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Teaching
English as a second language in India by Kapil Kapoor
Prepared by- Divya Choudhary
Course- M.A.
Semester- 3
Paper no. - 12
Paper name- English Language Teaching-1
Enrolment no. - PG15101007
Batch- 2015-17
Submitted to- Smt. S. B. Gardi
Department of English
Maharaja
Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University
Introduction
Kapil Kapoor represents his ideas about the international
language English in India. In our country, English plays a role of second language.
Let’s see his views about it.
Abstract
In abstract, Kapil Kapoor says that we have to
understand the role and goal of English as a foreign language and we have to
choose teaching theories and practices otherwise no any methodology and
technology would be helpful in changing the views successfully.
What do we mean by
‘second language’?
We can understand
it in two ways:
·
After one or more
Indian languages, which are important and essential, there come English as a ‘second language’.
· In school, after
the primary stage, second language is introduced.
Historical
perspective of English
To know the effect of English as a second language,
we should understand its historical perspective. English has
become centre language, so we can say it is a symbol of linguistic centralism.
Other languages can be seen as a linguistic regionalism. After freedom
from Britain, the main two questions aroused-
·
The status of
English,
·
Relationship of
English
Those who knew English demanded English, to achieve this,
conceptual structure developed and it has three parts:
1. modernization,
2. mythology,
3. language policy
Both modernization and internationalism became same
and the implication of English made other Indian languages ‘traditional’ means
anti-modern and backward. The second question aroused was the relationship
of English with other Indian languages. To define the relationship, ‘language-planning’ came
out. It gave new mythology.Other languages became regional languages. Even
Hindi became regional language and it was used in official language and many
states made it a regional language.No any other language can be seen with
English, so it became the language of national integration, a ‘pan-Indian’ language
and it helped in promoting.
English as a
‘window’
Because of the role of English,
Kapoor says that it is the ‘window’ because
1) It is a language of knowledge especially in the reference
of science and technology,
2) It is a language of modern thinking,
3) It is the language of reason,
4) It is a link language,
5) It is the language of the world,
6) It is the lingua-franca.
Indian languages are ‘the
walls’ and English is the window and it gives the light of modernization.
Language-planning
To know the importance of ‘language-planning’,
Kapil Kapoor has given the example of the report of the Education
Commission of 1964-66. It says,
“most complicated
problem that the country has faced since independence and one that has resisted
a solution. It goes on to add that on account of educational, cultural and
political reasons.”
It shows that this problem was since independence
and it is the most complicated problem.
Three-language
formula
In 1956, Central Advisory Board on Education proposed
the three-language formula. This idea was adopted at the chief minister’s
conference in 1961 with a modification. The chief aim for formula
was to make English an integral part of school. It creates negative effect,
too.The students who really want to learn another language, they would
certainly learn English now. It made Hindi less important than English. The
students have a choice now to choose between Hindi and English. Three-language
formula has affected even our classical language-Sanskrit. Sanskrit is now on
its decline. What a tragedy!!!!! It is the language of God and it is being
destroyed. The political purpose is cleared in Macaulry’s 1813 report
in which he has said,
“No Bengali who
undergoes this education has any respect left for anything Hindu.”
A student should be allowed to choose any
second or third language.
Failure in teaching
English
The teaching of English has got failure to
some extent. Many committees or education commissions tried to solve this
problem by taking information about the weightage, teacher-training,
methodology, teaching theories etc…Kapoor has given the significant example of
the meeting of ELT experts that they gather like Egyptologists meet every year
when the Nile has reeded after floods. Inappropriateness of accepting English
as a second language may be the cause of failure. The ELT experts have given
the definition of English in the reference with the specific functions of
English and the educational planners have defined English by comparing it with
Hindi. Hindi is more effective in reference to English.
English as a
library language
The Education Comission, 1964-66 has
said about teaching that in higher education, English will be as a library
language and it should be taught from std.5 though we know that for many
students who come from the rural areas, can’t begin their study before class 7!!!!
What are the first
language, L2 and L3?
The first language is used in the school level as a
medium of instruction and a medium to express and for communication and it is
generally the mother-tongue or the regional language.
The second language (L2) comes after the first language.
It is used to make the speaker able to speak for wider participation. It is
generally the state official language or national language.
The third language (L3) comes after the second
language. It helps to prepare the learner for all-India mobility. The aim to
introduce third language is to make the learners be able to make the learners
express correctly in that language.
Problems of English
as a second language
The second language helps people to keep their
personal relations with others, it helps in business, in their socio-cultural
activities and in the identity with a large group. In India, we study a
foreign language as a second language, as an Indian language. So, we don’t get
necessary competence. U.G.C. sponsored many seminars, tests
but all seem to do nothing. English as a second language creates problems. It
can be solved by removing English as a second language and make it a third or
optional language.
The major problems are the use of language drill,
use of simple text, not sufficient reading, role of grammar etc…A second
language is generally considered as a language of repeating not for thinking!!!
Any teacher can’t teach limited language. If he wanted to teach one sentence,
he will have to teach grammar, vocabulary, sentence pattern. There are some
conceptual problems, too. For example, the standard of English is falling.
We have failed to make-up our mind to one appropriate
language theory. The west gave up grammar-centered language teaching and
adopted behavioral models. Direct method, Audio-visual techniques help in
language teaching but these all are costly and now even mother-tongue is taught
with the help of these things. India was first grammar centered.
Grammar and mathematics are principal instruments to sharpen the mind and now
the west has also discovered that the grammar is a cognitive and primary to
understand the language properly.
'Method’ and ‘methodology’ are the most
important in the west. It is believed that if we have right method, we can
achieve our goal. ‘Technology’ is used in methods. Audio-cassettes,
language laboratory, television, radio, computer-use of internet all are used
in the technical method and these all have made the teaching expensive. The
tradition of teaching with the black-board and text book is being lost.
Conclusion
Thus, we can see Kapil Kapoor in his essay ‘Teaching
English as a ‘second language’ in India’ has cleared the concept of English as
a second language, he has mentioned the problems in teaching English as a
second language, what is the function of English in India, what are L1, L2, L3,
the use of technique in teaching English all are explained in this essay. This
essay helps us to understand the advantages and disadvantages of English as a
second language.
