“Teaching English as a second language in India – Focus on Objectives” with the reference of S. K. Verma's research paper

This blog is a part of our ELT-1 class activity,

Þ  The references has been taken from the research paper of S. K. Verma : “Teaching English as a second language in India – Focus on Objectives”

              In this research paper, S. K. Verma has given an explanation of First language (L₁), second language (L₂), Foreign language (L₃) and Classical language. He has focused upon the objectives of teaching English as a second language.

             
             First of all he has given a global objective of language teaching that helping children to learn language or languages is important, because children can learn language easily with interaction and practice and the important point is they are not aware with other languages. Children learn language they heard around.

          
           Languages in a multilingual setting form a system network and “link language” or “lingua franca” has a very important significance in this setting. Community should play its role as a whole and accept English language not only because of need but with respect as a language.

       
           S. K. Verma has also talked about the process of teaching and learning that it is a ‘bidirectional’ and international process. Learners are not only a photocopy of learning but meaningful and cultural creation, learners are meaning makers. Every learner is born with a built – in language learning mechanism and this mechanism get activated in the atmosphere of learning.

       
          By narrowing down his research he talks about the materials of English in ‘language actions’. Grammatical rules and interaction both are important in the learning of any language and grammar correction gives you confidence to speak. Both are important to learn and understand language. As it is said that,

“Learning is a painful process”

 Then he talked about the four kinds of languages,

1)    First language: first language is our mother tongue and it helps us in learning second as well as foreign language. it is our personal language, and it supports in day to day communication with people around us.

2)    Second language: this is the language we learn after our mother tongue. This language helps the learner when the use of first language cannot be possible, for example a person from another state or country cannot understand our mother tongue so English as a second language helps us in interaction. It is an international language of knowledge and research; it is ‘link language’ and ‘lingua franca’.

3)     Foreign language: foreign language has a different concept than L₁ and L₂. it is a language of those people who have their own community in other country for example many Gujarati families have created their community in Australia so Gujarati language is a foreign language for Australians.

4)    Classical language: this language is connected with our history and myths. India has a Sanskrit language as its classical language. India has very important literature in this language such as the life of mythical characters and philosophy of life. 

 At last S.K. Verma has suggested objectives of teaching English language as a second language:

ü First of all ‘Need identification” is important, the need of nation as well as personal need of a learner.

ü The ability to read easily and with understanding

ü A more advanced reading stage, with personal interest and with the help of bilingual dictionaries.

ü The ability to understand an English conversation and good enough vocabulary, speaking and comprehension.

ü The ability to write comprehensibly in English without arrors.

ü The ability to have a conversation in English language in both, topic of interest and of syllabus.

            The level of active command on English is demanded. India has a culture with restrictions, most of the time parents do not allow children to learn English language, so this attitude towards English should change and all should learn English as a language of knowledge.

          
            In last part of his research paper S. K. Verma has explained the role of a teacher that teacher should provide proper atmosphere of learning and should give enough space to student so s/he could learn properly. Syllabus, methodology of language teaching, materials and training programmes changes the attitude of learning towards language. it increases the level of interest in student.