Word Munchers at a Glance

Empowering Expression through Language Proficiency

Word Munchers is an organisation committed to enriching the language skills of all its students through diverse programmes designed to enhance language skills across various domains.

Our interactive sessions are designed to hone:
• Creative writing
• Communication
• Reading
• Critical thinking skills through long-term as well as short-term programs, workshops and bespoke modules.

Vision

To cultivate a lifelong interest in language development by creating an atmosphere conducive to intellectual growth and creativity.

Mission

The aim of Word Munchers is to provide world class language enrichment programmes to children and adults resulting in language proficiency, intellectual stimulation and to foster self expression.

12+

Years of
Literary Journey

1000+

Students

8+

Mentors

50+

Students Won
Writing Awards

20+

Curated Workshops

500+

Students Published

The Proud Moments

Trusted by as young as 6 years and as old as 60+ to enrich their language skills and creative expression.

Word Munchers also mentors students on:

• College application essays
• Research papers
• Curriculum shifts

Word Munchers conducts:

• Corporate training
• Business communication projects

what we offer

Our Comprehensive Offerings

These courses help participants refine language skills and develop critical thinking and creative self-expression.

Creative Writing and Language Development Classes

  • Introduction to exciting topics
  • Explore diverse genres
  • Experiment with styles of writing
  • Effective description
  • Independent thinking and ideation
  • Exposure to new vocabulary

WM League

  • Prioritise reading
  • Enhance comprehension
  • Vocabulary development
  • Understanding plot and characters
  • Expressing opinion
  • Creating a reading habit

WM Impact

  • Conversation skills
  • Creative and critical thinking
  • Building confidence
  • Express views and opinions
  • Fluency
  • Empower speakers

WM Magic

  • Enriching Vocabulary
  • Strengthening grammar base
  • Understanding structure, use and meaning
  • Comprehend and construct texts
  • Support verbal and written communication
  • Life skills

Young Adults

  • Bespoke group and individual classes
  • Develop creative writing skills
  • English language proficiency
  • Business communication
  • Corporate training
  • College essay mentorship

Iconic Workshops

  • Story building
  • Plot Settings
  • Character Building
  • Dramatised Reading
  • Interactive Activities
  • Essay Competition Mentorship
  • College Essays
  • Mind Map Mania
  • Mind Boost
  • Training Students for School Entrance Exam
  • Training Students for IGCSE

Corporate World

  • Social Expressions
  • Corporate Speak
  • Effective Communication
  • Business Writing
  • Business Presentation
  • Enhanced skills crucial for making a lasting impact on clients, stakeholders and peers.
Our ventures

WM Spreading its Wings and Scaling New Heights

Word Munchers expands globally, serving schools and Indian Army, while also curating programms for city clubs. Breaking boundaries, we blend education and inspiration at every step.

WM TRAVELS TO ANTWERP, BELGIUM

WM is fast going global!
The organisation has launched a dynamic creative writing programme in Antwerp, Belgium.

WM IN SCHOOLS

Word Munchers makes its presence in schools, embarking on an ambitious project in the MSB schools across India and abroad.

STORY WRITING WITH ARMY KIDS

Word Munchers conducted a story-writing camp Breathe in Nature, under the aegis of AWWA Kharga for children of 8-16 years.
The module included 3 sessions of one hour each in which students learned the nuances of writing and completed a story connected to nature.

BENGAL ROWING CAMP

Word Munchers successfully mentored over 60 students to write fantasy stories of a publishable standard over 4 days, which are now available in the form of a book called Wizards, Wands and Wonder in bookstores and e-platforms.
This book was launched at Bengal Rowing Club LitFest as well as at Starmark bookstore.

Language Enrichment Experiences

Platforms to Showcase the Talent of the WM Children

Along with our classes, we curate events where children shine alongside published authors and educators. At WM, we believe that it is not just about teaching but also about fostering peer support and providing a stage for budding talents to blossom. At WM, every voice matters, and every talent is celebrated, creating a space where learning and creativity intertwine seamlessly.

Books & Fun

Open Mic

Charity Bazaar

WM Anthology

Poetree

Literary Picnic

THE WM TEAM

Meet our Facilitators

Our team is dedicated to fostering language proficiency and excellence in communication. We believe in the transformative power of language and its ability to empower individuals to express themselves effectively.

Richa Wahi

Proprietor

Papia Ghosh

coordinator

Prerna Kaul

TEACHER

Surabhi Mehrotra

TEACHER

Shweta Sachdeva

TEACHER

Bali D Sanghvi

City head

Anusha Singhania

TEACHER

Anuradha Kapoor

TEACHER

OUR STAKEHOLDERS

A Committed Effort at Creative Excellence

In our journey to nurture student potential, we stand as a unified force—partners, educators, parents, and collaborators—each playing a vital role in shaping the success of our organisation and the futures of our students.

From the
Teachers’ Desk

Looking through the Lenses of Time. Dr Wayne Dyer famously said, "The greatest gift that you were ever given was the gift of your...

1.

Workshops with
Holistic Approach

Once a year, the WM team meets in Kolkata to conduct offline camps and events for the children, apart from the regular offline and online events...

2.

Our Partners

Word Munchers is dedicated to cultivating partnerships with organisations that share its vision, creating an optimal environment for children to thrive...

3.
WHAT KEEPS US GOING

HEART-WARMING REVIEWS

Each testimonial and commendation we receive from our students, parents, and partners drives us to perform better.
They inspire and fuel our dedication to our mission.

Our children - Prisha (11 years) and Kiyansh (6 years) have been attending classes at
Word Munchers for the last several years. Richa Ma'am and the entire team have made learning an interactive and unique experience for them. They constantly work...

Neha and Gaurav Mehra

Parents

Journey with Word Munchers.

I went on a long journey,
Journey with Word Munchers,
Word Munchers with whom my brain,
Brain will never make any blunders.
With them I Iearned English,
English in which I won’t make mistake
Mistake my ‘the’ with an ‘and’...

Insiyah Amin

Student

Dear Ms. Wahi,
Greetings from the Embassy of Spain in India.

I am writing this letter to express, on behalf of all the Spanish authors, artists and institutions involved in the organization of the Book Fair, my heartfelt gratitude for your exemplary contribution...

Jose Maria Ridao

Partner

CREATIVE CORNER

WM Students’ Creative Expressions

At Word Munchers, we celebrate the blossoming journey of our young writers by showcasing their works of creativity and imagination. Each piece displayed is a testament of their growth, inspiring them to flourish further on their writing path.

Raindrops

Pellucid crystals of water Drenching mother with its moisture The very essence of life. Killer of dryness giver...

Read More

Beware the Jabberwock

“Beware the Jabberwock,” they sayTo their sons and daughters, friends and foes,“Rest a while under the Tumtum tree,”...

Read More

The Selfless Trees

Topic: A forest (Poetry Writing) Whisps of emerald and sage, The dappled amber rays shining through, A trace...

Read More

Short Pieces

A. A moonlit night by the sea B. A bustling street market A. The cliff dropped straight down,...

Read More
WM LEARNING SPACES

Our Branches & Platforms

Offline Presence

Storyteller Bookstore
Vrindavan Apartments,
67 A Ballygunge Circular Road,
(opp. Tivoli Court)
Flat 3C, 3rd floor,
Kolkata 700019

Wings, Salt Lake
AE 486 near AE market,
Sector 1

20/4 A Ashwini Dutta Road
Dover Terrace , Ballygunge
Kolkata- 700029
West Bengal

Wings, 6/1 New Road, Alipore, Kolkata 700027

Cube Activity Centre, Sukhsagar Building, 218, Block J,
New Alipore, Kolkata

Online

Mode Zoom

Email address

wordmunchers@gmail.com

Follow us on social media

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Why is teaching an ‘uncool’ choice?

When Bernard Shaw said, ‘ Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach,’ he sealed the fate of all teachers. This statement of his has been floating around for years, and now in its modern avatar sounds something like this – why aren’t you studying? What will you do with your life? Do you want to become a teacher? And it is this sentiment that has percolated so deep into our system that when I started working as a teacher, a well-meaning colleague asked me, “Why did you become a teacher? You could have been anything you wanted.”

And this is the basic problem why we feel that teaching cannot, should not be a sought-after profession. It is the profession we opt for when we have ‘no choice’, when all other options seem bleak, when we’re looking for a convenient job, or for something where we can pass time and earn some money. And who thinks this way? A large part of society, and as a result a large part of the teaching community.

So why is teaching so ‘uncool’? When I tell people that I am a teacher, here are the 3 most standard reactions that I get –

First, it’s an easy job
Second, wow you get so many holidays
Third, lucky you, you get off work so early and have so much free time.

I’d like to discuss these reactions.

It really amuses me when people think teaching is an easy job. Imagine a class of thirty kids, which is a conservative number considering some classes have above 50. So let’s say there are 30 kids – some have amazing grasping power, some no concentration at all, there are a few kids in the classroom who would rather be in the field, then there are some who are trying to understand but it’s taking them longer. Yet that chapter or concept has to be taught and the children have to be graded as per the academic systems put in place by the school. And if the kids don’t do well then of course we are ready to say that there was something wrong in the way the lesson was taught. But to be honest with you, teaching is definitely the easiest part of a teacher’s job.

What else do teachers do apart from teach? We make a difference in the lives of students. We explain to a child who hasn’t done well that it is not the end of the world. We motivate a child who has done well to excel further. We crawl under desks to find the sharpner that a 5 year old has lost probably for the third time in the day. We encourage students to dream big, to make choices with confidence and to accept the consequences of their choices. We celebrate victories and teach children to accept failures and learn from them. We inculcate values in them. We work towards keeping them safe. We call your children our kids, and to a large extent allow adults to outsource parenting to us. We often hear statements like, “Bye mom, ma’am is waiting,” as our brats rush out of the classroom. We stretch our students to enable them to explore and determine their own potential. And let’s not forget that none of this falls under our job description or is included in our appointment letters. Do we still think teaching is an easy job!

Oh how we’re grudged our holidays! Summer break, Winter break, Puja break, mid-term break, government holidays – it seems like we’re never working. Do you know we also get medical leave? But we cannot afford to get sick. If a teacher doesn’t show up for class, the class doesn’t move forward. So when the doctor says mandatory one week bed rest, we’re at work on day 3. We cannot take off for lunch on a working day, or say we’re stepping out and will be back in an hour. If our own children have Sports Day and our school has a Parent Teachers Meet, guess where we’re going to be? When school closes those who teach senior classes come in to offer extra assistance to older kids so that our kids can perform better during exams. Vacations are also used to prepare lesson plans, finish corrections, assess projects in order to lighten the load when the term starts. And yes, strange as it may sound to some, we too have friends and family. And we do enjoy travelling. We work and then earn our rest, even though we’re supposedly doing an easy job.

Of course we get over early! We, on an average, clock in around 6 hours a day, as opposed to the person working in the office who spends around 9-10 hours away. But what is it that we do after school? Netflix and coffee! Apart from lugging back home corrections and developing lesson plans which we cannot finish in school because the free periods in our time tables are few and far between, we also find ways to supplement our incomes. There are teachers who go after working hours to tutorial centres, to residences, or work from their residence to bridge the income gap between what a teacher’s salary can afford and the life we want to provide for our families and ourselves. Think back to your tuition classes, some of which have ended even at 9 pm. Think back to those frantic phone calls where you’ve requested ma’am or sir to please spare extra time as the exams were around the corner and you needed revision. Think back to when you’ve requested for a Saturday evening or a Sunday morning class because that’s when you’re free. But we accommodate your requests, because teaching is not simply an easy job, it’s a responsibility.

What can we do about this situation? What can we do to start getting society to acknowledge the commitment and effort made by teachers? What can we do to get teachers to realize the invaluable contribution they make in our lives? We can start by not saying or supporting statements like – you better study and get good grades otherwise you won’t be able to do anything in life and you’ll land up being a teacher. We can stop questioning people’s choices to be teachers. Instead of telling someone there’s no money in teaching we can allow him or her to find ways and means to follow a career they’re passionate about. We can say thank you to the teachers who have worked with us and let them know that they’ve definitely played an important role in our lives and helped us become who we are.

And there’s so much that we teachers get back in return. Most of the times, I won’t dare say all the times, the children are happy to see us! I remember my kids waiting to walk with me to the bus every afternoon because the little chat at the end of the day was important. Or in my first year as a teacher a nine year old offered me his free pizza coupon as a birthday gift. And no matter how deep the dark circles are or how frizzy the hair is, there’s always some kid who will come by and say, “Ma’am, you look so beautiful.” A young man I taught when he was a young boy still sends me the most heart warming Teacher’s Day messages. And as if to reassure me that I am popular with my students, one of the brats has informed me that if I were to die my funeral would be well attended.

A few years ago I attended a Christmas Eve party and as we sat around the bonfire we introduced ourselves. Someone was an engineer, someone was a banker, another was a lawyer. When it was my turn I said, “I’m a teacher.” For a fraction of a second there was silence, then a guest recalled a teacher from his school days, then someone else shared an anecdote – some inspiring, some comical. And as I sat back soaking in the warmth of the bonfire enjoying the discussion, I thought, even a few decades later we remember those who taught us. Our teachers continue to live on in our stories. How cool is that!

Richa Wahi
Proprietor

Once a year, the WM team meets in Kolkata to conduct offline camps and events for the children, apart from the regular offline and online events. In keeping with the spirit of Word Munchers, we offered specialised communication training through fun camps. During the recent term break, we hosted a series of engaging offline workshops aimed at enhancing children’s skills and providing a fun break from studies. Some of these were Debate and MUN camps, spelling and vocabulary camps, reading and dramatised reading camps, elocution, writing and more! Word Munchers' term break camp focused on specialised communication training, giving students a head start for the upcoming academic year. We believe nothing is more crucial for a child's development than strong communication skills.

"These Kids Can Write" is a collection of writings by our students. The anthology is an annual project that provides a platform to our students to showcase their writings and also encourages them to write more and write better. The book is a compilation of stories, poetries and essays.

This year (2024) would be the 6th edition of the anthology.

Literary Skill Building through Workshops

Junior Classic Series
Age group: 6 years and above
Mode: Hybrid

Word Munchers promotes reading camps where children participate in discussions, reviews, read-aloud sessions and role plays of the books read. The objective is -
• Enriched vocabulary
• Train the children to think creatively
Some of the books that were read and discussed:
The White Fang | The Treasure Island| Tom Sawyer| Around the World in 80 Days

Word Munchers hosted an innovative picnic combining creative learning with fun in January 2023 at Ballygunge.

Students were introduced to renowned authors across the nation. Well- known authors; Madhurima Vidyarthi, Anushka Ravishankar and Vishes Kothari graced the event.

Story telling sessions were also held by Swati Kheria and Kavita Gupta.

Students of Word Munchers showcased their creativity at the opening session of the Bengal Rowing Club Literary Festival. They penned down poetry and adorned a “tree” with their literary creations.          

Charity Bazaar is an annual initiative by Word Munchers. It is a community initiative, where children of all age groups can participate. They have to book their stall. 

Objective

  • Teaches students entrepreneurship skills
  • Raises funds for charitable causes
  • The event boasts of games, handicrafts and food stalls.

(Charity Bazaar 2024 was organised in partnership with Creative Caterpillar and Mirror Workshops.)

A platform to showcase your talent

  • The children read out to an audience.
  • Confidence building
  • Self-expression

Word Munchers students participated in the Open Mic organised in collaboration with Storyteller Bookstore. Kabir Bedi was the chief guest on the occasion of his book launch, “Stories I Must Tell”. The WM students interacted with the actor during the book signing. The event was held on July 19 at the Waypoint Café.

Students of Word Munchers recited poems written by them for Shobha Srinivasan, an award-winning children’s author.  The Open Mic was held on July 26 at Ballygunge.