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Article #322: Regressive Elt… in God's Own Country?

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Regressive ELT… in God's Own Country? What ultimately?…Covert Strangulation?
(An article originally submitted for Those new generation teachers who are
publication in the daily newspaper, The engaged in applying the Philosophy of the
New Indian Express, under the title The New curriculum, in Kerala are more or
Affluent Apathy vis -a-vis The New less in an inebriated condition. The
English Curriculum : A Recipe for improvement in pass percentage in English
Disaster in God's Own Country…? but was in recent times in secondary schools
not published! have made them blind to the lowering of
The following version save the first two linguistic competence. Perhaps the best
paragraphs was submitted for publishing reference we have in literature to this
in the popular Indian weekly, is, 'Newspeak' of Nineteen Eighty Four by
The Week … and again was not published George Orwell. 'Newspeak' we know was
.. Thanks to free online publishing designed to diminish the range of
this article will now see light!!!) thoughts and this purpose is helped by
Abstract reducing the choice of words to a
The south India state of Kerala, popular minimum. ELT in Kerala too has
to tourists as God's Own Country has pathetically reduced itself to the
witnessed experiments in Education such Newspeak-type language acquisition! The
as the District Primary Education emphasis on Communicative Language
Programme (DPEP). Then followed a Teaching, the decision to drop the direct
revision of textbooks and these have teaching of grammar and the shunning of
gone a long way in overhauling the purely Literature - based textbooks in
education system in the state. the Government schools where the common
The author, a former faculty of the man sends his child and where the New
Regional Institute of English South Curriculum is vigorously introduced,
India, Bangalore, critically examines the results in the common man's child
introduction of the New English developing a limited perspective of
Curriculum with its excessive insistence language! But language, we know is
on 'discourse-based language teaching'. actually intended to serve as ones food
The author believes that an apathy of for thought! Could this insistence on
sorts has crept in some where and in the Communicative Language teaching be a
article attempts to give a clear covert attempt to paralyze the
perspective of the problems the 'apathy' development of intellect of those
is likely to create for the people of attending Government schools ?
God's Own Country. Lesson for 'communikats' from History
Regressive ELT… in God's Own Country? Its worth recalling how a wrong approach
Background history to grammar resulted in the emergence of
1986 saw the revision of syllabus in 'grammarian' a term of reproach as
English in the South Indian state of Chambers Cyclopedia (1727-41,1779-86)
Kerala , which tourists extol as "God's puts it. The term meant 'a person wholly
Own Country". The texts basically inattentive to the minutiae of language,
reflected the Communication Approach, industriously employed about words and
with an admixture of cognitive phrases; and incapable of perceiving the
approaches. The controlled gradation of beauties, the delicacy, finesse, …etc
vocabulary and structures were dropped. of a sentiment'. Can we use the term
DR. N. Vedamani Manuel, the former Dean 'communikats' to describe those
and Professor of Education of the insisting on communication as the only
University of Kerala and a scholar objective of ELT? A derogatory term of
extraordinaire, who has no axe to grind, the kind is likely to be used sooner or
commented on the introduction thus: later for the sheer fact that those new
"When introduced a vast majority of generation teachers are assiduously
teachers did not have the competency to engaged in introducing a 'diarrohea of
transact these materials. Perhaps 5 to discourses' in the English language
10% of pupils in the superior schools classroom as the one and only language
profited by these . The examination learning activity and ignoring the
system was traditional as before. So in teaching of literary texts that
practice communication materials were actually help in developing a fine
converted to a set of question answers literary sensibility.
(aided by bazaar notes) to prepare for Dogs tell tales too!!
the external exam objectives. The real It is common knowledge that one can often
objectives of the scheme were bypassed." come across very intelligent and
New Directions (or misdirection ?) in talented children even in families of the
English Language teaching common man. Analogically speaking we can
Perhaps the most noticeable of all come across pet dogs, some with traits
changes in the recently revised of pedigree breeds in families of
secondary curriculum in the state of ordinary folks. Such families may not
Kerala, is the focus on communication, have the financial resources to feed
cognitive approaches, activity and this pet dog, the kind of good quality
child-centred approaches. This, no meat and milk normally given to pedigree
doubt is a welcome change and after all dogs like the Alsatian. So they serve it
language is essentially meant for the leftovers of the family or perhaps
communication. But should the emphasis be rationed rice. This dog will not
on communication alone? What will come complain nor bite the hand that feeds it.
about if all activities are aimed at It gobbles up whatever is given, to
communication skills alone in the satisfy its hunger and has a famished
language classroom? These are questions existence. If this be so, imagine what
that one cannot afford to ignore. But happens to those intelligent and talented
what exactly is now being transacted in children who are given only a poor
the classroom ?. Let me once again exposure to the English language ? Dogs
quote Prof. Manuel who seriously studied grow and perish usually within the
the whole new ELT venture in Kerala: compound wall of the family…but not
"The examination scheme has changed necessarily human beings. Its frightening
permitting more activity by the pupils. to conjure up the kind of existence the
Under these conditions, the better pupils child is likely to have once it enters
are likely to achieve far more than they the world of adults! Well, educationists
did earlier. They are more free from the have drawn several insights from the
fetters of the teacher-controlled uniform Pavlovian dog... and might go on to
rhythm, with a chance of achieving many justify the kind of stuff being
of the expected objectives. But the delivered today in the language
ordinary and below average pupils pass classrooms. But dear reader , you and I
through the motions of the activity know that the human mind never works
without really realising the higher like that of an animal. If you are
objectives. Since the evaluation sensible, and if rotten food is served,
procedures are liberalised, many of these you will say 'No'… You will shun the
glaring mistakes (and failure to really person who serves such food and turn to
get a real control of English language those that serve better quality food.
even at SSLC level by most pupils) have The point I am trying to make is that one
not got focussed. The availability of may know, that one has every right to
bazaar notes written from the old get better quality education but one may
perspectives, violating all the modern fail to get it , if one has a slavish
principles, and supplying material for existence!
satisfying the project assignments by Are Malayalees really aiming to tick
copying from them has also been a factor smart?
in distorting the objectives. There is The greatest harm all this does to
reason to believe that there are some education is that Malayalees do not
high level resource persons behind the realize the kind of intellectually
production of materials. But it would impoverished citizens for the global
seem that the lower rungs of resource world which they will be nurturing in
persons do not have these competencies Government run schools where the new
and most teachers have not imbibed them. English Currriculum is diligently being
The new curriculum requires a high level implemented. Some of them are likely to
of competency in English is several lack a sense of grace in language use
dimensions and in pedagogically and are most likely to be thoroughly
transacting them in the spirit of the new ignorant of literary classics. It is a
scheme. It must be recorded that the flaw which would be apparently poignant
highest level of pupils now really when the learner of the present system
achieve English competencies - several attempts to communicate as a votary of
times what they were attaining even five the arteries that the Techno Park or the
years ago - because of the higher visible Smart city of the little state of
targets and more freedom. But the Kerala. And who knows, these 'lesser
ordinary and below average pupils have mortals' may one day directly or
cumulative deficiencies in English indirectly serve all sections of our
competencies - which may be three to six society!
years for most". What Malayalees need today is the
Struggle for survival…? concerted efforts of experienced
It is interesting to note the kind of educationists especially of the older
individuals who end up as the new generation, the civil servants, elected
generation English language teachers in representatives, and of course the
God's own country. Some have a bachelors affluent class who can be willing
degree in Functional or Communicative sponsors to chalk out a meaningful
English . They are a breed of English programme for English language teaching
teachers to whom the magnum opus of Joyce in God's Own Country . Failing to do so
or Eliot are simply beyond their grasp could result in Malayalees failing to
and the intellectual masterpieces of FR effectively utilize the products of their
Leavis or Walter Benjamin , shamefully 'Smart City' or Techno Park which is
unpalatable! After all, to pass the MA striving to make Malayalees the Children
English correspondence course which of a Greater God !
over a dozen Universities in South India Conclusion
offers never requires a smattering of Experienced teachers of the older
the literary sensibility of the generation see the kind of English
stalwarts of English literature language teaching given in God's Own
!...Baazar guides could always assure Country a kind of trivialization of
the acquiring of a PG degree in flying English language teaching (ELT). The over
colours! Could this be the reason for emphasis on teaching 'language functions'
advocating Communicative Language and 'discourses' as part of Communicative
Teaching in the classroom? Language Teaching and the neglect of
New … but ill conceived English literature, the older generation
A few other time tested approaches to of teachers believe , impoverishes
English Language Teaching (ELT) is also English language education and makes
being ignored in the teaching of literary sense which gives grace to ones
English in Kerala . These include the use of language, difficult to cultivate
use of TV , Film and the New media for in learners.
language teaching . But the hitch is that If we don't guide and help the common man
today, English Curriculum developers in who sends his child to a Government run
Kerala dub all other forms of English school, to see the flaws in the kind of
language teaching as something worth English language education their
ignoring. The result is that children receive, we will one day regret
Communicative Language Teaching and the kind of products this system is
discourse- based teaching and testing likely to generate .Much water would in
continues to receive a privileged status. the next few days flow under the
Unfortunately enough the trend is not magnificent Bharatha Puzha rail bridge
likely to halt because many Indian and what will be will be for English
Universities are avidly planning the Language Teaching in Kerala unless
introduction of PG courses in something concrete and constructive is
Communicative English! done soon.






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