child. Using the above tips and a variety of teaching resources you can make sure your child is able to avoid confusion and clearly understand the concept. Get a FREE subscription of 3 months today!

Sheetal is the author of this article on english worksheets for class 2.