Bangla School
Where our kids discover the joy of the Bengali language, culture & heritage! 🌏💛
“Our pride, our hope — oh wonderful Bengali language!”
Inspired by the beloved words of poet Atulprasad Sen 💫
মোদের গরব, মোদের আশা, আ মরি বাংলা ভাষা !
মাগো তোমার কোলে, তোমার বোলে, কতই শান্তি ভালবাসা !
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ঐ ভাষাতেই প্রথম বোলে, ডাকনু মায়ে ‘মা, মা’ বলে;
ঐ ভাষাতেই বলবো হরি, সাঙ্গ হলে কাঁদা হাসা।
— অতুলপ্রসাদ সেন
The Bengali language is truly our pride and hope. It is our dream that our newer generations, in our new homeland, grow to love and appreciate the Bengali language — and take pride in their heritage as they thrive in the country of their birth or adoption. 🌱
🌟 Our Story
Encouraged by parents searching for a way to engage their children with the Bengali language in the DFW Metroplex, Mrs. Sipra Chatterjee started the Bangla School of Dallas–Fort Worth in 1992 with about a dozen students. Around the same time, the DFW Hindu Temple opened in Irving, and under the guidance of Dr. Shah, the Vidya Vikas School was formed. For over 25 years, the passion and enthusiasm — among students and teachers alike — has stayed infinitely strong! 💪
This is no ordinary language class. Mrs. Chatterjee developed her joyful methodology over many years of teaching at the Applied Institute of Indian Studies in Kolkata (affiliated with the University of Chicago’s South Asian Language Program) and through private teaching for Ford Foundation, WHO and Oxfam employees. The pioneering research of her late husband, Dr. Suhas Chatterjee, a Professor at the University of Chicago, largely informs a curriculum designed especially for students whose native tongue is not Bengali.
🎈 How We Learn (The Fun Way!)
Read & Write Day One
A few vowels and consonants — enough to read and write words even after the very first day!
Rhymes & Songs
Fun rhymes reinforce learning and spark immediate delight from parents and grandparents!
Poems & Plays
Students recite poems at Saraswati Puja and star in an annual play at Durga Puja — costumes, snacks & applause!
💜 More Than Grammar
Our goal isn’t to create grammarians! Instead, we help children read, write and speak Bengali while giving them an appreciation of Bengali literature, the performing arts, and an understanding of Indian philosophy and culture. Over time, the children become quite adept — reading and writing on their own using Rabindranath Tagore’s well-known Sahaj Path series. What looks like fun and games is secretly filling them with the cultural, literary, musical and historical richness of their Indian heritage. 🎨
🏡 A Family, Not Just a School
After 25+ years, we have history! Former students tell us how grateful they are for the chance to build their Bengali skills and deepen connections to their extended family and heritage. Some continued with college courses in Bengali — and many return as teachers and advisors for the next generation. The future is bright! 🌈
Bangla class runs less like a rigid school and more like a warm, welcoming, family-oriented home. Families stay bound to the school for years to come — just like a big extended Indian family. If you love our mission, won’t you come and be part of our family?