Instructions for Authors of Selected Poems

 Dear participants who have secured A Grade for the Poetry Competition,

1. Regarding Video Recordings of Poems for Youtube

Who can Submit

All the authors of the poems that have secured A grade in the poetry competition can submit their video recordings to be posted on our Youtube channel. See the list of selected authors here. If your name features in this list, your poem is eligible to be posted.

How to Submit

Email your video recording to us at aifestevents@gmail.com . The video should be either attached to the email as a video attachment or shared through Google drive. In the email, mention the following details clearly:

1. Your name (official name. Should be the same as in the id proof you had submitted earlier)

2. The title/first line of your poem

3. Your Category (Category 1 Middle School / Category 2 High School / Category 3 Everyone Else)

Where will the Video Recording be Posted on Youtube

On the Official Youtube Channel of AIFEST. The channel features lectures, talks and various academic programmmes that AIFEST has conducted. Click here to See our Official Youtube Channel. You may subscribe to our channel to receive all future updates. However, subscription or liking the videos is not compulsory.

What Should be the Video Format

The video can be in .mpeg4 /.mp4 / .mov/ .wmv format. 

What Should be the Ideal Duration of the Video

There is no ideal duration. But we recommend that the video be at least of 2 minutes duration minimum. On the maximum, it can be 15 or 20 or 25 minutes, depending on the length of the poem and the kind of introduction you want to give. Basically, AIFEST want you to feel free regarding your creativity :)

Submission of video is not compulsory. If you have any queries, email us at aifestevents@gmail.com However, please make sure that you read the instructions carefully before making a query.

2. Regarding the Poetry Anthology

We are working on compiling and editing the poems for the anthology. There will be separate anthologies for each of the 3 categories. The anthology will be published online and will be made available on Amazon and other online platforms. The anthologies will be published officially in the name of AIFEST and will carry an ISBN number. All the poems that have secured an A Grade in the competition will be included in the anthology. The anthologies are expected to be published by 25th December 2020. All details will be updated on this blog itself. Stay tuned. 

If you don't wish to include your poem in the anthology, please inform us before 26th November via email to aifestevents@gmail.com

3. Regarding E-certificates

E-certificates have been distributed to all the winners 

4. Regarding Membership to AIFEST

Membership to AIFEST will be provided free of cost to everyone who secured an A Grade in the competition. But to receive your membership, you have to send an email to aifest.1984@gmail.com on or before 9th December 2020 with the following details:

1. Your name (official name. Should be the same as in the id proof you had submitted earlier)

2. Your institutional/ home address with City, State and Country

3. Your present academic status (If you are a student, provide your grade/course and the name of your institution. Others can write Research Scholar in the Department of / Assistant Professor/Faculty in / Housewife/Self-employed/ Unemployed etc)

4. Your email address

5. Mobile number (Students can provide their parent's number)

As the subject of the email, write "Request for Membership to AIFEST"

You will receive the membership confirmation letter as a reply to your email if your request is approved. You will receive a reply within 7 days.

AIFEST Poetry Competition Results 2020

Find the list of authors who have secured A Grades and are selected for publication in the poetry anthology posted below the list of Prize Winners. For queries, email us at aifestevents@gmail.com

AIFEST Poetry Competition

Click Here to See the Results

To make optimum use of the Corona forced break from academic work, and to make learning fun, All India Forum for English Students, Scholars and Trainers (AIFEST) wishes to organize different literary and artistic competitions in the coming days. As a first step in this initiative, we are organizing a Poetry Competition for lovers of literature and poetry. The participants shall be divided into three categories: Middle School (Classes V to VIII), High School (Classes IX to XII), and a third category for everyone else. Themes for poetry shall be different for different categories, as mentioned below. We are truly delighted and excited to welcome you wholeheartedly to participate in the event, have fun, and win exciting prizes.

Categories and Themes

1. Middle School (Classes V – VIII)

Themes

a. Beauty of Nature | or |  b. School Memories

 

2. High School (Classes IX – XII)

Themes

a. Mind and Melancholy | or | b. New Love

 

3. Everyone else

(UG/PG Students, Researchers, Teachers and anyone else interested in literature or poetry)

Themes

a. Shades of Love | or | b. The Pandemic

 

Instructions for Participants

1.       Participation is open to all, irrespective of age, nationality or gender.

2.       The submitted poem must be in English (British English preferred). There is no word limit, upper or lower.

3.       The poem must be submitted as an MS Word document attached to the Google form. In the Word document don’t mention any personal details; just the poem with its title in Times New Roman, font size 12. Preferably avoid bordering, fancy fonts and other decorations.

4.       Give the name of the participant as the name of the document.

5.       Students belonging to Categories 1 and 2 must upload the photo/scanned image of the Identity Card issued by your school. If you don’t have an id card, you may submit any other proof of identity.

6.       Participants belonging to Category 3 can upload their institutional id card. If you aren’t currently affiliated to any institution, or if you don’t have an id card, you may submit any other proof of identity.

7.       A participant can submit only one poem based on the themes suggested for your category. You can choose one among the 2 themes.

8.       The poem must be original; it must not be copied from elsewhere, or submitted for publication elsewhere. If the poem is found to be plagiarized or published before, it will be rejected and the participant will be blacklisted.

9.       If you have any queries, email us at aifestevents@gmail.com

10.   You must fill the Google form only after your poem is ready for submission, since you will be asked to attach the poem as a word document while submitting the Google form.

 

Checklist before Filling the Form

ü  The poem typed in a word document, with title. Make sure that your name or any other personal detail is not mentioned inside the document.

ü  Give your name as the name of the document.

ü  Your id card in image/pdf format

 

Important Dates

Ø  Deadline for submission of poems: 15^th November 2020

Ø  Announcement of results: 20^th November 2020

Ø  Commencement of uploading selected recitations on YouTube: 30^th November 2020

Ø  Publishing the selected poems as an eBook: 25^th December 2020

 

How to Submit

Click on the link below and fill the Google form. Upload your poem as a word document and your id card as an image/pdf file. Submit the form.

Link to submit: Expired. We have closed the submission window. No further requests or submissions will be entertained.

Participation Fee: Free

Perks

·         All the participants would be given Lifetime Membership of AIFEST.

·         Authors of poems that secure an A grade will be given Certificates of Merit.

·         Selected poems will be published as an e-anthology with ISBN number.

·       The authors of selected poems will be offered an opportunity to submit recorded video recitation of their poems, and the selected recitations will be posted on our official YouTube channel.

The results will be announced on 20th November 2020 at 5 pm on our official blog https://forum4english.blogspot.com/ Stay tuned. All details will be posted on this page.

Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBX891LfOfYqJ-rATEMnBBw

Our official email address: aifest.1984@gmail.com

 

Event Coordinators

Ms Juriti Goswami, Gauhati University, Assam

Ms Annalakshmi A V, CTTE College for Women, Chennai

New Executive Committee of AIFEST 2020-21

AIFEST Executive Committee 2020-21

 The details of the office-bearers of AIFEST from September 2020 to September 2021 are as follows:

President: Isha Damani, West Bengal (PGT at SKSPS Raniganj, West Bengal)

Vice President: Rayees Ahmad Bhat, J&K (PhD Research Scholar, DAV, Indore, MP)

General Secretary: Asmin Janisha P, Kanyakumari (Research Scholar, Holy Cross College)

Joint Secretary: Anton Pushparaja Mathew Joseph, TN (Research Scholar, Loyola College)

Academic Coordinators

1. Juriti Goswami, Assam (Gauhati University)

2. Annalakshmi A V, Chennai (Research Scholar, CTTE College for Women, Perambur)

Public Relations Officer (PRO): Abhilash Kaushik, Assam (Research Scholar, Cotton University)

Human Resource Officer (HRO): Shabina Fatima, Ayodhya, UP (Guest Faculty, Research Scholar)

Membership and Welfare Officer (MWO): Priti Sharma, Haryana (Faculty, Haryana)

Publicity and Promotions Officer (PPO): Gouri Gopan, Kerala (MA English, University of Calicut)

Treasurer: Niharika Kumari, Bihar (Linguist, Researcher and Translator, Banka, Bihar)

The team assumed office on 15th September 2020 and stepped down from their positions after the end of the 1 year term on 5th October 2021.

Online Course on Communication Skills in English

Developing Communication Skills in English – Online Course

The importance of communication skills in our life and career can never be overstated. Good communication skills in English is a sure passport to academic success. In the wake of the lockdown situation, online classes have become the new norm, and hence it is of vital importance for students and teachers to be aware of the changes required to cope with the newly emerging situations. Not to forget the implications of the new National Educational Policy, which envisages a paradigm shift in our educational system.

Taking this scenario into account, The English Club of India (ECI), in collaboration with All India Forum for English Students, Scholars and Trainers (AIFEST) is conducting a 1 month  course on developing communication skills in English. The course is meant for high-school, undergraduate and post-graduate students from various streams. Especially, this course will be fully free for the differently abled, the financially poor and the helpless, hapless citizens of India who are struggling to make ends meet during the lockdown. The course is designed in a simple, easy-to-understand manner that higher secondary school students can also participate and benefit from it. The entire course will be conducted through online platforms, primarily via Google Meet and Whatsapp.

• Course Title: Developing Communication Skills in English – An Online Certificate Course
• Course Duration: 1 month, from 16 September 2020 to 15 October 2020
• Mode of Delivery: Online
• Fee: 1500 INR
• Timing: 1 and a half hour daily, 6 days a week, from 6 pm to 7.30 pm.
• Course Fee includes live video lectures, e-books, podcasts, learning materials, tutorials, individual guidance, one-on-one practice and e-certificate.

 Eligibility

1. Any undergraduate/post graduate student from any stream (e.g. arts, commerce, science, business studies etc.)
2. Higher Secondary (Plus One or Plus Two) Students
3. Anyone seriously interested in improving communication skills for career or job related purposes

Procedure to Apply

Submit your application by filling up the Application Form link . Since there are limited seats available, preference will be given to those who register first. If your application is accepted, you will receive an acceptance letter from the course coordinator. Life-time members of ECI/AIFEST will be given a fee concession of Rs 500 on request upon producing the membership approval letter/email. Those interested only in getting a certificate are requested not to apply, since this course is intended for those who are sincerely interested in improving their communication skills.

 Course Content / Syllabus

ü  Basics of Communication Skills

ü  Basics of English Language Skills (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)

ü  Functional or Daily use of English Language

ü  Public Speaking: How to Overcome the Fear of Public Speaking

ü  Formal Mode of Communication (email writing, letter writing, application writing)

ü  Verbal - Nonverbal Communication and Body Language

ü  Interview Skills

ü  Cross-Cultural Communication (dealing with people of different culture, society and language)

ü  Cultivating Abilities and Habits for Better Communication

ü  Social Media: Use, Etiquettes and Benefits in Communication

ü  Interpersonal Skills

ü  Public Relation Management

Assignments

For the successful completion of the course, all participants are required to complete at least two of the four assignments that will be given during the course. All assignments can be done by participants at their convenience. Moreover, there will be tasks for the participants which have to be done regularly.

At the successful completion of the course, you will receive an E- Course Certificate as well as life-time membership from AIFEST.

Course Coordinator: Prof Sneha Jani

AIFEST General Election Notification

 

Executive Committee Election 2020-21

Amid the Covid-19 crisis, and after the successful completion of AIFEST Mega Event for 2020 – the 15-day Lecture Series, AIFEST is gearing up for the AIFEST Executive Committee Elections for 2020-21. The one-year term of the present team of Office-bearers expires on 5th September 2020.

More positions are open for election this time around, and the new team is expected to take charge on 15th September 2020. Unlike our tradition of conducting the swearing-in ceremony on September 5, the Teachers Day, this time around, the ceremony is slated for 15th September. The present team of office bearers will continue until the newly elected Executive Committee officially takes charge. 

Another great year of academic activities await us, with lectures, workshops, Webinars, seminars and conferences, readings, contests, competitions, training programmes, publications and a lot more in store in the days to come. 

The following positions are to be filled, and applications are invited from interested candidates:

001. President

Shall be the executive and administrative head of AIFEST for the year 2020-21 and shall chair all the general meetings of the Executive Committee. Under the guidance and with the ratification of the Governing Body, the President shall ensure the overall coordination of all the Executive Committee activities. 

002. Vice President

Shall perform the duties and exercise the privileges of the President during her/his absence or when delegated by the President to do so. The Vice President should assist the President in carrying out the various duties and help ensure that all tasks necessary for the smooth running of AFEST are performed and/or appropriately delegated. 

003. General Secretary

Shall supervise the day-to-day functioning of the forum. Shall prepare and document all meetings of the Executive Committee, shall prepare and distribute a Notice of Meetings (including date, time and location) to committee members, shall prepare the agenda in consultation with the Governing Body and the President. 

004. Joint Secretary

Shall assist the General Secretary in preparing the minutes, agenda and notice of meetings and help ensure that all tasks necessary for the smooth running of AFEST are performed and/or appropriately delegated. Shall perform the duties and exercise the privileges of the General Secretary during her/his absence or when delegated to do so. 

005. Treasurer

This new position is created keeping in mind the changing times. Shall be in-charge of the financial matters as and when AIFEST deems it fit to open itself to income generation to fund its activities. The treasurer shall be responsible for the creation and maintenance of financial records throughout the term of office. 

006. Academic Coordinator

Shall be in-charge of all academic initiatives of AIFEST and may coordinate or depute the coordinators for the academic ventures that form the lifeline of AIFEST’s activities. The role of the coordinator shall involve being innovative and resourceful with ideas and ventures, and shall ensure the sources and resources for the same (with the assistance of other members). 

007. Public Relations Officer (PRO)

Shall be in-charge of ensuring smooth relationships between the Board of Directors, the Governing Body, the Executive Committee, the members as well as the beneficiaries and benefactors of AIFEST. Shall be the voice of AIFEST, speaking publicly at interviews, press conferences and presentations on behalf of AIFEST and providing the general public required information regarding AIFEST initiatives. 

008. Membership and Welfare Officer (MWO)

Shall be in-charge of AIFEST Membership drives and shall ensure that memberships are provided to the deserving. Shall also ensure the welfare of AIFEST members by getting in touch with anyone affected by personal, domestic or work-related problems and bringing the same to the notice of the Executive Committee.

009. Publicity and Promotions Officer (PPO)

Shall be in-charge of the marketing and publicity of AIFEST initiatives through emails, posters, social media campaigns, promotions etc. The role of the Publicity Officer shall be to maximise coverage for the events undertaken by AIFEST, ensuring publicity pre and post events wherever possible.

010. Human Resource Officer (HRO)

Shall be in-charge of press-releases, brochures, email communications and flyers for various programmes conducted by AIFEST. Shall also assist the PRO and the academic coordinator as and when required/requested in carrying out their duties during mega events.

(Additionally, there will be state level and district level coordinators who shall report to the Executive Committee. Since these positions are usually voluntary and change hands from time-to-time, there shall be no elections for the same.)

Eligibility: Any citizen of India, who is 18 years of age as on 05 September 2020, and is associated with English language education in India in any capacity (student, teacher, researcher or a graduate or post graduate in English) is eligible to apply (non-members of AIFEST can also apply). No recommendations or nominations from politicians or academicians outside AIFEST will be entertained. A member can apply to any three (3) of the above 10 available positions. To apply, submit the Google form provided below before 5 pm, 10 September 2020. If you have any queries, email us at aifest.1984@gmail.com. The acceptance/ rejection of your application (and the reasons for rejection in case it is rejected) will be intimated via email/ mobile on or before 12th September. While applying, you will be required to upload a recent passport size photograph (jpg image), updated CV (word document or pdf) and an identity proof (Aadhar Card/ Voter ID/ Driving Licence/ Passport).

Click Here to Apply

What is AIFEST?

 About us

All India Forum for English Students, Scholars and Trainers (AIFEST) has successfully promoted the cause of English Research and Studies in India since 1994 through the selfless service of its volunteers. Around 3500 new members joined AIFEST in the year that passed by (as of 31 August 2020) swelling the number of life-time members in AIFEST to 18K. As per the recommendations of the new Executive Committee, from 2020 onwards, school students will also be granted membership in AIFEST.

Born on 19th June, 1994, AIFEST is a voluntary academic forum which tries to help the poor, the helpless and the academically deprived among the students, researchers and teachers of English. The forum is completely voluntary and not-for-profit, has neither funding nor any system of payment. 

Through our volunteers, we try to provide books and learning materials to poor students, we offer free guidance for researchers, we conduct free net English coaching for teacher aspirants, and we conduct programmes for improving the quality of English language and literature education. We provide access to free books, journals, notes, study materials and various audio and video lectures for the English undergraduate, postgraduate, MPhil and PhD students. 

We believe that there should always be free dissemination of knowledge and so we strive our best to render our best possible help to anyone pertaining to our fields of expertise. We nurture and harness the dream that the English language family should always be given the best possible help and our dedicated team never shies away from their duty. 

AIFEST conducts conferences, workshops and international lecture series thanks to our wonderful Resource persons who wholeheartedly volunteer for the cause from time to time for the benefit of the academic community. 

Apart from these, AIFEST strives to be the chronicler and distributor of job notifications, conference announcements and various literary and academic events held nationally and internationally. 

The forum fondly remembers with gratitude the great service rendered by stalwarts like Salman Rushdie, Jayanta Mahapatra, Nayantara Sehgal, Arun Kolatkar, Nissim Ezekiel, Kamala Das, Sashi Deshpande, Anita Desai – our torch-bearers, patrons and guiding stars, but for whom English in India wouldn't have been what it is today.

Our Official Blog: https://forum4english.blogspot.com/

Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBX891LfOfYqJ-rATEMnBBw

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aifest4u/

Instagram Handle: https://www.instagram.com/aifest_official/

Official Telegram Group: https://t.me/joinchat/SCRp3wzSYpyXiMVW All information pertaining to AIFEST conferences, workshops, and other events will be updated here. All are welcome 🙏