“ Teaching English as a Second Language in India : Focus on Objectives” -Shivendra.K.Verma

Hello friends,

A clear objective determines everything. Teaching also has certain objectives. Shivendra.K.Verma (Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages, Hyderabad) in his research paper “ Teaching English as a Second Language in India : Focus on Objectives” has discussed objectives of language teaching as well as the aims of teaching English as Second Language in India. He has also given classification of Languages.

First of all he has highlighted the objectives of language teaching.

Helping children to learn a language to perform a variety of functions like “self-expression”, “catharsis”, “cognition”, how to ask questions, how to use language in social networks, help learners learn how to draw out their creativity etc.

The objective of teaching a language or languages is not simply to make the learner the major language skill but to enable the learners to play their communicative roles effectively and to select language according to the roles they are playing. 

“Every social person is a bundle of personae, a bundle of parts, and each part having its lines.  If you do not know your lines, you are no use in the play.”  A well-qualified, energetic and inventive teacher can be a “living” model and act as the best audio – visual aid.”

Further he has given Functionally- determined sub-categories: -

• First Language
• Second Language
• Foreign Language
• Classical Language

Before coming to the objectives of Teaching English as a Second Language in India, Shivendra.K.Verma discusses need of English at the National level and at Individual level. At the national level, English serves as our “window on the world”. It is the international “link language” and also “library language”.

The objectives of teaching English as Second Language in India: -

    1.) The ability to read easily, and with understanding books in English written within a prescribed range of vocabulary and sentence structure.

  2.)The readiness to proceed, to a more advanced reading, that of reading unsimplified texts, particularly those bound up with personal studies and interest.

  

 3.)The ability to understand a talk in English,on a subject of general experience and interest.

 4.) The ability to write comprehensible in English,and without gross errors, on a familiar topic which leads itself to expression within the range of vocabulary and sentence structure that has been taught.

 5.)The ability to carry on comprehensibly a conversation in English on a topic fully within the range both of their experience and interests and the range of active command postulated by the syllabus.

By concluding his paper Shivendra.K.Verma, said that the main aim of the education system is to provide leaner proper atmosphere for learning and make them realise their capabilities. Also encourage them to use their abilities to enrich their personal life as well as our nation.