Interpretation of “Teaching of English: A Plea for Practical Attitude”

Interpretation of “Teaching of English: A Plea for Practical Attitude” – R.K.Singh

Hello Learners,

As this blog is part of my ELT Classroom activity, all the readers are learners as well. Here are some of my interpretations on the following Research paper:

“Teaching of English: A Plea for Practical Attitude” – R.K.Singh (Indian Institute of Mines, Dhanbad)

In this research paper R.K.Singh highlights importance of English as a potential national resource in India and how a positive approach should be adopted in teaching as well as learning English language.

The title itself suggests an urgent request to adopt a positive and practical attitude towards teaching English in India.

According to him, rather than going in discussion about English as Second Language or Foreign Language, English should be accepted as a ‘Neutral Language’ in India. As it is widely preferred medium of all transactions and communication, English should have a separate identity.

He has given three aims of teaching English well:-

1.)Encourage a teaching programme that is responsive to their specific needs.

2.) Pursue such teaching activities from which pupils know they are learning something useful.

3.)Adopt a flexible learning approach.

He also focuses on some important points that should be kept in mind while teaching English:-

1.)Awareness of learner’s ability and level.

2.)Involve presenting and practising of language which help student in his real life.

3.)Make them aware of Socio-linguistic context.

4.)Give opportunities to use Language.

5.)Motivate learners.

6.)Keep in mind various approaches rather than a specific method, as approach is flexible and method is rigid.

He further also writes about learner’s responsibility. Their attitude should be positive for their learning and make it enjoyable and useful. Even a teacher should not judge the learner from his mistakes. Teacher should sit back and rethink of his methods and remember how he/she used to learn Language in their school or college time.

Thus, R.K.Singh sees English as an opportunity for the teachers and learners to grab it and make it useful.

He concludes his paper with a question we should ask to ourselves:

“WHAT to teach to WHOM and Why?????”

Comments

"RIP"; Rest in Peace those who are Alive....

Hello Friends, After a long time I am writing here. Hope you all are fine. This time I have come up with a different interpretation of the phrase “RIP”. Mostly this phrase “RIP”; Rest in Peace is used for the people who are no more. We use this phrase to give sympathy towards the departed soul. The soul may get peace wherever it travels. No one exactly knows where the soul travels. Sometimes this phrase is used out of care and sometimes just for show off on social media. While sitting alone near a cemetery, a thought struck in my mind. Why do we use RIP only for dead people????? We can also use it for those who are alive. Many time people use RIP when a person is dead. The same people might have harassed the dead person when he is alive. So what’s the point of “RIP”? Suppose in the day time you behave very badly with someone. Is he/she going to get sound and peaceful sleep at night? The dead person will never come back so we just say “RIP”. Of course ever

“My friend, the things that do attain” - Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey.

Hello friends, I would like to share a poem which I studied during my graduation. The title of the poem is “My friend, the things that do attain”. It is written by Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey (1516/1517 – 19 January 1547), was an English aristocrat, and one of the founders of English Renaissance poetry. MY friend, the things that do attain The happy life be these, I find: The riches left, not got with pain; The fruitful ground; the quiet mind; The equal friend; no grudge; no strife; No charge of rule, nor governance; Without disease, the healthy life; The household of continuance; The mean diet, no dainty fare; Wisdom joined with simpleness; The night discharged of all care, Where wine the wit may not oppress: The faithful wife, without debate; Such sleeps as may beguile the night; Content thyself with thine estate, Neither wish death, nor fear his might. In the above mentioned poem, there is a list

" The Winged Word"- David Green

In my Graduation syllabus, I had a book named “ The Winged word”. This anthology is edited by David Green. It is anthology of poems compiled for the students of English literature in the B.A courses of Indian Universities. The chronological order, in which the poets are arranged in this book, helps the students to note the development of English poetry from one age to another. Referring to this book after a long time span, gives me a immense joy. There are many poems in this book. We were given some selected poems to study during three years of graduation. The poems which were in my syllabus are as follow:- 1.) I Find No Peace – Sir Thomas Wyatt (1503-42) 2.) My Friend, the Things That Do Attain –Henry Howard (1517- 47) 3.) The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd –Sir Walter Ralegh (1552-1618) 4.) The Nightingale – Sir Philip Sidney (1554- 86) 5.) Since There’s No Help – Michael Drayton (1563- 1613) 6.) Sonnet No.116 – Willi

Vaidehi Hariyani

Search This Blog