How do Nardagani Symbols Work?
Learning to read English can be a confusing journey for many students. Letters and sounds don’t always match, silent letters hide in plain sight, and traditional reading programs can leave learners frustrated or guessing. At Nardagani, we wanted to remove that guesswork entirely. That’s why we developed the Nardagani symbols—a simple, visual system that helps students learn to read by showing them exactly how to pronounce words, see patterns, and build confidence from the very first lesson.
I had the chance to sit down with Narda Pitkethly, the CEO of Nardagani, to dive deeper into how these symbols work and what inspired her to create them. Here’s what we discovered.
The Challenge of Learning to Read English
English is one of the trickiest languages for young readers. Many letters have multiple sounds, and there are countless silent letters and irregular spellings. For example, the letters “a” and “e” can produce different sounds in words like cat versus cake, and silent letters often hide in words like knight or honest.
For struggling readers, this inconsistency can create anxiety and frustration. Students may memorize words without truly understanding them, guess letters, or avoid reading altogether. Teachers often rely on repetition and phonics drills, but these approaches don’t always connect the dots for learners.
This is where the Nardagani symbols come in—they give students a clear, visual cue for every sound in English that makes reading easier, faster, and more enjoyable.
How the Nardagani Symbols Teach Students to Read
When I asked Narda Pitkethly how the symbols work, her explanation was simple:
“The Nardagani symbols help students learn to sound out words. They are easy to learn because they are simple shapes, dots, and lines. The symbols sit under the fourteen letters in English that make more than one sound, so learners can immediately see how to pronounce words.”
Each symbol acts like a guide, a small cue that tells students what sound to make. By seeing the symbols consistently under the letters, children and adults alike can break the reading process into manageable steps. Suddenly, there is no more guessing or frustration—students begin to learn to read with clarity and confidence.
Visual Learning Meets Language
One of the reasons the Nardagani symbols are so effective is that they rely on visual learning. For many struggling readers, visual cues are easier to grasp than abstract rules or lists of exceptions. Symbols give learners a “map” of English sounds, showing them patterns they might never notice in traditional lessons.
“Some students report that the symbols are like reading comprehension strategies for adults,” Narda explained. “Even people who thought they’d never improve their reading skills find themselves understanding words they previously struggled with.”
The Story Behind the Symbols
Creating the Nardagani symbols wasn’t an overnight process. Narda Pitkethly was inspired while exploring existing reading comprehension programs. She realized that learning to read English could be much easier if students had simple shapes to cue them about sounds.
“I started by putting one sound on a 3x5 card. There are 38 sounds in English, so I ended up with 38 cards. Each card also included every letter or letter combination that could make that sound. This eventually became the Nardagani Sound Map—a complete guide to all English sounds. Then I created a symbol for each letter that has more than one sound.”
This methodical approach ensured that every tricky sound in English had a clear, consistent symbol. Students could finally see the logic behind the letters, instead of guessing or memorizing by rote.
How Students Learn and Remember the Symbols
Symbols alone aren’t enough—students need a way to remember them. That’s why Nardagani includes simple “catch phrases” that relate to each symbol. These phrases create mental hooks, making the symbols easy to recall during reading.
For example, a dot under a letter might remind students to “stop and hear the short sound,” while a small line might cue them to “stretch the vowel.” Over time, these visual cues and catch phrases become second nature, allowing learners to focus on comprehension rather than decoding each word.
Real Stories: Students Who Learned to Read With Nardagani
The best way to understand how the symbols work is to see them in action. Narda shared several stories of students who transformed their reading skills through the program.
Michael’s Journey
Michael was in eighth grade but reading at a third-grade level. When he first entered Narda’s classroom, he felt defeated.
“I’m a dummy. I can’t read. I have to take another reading class,” he admitted, head hung low.
Within just fifteen minutes of introducing the Nardagani symbols, something remarkable happened.
“These symbols are cool! I’ve never seen anything like this!” Michael exclaimed.
By the next class, he was noticing silent letters everywhere and excitedly sharing his discoveries. Within three months, he was reading confidently with his class. Michael’s story is a testament to how powerful visual cues and systematic instruction can be for struggling readers.
Sophia’s Experience
Another student, Sophia, struggled with English as a second language. She had learned the letters and basic sounds but couldn’t make sense of irregular spellings. Nardagani symbols changed that for her:
“I used to get confused every time I saw the word ‘enough,’” Sophia shared. “Now I can see the symbols and know how to pronounce them immediately. It’s like the word is no longer scary.”
By pairing symbols with familiar patterns and repetition, Sophia gained confidence and fluency, proving that Nardagani works for a wide range of learners.
Classroom Impact
Teachers also notice the difference. In classrooms using Nardagani, students who once avoided reading are now participating actively. Teachers report that lessons move faster because students can decode words independently, leaving more time for comprehension and discussion.
“When students can see the logic in the language, it reduces anxiety and opens the door to real learning,” Narda said.
Why Nardagani Symbols Are Better Than Traditional Methods
Many reading programs focus solely on phonics or memorization, but these approaches often leave gaps for students. Nardagani symbols go beyond memorization—they provide a visual and systematic method to decode English words.
Consistency: Each sound has a consistent symbol, reducing confusion.
Accessibility: Simple shapes and lines are easy for all learners to recognize.
Speed: Students can read and understand words faster because they don’t need to guess.
Confidence: By making the decoding process predictable, students gain confidence and motivation.
These benefits are particularly helpful for learners who struggle or have fallen behind, allowing them to catch up quickly and build long-term skills.
The Nardagani Approach: Step by Step
Here’s how students typically progress through the program:
Introduction to Symbols: Students learn the 12 core symbols and their sounds.
Sound Mapping: Each symbol is paired with letters and letter combinations to show patterns.
Catch Phrases: Students use simple phrases to recall each symbol’s sound.
Guided Reading: Students read words and sentences with the symbols, practicing decoding.
Independent Reading: Learners apply symbols to new words, gradually relying less on cues.
Fluency and Comprehension: With decoding mastered, students focus on understanding and enjoying the text.
This structured approach ensures that students not only learn to read but also develop comprehension, vocabulary, and confidence.
A Tool for All Ages
While Nardagani is often associated with children, it’s effective for older students and adults too. ESL learners, struggling middle school students, and even adults returning to education benefit from the clarity the symbols provide. By visualizing the sounds, learners of all ages can make the connection between letters and words, reducing frustration and building skills quickly.
The Future of Reading With Nardagani
Narda Pitkethly believes that every student deserves the chance to read with confidence. By simplifying the complex world of English spelling and pronunciation, the Nardagani symbols make reading accessible, enjoyable, and empowering.
“Our goal is to give every learner the tools they need to succeed,” Narda explained. “When students can decode words, see patterns, and understand language, reading becomes a joy instead of a struggle.”
With continued expansion and success stories like Michael and Sophia, the Nardagani program is proving that even the most challenging aspects of English can be mastered with the right approach.
Conclusion: Learning to Read Made Simple
The Nardagani symbols are more than a teaching method—they’re a bridge to literacy. By giving learners clear, consistent visual cues, paired with simple strategies and practice, Nardagani transforms the way students learn to read.
If your child or student struggles with reading, the Nardagani program can provide the clarity, structure, and confidence needed to turn frustration into fluency. It’s a system that not only teaches words but fosters lifelong literacy skills.
Start your journey today and see how Nardagani symbols can make learning to read easier, faster, and more enjoyable for learners of all ages.
TEDx Talk by Founder: Watch Here
Website: https://www.nardagani.com
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Google Play Link: Play Store
Promotional Video: Watch Here
