MY CV

Ashok Ojha  

4 MELVILLE ROAD, EDISON, NJ 08817 |  732-318-9891  |  aojha2008@gmail.com

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

NJ Certified Social Studies Teacher; Program Director, YHS and SANGAM-FRANKLIN STARTALK Hindi Language Programs; President-Yuva Hindi Sansthan, Hindi Sangam Foundation-Non-Profit Educational Organizations dedicatedto Hindi Teaching, www.yuvahindisansthan.org/; Coordinator, International Hindi Conference (2014-2017) , www.hindiconferenceamericas.com; Bachelor of Arts (Major Social Studies-NYU); Bachelor of Science, Magadh University; Diploma in Journalism (India).

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (TEACHING/MANAGEMENT)
Program Director -YHS STARTALK SUMMER HINDI PROGRAM, Pennbrook Midddle School, North Wales, PA • Directed a 3-week summer program to teach Hindi to Elementary and Middle school students.	JUNE 19-JULY 6, 2018
Program Director-SANGAM-FRANKLIN STARTALK SUMMER HINDI PROGRAM, Franklin High School, Somerset, NJ • Directed a 3-week summer program to teach Hindi to Middle and High school students.	JULY 16-AUGUST 2, 2018
Program Director-Sangam-Franklin STARTALK SUMMER HINDI PROGRAM, Franklin High School, Somerset, NJ • Directed a 3-week summer program to teach Hindi to Middle and High school students.	JUNE 17 — JULY 7, 2017
Program Director-YHS STARTALK SUMMER HINDI PROGRAM, Nash Elementary School, Harleysville, PA • Directed a 3-week summer program to teach Hindi to Elementary and Middle school students.	JULY 24-AUGUST 11, 2017
Program Director-YHS STARTALK SUMMER HINDI PROGRAM Nash Elementary School, Harleysville, PA • Directed a 3-week summer program to teach Hindi to elementary and middle school students.	JULY 25-AUGUST 12, 2016
Program Director-Sangam-Franklin STARTALK SUMMER HINDI PROGRAM, Franklin High School, Somerset, NJ • Directed a 3-week summer program to teach Hindi to Middle and High school students.	JUNE 20-JULY 8, 2016
Coordinator-International Hindi Conference, Consulate General of India, New York, NY,  • Coordinated and managed academic sessions	APRIL 30-MAY 2, 2016
Program Director-YHS STARTALK SUMMER HINDI PROGRAM, Nash Elementary School, 1560 Liberty Bell Dr, Harleysville, PA 19438 • Wrote grant proposal, trained teachers, developed curriculum and implemented 15-day summer program for Elementary/Middle school students	JULY 27-AUGUST 14, 2015
Program Director-YHS STARTALK SUMMER HINDI PROGRAM, Nash Elementary School, 1560 Liberty Bell Dr, Harleysville, PA 19438.         • Wrote grant proposal, trained teachers, developed curriculum and implemented 15-day summer program for Elementary/Middle school students	JULY 21-AUGUST 8, 2014
Coordinator, International Hindi Conference, Rutgers University,  New Brunswick, NJ • Coordinated and managed academic sessions	APRIL 3-5, 2015
Substitute Teacher, PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF EDISON TOWNSHIP, 312 Pierson Ave, Edison, NJ 08837                                                                                               • Implementing lesson plans for absentee teachers Gr. 6-12	2005 – PRESENT
Coordinator, International Hindi Conference, New York University,  New York, NY • Coordinated and managed academic sessions	MAY 2014
Program Director-YHS STARTALK SUMMER HINDI PROGRAM, Pennfield Middle School, 726 Forty Foot Rd, Hatfield, PA 19440                                           • Wrote grant proposal, trained teachers, developed curriculum and implemented 10-day summer program for Elementary/Middle school students	AUG 5-16, 2013
Program Director-YHS BENSALEM STARTALK SUMMER HINDI PROGRAM, Bensalem High School, 4319 Hulmeville Rd, Bensalem, PA 19020 Bensalem, PA                                                                                       • Wrote grant proposal, trained teachers, developed curriculum and implemented 10-day summer program for Elementary/Middle school students	AUG 6-17, 2012
Instructor, English as a Foreign Language-TEACH IN ASIA, ASIA INSTITUTE, CRANE HOUSE, 1244 S 3rd St, Louisville, KY 40203                   • Taught English as Foreign Language at Yong’an, Fujian, China	JULY 7-29, 2012
Adjunct Instructor-DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, Middlesex County College, 2600 Woodbridge Ave, Edison, NJ 08818                                                                                                 • Developed teaching material and taught semester long course, ‘Basic Hindi for Professionals’	SPRING 2012
Program Director and Lead Instructor, Student Program;Consultant, Teacher Training Program-STARTALK SUMMER HINDI TEACHER AND STUDENT PROGRAM, School for Global Education and Innovation, Kean University, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 07083                                                                              • Developed curriculum, directed 15-day summer Hindi teaching and learning program	JUNE 2011
Instructor-YHS STARTALK SUMMER HINDI PROGRAM, NEWARK, DE, Newark Technical and Community College, 400 Stanton Christiana Rd, Newark, DE 19713                                                                                                    • Taught conversational Hindi using Five Cs and three modes of communication	JULY-AUG. 2011
Program Director and Lead Instructor-STARTALK SUMMER HINDI PROGRAM, School for Global Education and Innovation, Kean University, School for Global Education and Innovation, Kean University, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 07083                                                                                                                    • Wrote grant proposal, developed curriculum and lessons, directed 10-day summer program for Middle/High School students	MAY 2010
Administrator-YHS STARTALK SUMMER HINDI PROGRAM, Berkmar High School, 405 Pleasant Hill Rd, Lilburn, GA 30047                                • Supervised 10-day intensive language program for Middle/High School students	JULY 2010
JOURNALISM
Reporter-NEWS INDIA TIMES, Parikh Worldwide Media, 115 W 30th St #1206, New York, NY 10001                                                                          • Reporting/writing on contemporary issues	2012- 2013
Customer Review Editor-BARNES & NOBLE.com, 122 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10011                                                                                                                    • Edited content-book reviews	2005 – 2008
Customer Service Lead Representative-BARNES & NOBLE.Com, 100 Plaza Drive, Secaucus, NJ 07094                                                                                         • Interacted with book purchasers, promoted books and products, trouble shot pricing, shipment, quality issues with customers	2001 – 2005
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS
STARTALK-STANFORD LEADERSHIP PROGRAM-UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA, CA                                                            • Participated One Week STARTALK Workshop on Language Teaching	JULY 2017
Teachers Training Program-STARTALK@NYU TEACHERS TRAINING PROGRAM, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, NY NY                   • Worked as Instructors Group Leader-Developing classroom Teaching Material	JUNE 2016
Professional Development Workshop-STARTALK CRITICAL LANGUAGES PROGRAM DESIGN INSTITUTE, MINNEAPOLIS, MN, USA    • Developed Teaching Plan for YHS Institute of Hindi Learning	OCTOBER 22-24, 2015
World Hindi Conference-MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, GOVT OF INDIA, BHOPAL, INDIA,                                                                       • Presented paper on ‘Hindi in USA’	SEPTEMBER 10-12, 2015
International Hindi Conference-WORLD HINDI SECRETARIAT, MAURITIUS                                                                                                           • Presented report on status of Hindi in USA	OCTOBER 30-NoVEMBER 2, 2014
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA,-LINCOLN, STARTALK Teachers Training Workshop-University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE, USA                             • Participated in Weeklong Teacher Training Program	JUNE 2015
Heritage Language Teacher Training, STARTALK/NHLRC Teacher Workshop-University of California, LA, USA                                                        • Participated in Weeklong Teacher Training Program	JUNE 2014
Presenter, NHLRC Language Workshop-University of California, LA         • Presented a paper on ‘Challenges of Teaching Heritage Learners’	MARCH 2014
CENTER FOR APPLIED LINGUISTICS, STARTALK TEACHERS WORKSHOP, 4646 40th St NW #2, Washington, DC 20016                        • Participated in Weeklong Teacher Training Program	JUNE 2013
STARTALK Teacher Workshop-Classroads-A HADI Project                       • Learned Online Teaching Tools	JAN-FEB 2013
EDUCATION
World and US History Teacher-KEAN UNIVERSITY, UNION, NJ • K-12, Social Studies Teacher courses, NJ Dept. of Education Certificate of Eligibility	FALL 2009
STARTALK Hindi Language Teacher Training-DEPARTMENT OF SOUTH ASIAN STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, PHILADELPHIA, PA                                                                                               • Language pedagogy and best instructional practices in US classrooms	JULY 2009
Bachelor of Arts, International Affairs-SCHOOL OF CONTINUING AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK, NY                                                                                                                   • Graduated with Dean’s List of Honor for high scholastic achievement	2002
Diploma in Hindi Journalism-BHARATIYA VIDYA BHAVAN, NEW DELHI, INDIA                                                                                                • Learned reporting, writing for Hindi newspapers	1972
Bachelor of Science-MAGADH UNIVERSITY, Bodh Gaya, India              • Graduated as Bachelor of Science	1970

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About Me

Ashok Ojha, 4 Melville Road, Edison, NJ 08817;

Email: aojha2008@gmail.com; Tel. (732)318-9891

Ashok Ojha is a New Jersey based journalist and teacher, where he manages two non-profit organizations, Yuva Hindi Sansthan and Hindi Sangam Foundation, both dedicated to promotion of Hindi language in USA and beyond. Well-versed in national standards and best practices in curriculum instruction appropriate for US schools, Ashok is a K-12 certified teacher for social studies.

He worked as a full time Hindi Journalist, script writer and documentary producer in India prior to his immigration to USA in 1996 where he was enrolled at New York University program in International Affairs. He continued to report and write on current affairs for publications and journals in USA and India. In January 2017 he produced and directed a series of short videos on ‘Citizenship and Social Justice’ for New York University classroom video project.  

As the coordinator of the International Hindi Conference, USA, he collaborated with scholars from a number of leading universities, such as, NYU, Columbia, UPenn and others to organized three International Hindi Conferences in USA at NYU (2014), Rutgers (2015), the Consulate General of India, New York (2016). Ashok coordinated with GITAM University, Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India to organize the Fourth International Hindi Conference is underway (http://www.hindiconferenceamericas.com/).

Since 2010 Ashok has been awarded US government funding for directing STARTALK Hindi Programs. Trained as a Hindi teacher at 2009 UPenn STARTALK Teacher Program, he directed the STARTALK program for Kean University students (2010, 2011) followed by YHS STARTALK Hindi programs at Bensalem (2012), Hatfield (2013) and Harleysville, PA (2014-17). He won three STARTALK fundings for directing SANGAM-FRANKLIN STARTALK HINDI PROGRAM since 2016. This program is held at Franklin High School in collaboration with Franklin Township School District, New Jersey. In 2018 Ashok is preparing to direct two summer programs in Pennsylvania and New Jersey-YHS STARTALK HINDI PROGRAM starting June 18 to July 6, Pennbrook Middle School, North Wales, PA and SANGAM-FRANKLIN STARTALK HINDI PROGRAM from July 16 to August 2, 2018 at Franklin High School. He is also collaborating with the Consulate General of India, New York for holding the Fifth International Hindi Conference, September 21-23, 2018. The conference will be hosted by the Consulate General of India, New York. 

Ashok taught English as a foreign language in Yongan, Fujian, China in 2012. He has earned two bachelor degrees-one from NYU (2001), USA and the other from Magadh University, Bodh Gaya, India (1971).

Is China moving forward to dominate the world?

Teach in Asia 2012

The final week in Yong'an, Fujian

After an emotional and elaborate farewell, we left Yong'an for Fuzhou, the capital city of Fujian province. It was the morning after the graduation ceremony which was held in the school premises. Students of all seven classes showcased their talents at the program. They performed dances, sang songs and performed one act plays. We 'the foreign teachers' helped them prepare their shows for which they worked many hours in the third week of the program. My class prepared a skit named 'Rob the Bank'. It was a humorous enactment of bank robbery. I was asked to play a bank robber while three students played bank employees and a customer who tricks the robber and steals his money. The play was liked by the audience including the Mayor of Yong'an city. The Yong'an city government supported the program in which students from rural areas also participated.

On the morning of Saturday, July 28, all students gathered at our hotel. A number of students brought presents for their teachers. We got together for group pictures, hugged each other and became emotional. We boarded the bus with tearful eyes. As the bus slowly rolled out of the hotel, students waved at their teachers. The atmosphere was enveloped with sadness of separation. Leaving many tearful eyes behind we left Yong'an with deep emotions.

We were quiet in the bus which took three hours to reach Fuzhou. I was immersed in Chinese culture for three weeks and experienced it up, close, and personal. I had touched the hearts and mind of many young people and was touched by them. This bond was symbolic of strong human relations which has existed since ancient days. No boundaries of politics of geography can break it.
It was remarkable to see the level of support that the Chinese society provides to educate its younger generation. Parents and officials work together to offer opportunities to younger generation competing in all areas of their studies. Even if they were learning English, they were using their expertise to research and experiment in other disciplines, such as, science.

I visited China under the program initiated by Crane House-Asia Institute located in Louisville, KY. Crane House partnered with Association of Science and Technology of Fujian province. This association functions for promotion of science in schools and is supported by local chapters called societies. Thus the goal of promoting eduction is shared by all members of the association who work together to meet their objectives. A number of officials working in the foreign affairs department of the association are highly educated people who possess international perspective on education. These officials are helping students from rural areas compete with students who live in cities and have access to better education.

The association's goal is to promote English as a foreign language along with promotion of science. The Chinese people display great love and commitment for their language. It was not easy to find an English speaking person in the capital city of Fujian. The education leaders of China are convinced about the importance of English as an international language. China wants to compete with the West in all areas. It wants its younger generation to learn English but not at the cost of their own Chinese language. It is evident that China has a clear cut goal to succeed in the 21st century.