Teaching English at Upper Primary Level

Vijay Kumar Agrahari

M A (Eng) (Alld.), M Ed. (Himachal),

PG Certificate in Teaching of Eng. (CIEFL-Hydra.),

PG Diploma in Edl. Management (UPRTOU-Alld.)

TGT (Eng.), KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA 2^ND SHIFT,

AMC CANTT.LUCKNOW (UP)

      Out of 28 years of my services as Trained Graduate Teacher of English so far, I spent more than 20 years working in remote places of Bihar and Eastern Part of UP. While working there, I found students making silly grammatical mistakes in their write-ups. These mistakes were generally related to subject verb concord, mixing past with present and vice versa. I was of the opinion that students at New Delhi, Lucknow or other metropolis would be more refined and grammatical. But my assumption proved wrong. At Lucknow we have students coming on transfer from different parts of the country (Lucknow being capital city, is an aspiration for many). But sparing some exceptional cases, here also situation is the same. Hence, the problem of wrong English is more of system oriented than geographical, racial or otherwise.

            If I compare present scenario with the one, when we were students (I was taught in a rural hindi medium school of Allahabad), I find that we had been more grammatical though less comfortable in expression. Question is where lies the lacuna? Why are our efforts not that successful? Answer lies in the curricula and teaching methodology that we are sticking to. Class VI to VIII English lessons are lexically inappropriate to their age group. Lesson on Kalpana Chawla in Class VI and ‘Summit Within’ and ‘The Great Stone Face’ in Class VIII are only a few examples. At this stage we are teaching them a language with its basics. Teaching Rhetoric comes next. At the present scenario when more than 60% of the class strength at these stages is below average, talking of advance rhetoric and abstract topics makes lessons bore and difficult for a student who is studying English as a Second Language. Moreover lessons should be of more Indian origin as far as its characters and geographical locations are concerned. I am not talking about the lesson on Stephen Hawkins- ‘A Visit to Cambidge’ but I do talk about ‘The Best Christmas Present in the World’ the very first lesson in class VIII.

            Besides, the quantum of the course need to be minimized if authorities really want activity based CCE to be implemented in these classes. 2 or 3 poems, five story-based or narrative-based prose lessons and a long story book of not more than 80 pages written in simple language with lexica and construction (structures) of their register can be introduced, so that the teacher can get time to engage students in activities like simulation, dramatization, recitation, word games, extempore and debates based on the lessons taught. Besides these, there can be a practice book of functional grammar also.

            I remember the CIEFL text books and their workbooks of 80s. I still admire them not because I had been a student of CIEFL but because of its real worth. The teachers of English Language of my age will appreciate if I say that these were written very scientifically. The lexical items, the vocabulary registry were as per target students, and the approach in designing exercises in Workbook was fruitfully compensating the absence of grammar book.

            Lastly, language is caught not taught hence it can be only imbibed through activities where they get a chance to listen, speak, read and write the language to be studied. We have great expectations from present government who is trying to improve the situation amending the things which have gone dormant. I hope they would look in this direction as well.

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ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION OF INDIA

--Yesterday, To-day and To-morrow)
A write-up sent for the IATEFL Blog
by

(Dr. S. Rajagopalan

(A former British Council scholar, an alumnus of  the London University Institute of Education and former Professor and Dean, Annamalai University in South India. a Founder member of ELTAI and now its  Patron.   He can be reached at <srajagopalan7@gmail.com>)

INTRODUCTION

Our Association had a humble beginning and has grown into a one of the largest professional associations of teachers in the world just like a tiny seed becoming in course of time a big Banyan tree—started with just six members, all belonging to just one city, Chennai, grown into fairly a big organization with 3864 members and 40 chapters in different parts of our country.  You may wonder how it had happened.  Well, it is quite an interesting saga.

Journal first, Association later!

It is interesting to note that our Journal was started first and  our  Association much later. Why and how did it happen? As early as 1974, The Journal of English Language Teaching (JELT) —the first of its kind in our country— was published, thanks to one of the well-known educationists of that time, the late Padmashree S. Natarajan. He really wanted to start a professional association of teachers of English but he knew that teachers would not join it paying some subscription without  some incentive. So he decided to tell teachers they would get a free copy of the Journal if they joined  the English Language Teachers’ Association once it was started.

The Journal of English Language Teaching was thus first started and it provided an opportunity for the teachers to get themselves acquainted  with recent research findings in the teaching of English and also share their experiences with others. He priced it just a rupee per copy and almost single-handedly promoted its sale. He visited schools and colleges and requested them to subscribe for it. Out of pure regard for him only some subscribed but he didn’t give up. He wrote letters to the heads of a few well-known  educational institutions in the State  requesting them to subscribe for the journal. He did not have a typewriter nor anyone to assist him and he was in fact poor health with failing eyesight but with missionary zeal he wrote letters with his own hand and did thus  the canvassing. Then there was also paucity of articles for publication. He requested his close friends—one or two—to write almost for every issue. The point is the journal saw the light of the day only due to the persistent efforts of this old man. At the beginning only a hundred copies were printed and in fact some remained unsold. But he didn’t give up and soon the circulation went up. But unfortunately it never went beyond 400 copies or so. 

ELTAI is born!

Eleven years later—in1985—Mr. Natarajan started the English Language Teachers’ Association of India (ELTAI). A small group of teacher, including the writer—just six of us met at his residence. We had a discussion on the importance of professional development of teachers as a key factor in enhancing the standards of education in our country. At that time  there were only trade unions of teachers concerned with working for the improvement of their service conditions.  At our meeting he mooted the idea of starting an Association of teachers concerned with organizing teacher development programmes—seminars and workshops—for them. We all agreed and assured him of our help in his great venture. He said enrolment of members of the new association would be easier if we said all members of the Association would get a free copy of Journal.  Thus our Association came into being and we were able to enrol about 256  members only.

Promoting ELTAI.—New strategies

After passing away of our Founder in 1974, a new team of office-bearers took charge of the Association and decided to carry forward the good work initiated by him adopting certain new strategies.

For enrolling members it was decided to conduct a number of workshops , seminars and refresher courses for teachers of English. Schools and colleges were contacted and they were told no fees would be charged from their teachers attending these staff development  programmes.

 At the programmes we organized teachers were told about the benefits of joining ELTAI –a free copy of our Journal, opportunities provided for the improvement of their  teaching competence, interacting with ELT professionals and also for getting their papers published in our Journal.  This strategy is working well and we have teachers coming forward to join ELTAI.

Another strategy adopted was to provide cash awards for teachers undertaking action research and also for using ICT tools in teaching English. The allotment of some subsidised memberships offered by IATEFL to our members has also helped to enrol new members, besides familiarizing them with the great work done by IATEFL.

Special Interest Groups. (SIGs)

There are two Special Interest Groups—English Literature SIG and Computer Technology SIG—both quite active. The former has been running an E journal—Journal of Teaching and Research in English Literature for the past five years and the other SIG has been publishing its own E Journal—Journal of Computer Technology for ELT. These two open access journals may easily be accessed on the web by clicking on he direct links given to them on the Home pahe of our website www.eltai.in  

IATEFL and Hornby Trust Projects 

ELTAI was the first recipient of the IATEFL Project grant along with another country in Europe. We received a handsome grant of GPB3000 for our innovative project on Training the Trainers in Virtual Learning. A group of 17 teachers were selected from over the country and were trained in using Web tools in ELT and they were then required to train teachers in their area. Mage 2)

Another project undertaken by our Association with support from the Hornby Trust, UK, was on training teachers in using smart phones for the teaching and learning of English.

The project now in progress relates to our ‘Shakespeare lives-2016’ celebrations undertaken in collaboration with the British Council at six different cities n India. Competitions—Monoacting, Quiz and Enacting a scene from  Shakespeare’s plays, an exhibition and Seminars form part of our programme..

Annual conferences. 

We hold our annual conferences regularly and they are international too. Thet are attended by not less than 600 teachers every year.   

    

ELTAI. An Associate of IATEFL

As an Associate of IATEFL, we are able to provide a fixed number of subsidized memberships of the world organizationto our members. Almost every year a member is sent to attend the IATEFL conference with some financial assistance from us. A few have won IATEFL scholarships too to attend the international event. There have been a few contributions too from our members  during the recent years for publication in ‘Voices’,

We have had a few speakers too at our annual conferences—Peter Grundy when he was the President, Jeremy Halmer, Eric Babar and George Pickering.

Online Discussion Forums.

Opportunities for our  members to interact with one another and also  to give them updates about out association are provided by our Google group discussion Forum, Members of the Computer Technology for ELT SIG too have got a separate online forum. 

Collaboration with the British Council.

The British Council has been collaborating with us in a number of our activities for a number of years now.

Office-bearers 
President
Dr. Sanjay Arora  
Vice-Presidents
Dr. G A. Ghanshyam 
Dr. P.N. Ramani 
Secretaaaary 
Dr. K. Elango 
Joint Secretaries
 Dr. Uma Sivaraman 
Dr. Shravankumar
Treasurer 
P>R. Kesavulu 

Looking ahead.

Our target for the current year is to enrol at least another 500 members.

We hope to start a separate website for providing the e version of our Journal. At present members may access it only on our present website.

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 1974. 

Bilapur Chapter Report-National Seminar on Shakespeare

Shakespeare Alive 2016

National Seminar

On

Reframing Shakespeare in the 21^st Century

13^th August 2016

Report

            The national seminar “Reframing Shakespeare in the 21^st Century”  under the aegis of Shakespeare Alive 2016, organised by ELT@I Bilaspur Chapter and D.L.S.PG. College, Bilaspur was held on 13^th August 2016 at D.L.S. PG. College, Bilaspur.

            The seminar had an impressive inaugural with distinguished guests gracing the occasion. The Chief Guest of the session was Dr. G. D. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, Bilaspur University; Chairperson – Prof. R. V. Shukla, Retd. Professor of Botany;  Keynote Speaker, Dr.AmolPadwad,  J. M. Patel College, Bhandara (M.S.); and Special Guests – Mr.Basant Sharma, Chairman, Governing Body, D.L.S. PG. College, Bilaspur and Mr. Ashok Joshi, Principal, D.L.S. PG. College, Bilaspur. The session commenced by paying homage to Goddess Saraswati and lighting the lamp. The Guests on the dais and off the dais were then presented saplings which were later planted in the college garden. The guests were introduced by Mrs. Rima Dutta, Faculty, D.L.S. PG. College. Dr. G. A. Ghanshyam, National Vice President, ELT@I presented the Convenor’s address. He spoke about the Shakespeare Alive 2016 and the significant role that Shakespeare plays in learning the English language. In his welcome address Mr. Joshi welcomed the guests and the delegates to the seminar and wished them a fruitful day ahead.  Mr.Basant Sharma praised the initiative and efforts of team ELT@I. Prof.Shukla pointed out the eternal charm of Shakespeare and the importance of language. The Chief Guest, Dr. G. D. Sharma revealed his vision of teaching beyond the confines of classrooms and stressed on the need of developing imaginative faculty that is mostly associated with arts and literature among the students. The session came to an end with the vote thanks rendered by Mr.Parth Sharma who thanked the guests, dignitaries, delegates and staff of D.L.S. PG. College.

            The inaugural session was followed by the key note address by Dr. Amol Padwad, entitled “Selfie with Shakespeare”. The session was chaired by Dr. Gulshan  Das, coordinated by Dr.Prasenjit Panda and Dr.Tanjeen A. Khan was the rapporteur. Dr. Padwad discussed the inspiration for his presentation through a discussion of the Michael Pennington’s article and a selfie with Shakespeare taken by college students. Going back to the precursor of the popular selfie, the “Patel Shot”, Dr. Padwad discussed the eternal popularity of Shakespeare and the challenges in teaching his plays to the students.

            The first technical session of the seminar had 09 paper presentations and was chaired by Dr. Amrita Kasture and Mr.Shailesh Mishra was the rapporteur. Topics ranging from a re-reading of the plays of Shakespeare from a post-colonialist stance; unearthing of racism to a discussion of the translation of the plays; defeminizing of Lady Macbeth; contemporariness of female characters to a cinematic adaptation of Hamlet. The session presented an eclectic collection of articles that touched upon the various multitudinous aspects of the playwright’s works.

            The second session of the day, scheduled after lunch also presented many more aspects of the dramatist’s vision and art. The session had 07 paper presentations and was chaired by Dr.Jyoti Patil and Mr.Vidya Bhushan Sharma was the rapporteur. The topics covered by the presentations ranged from Shakespeare’s attitude towards life, to his undying popularity, the presence of wit, poetic beauty and analysis of his women characters.

            A highlight of the technical sessions was participation by research scholars and postgraduate students, whose active participation, interest and insight enlivened the scholarly deliberations. The presentations were judged for two best presentation awards by the jury – Dr. Gulshan Das and Dr. Basumati Nadig.

            The seminar came to its culmination with the Valedictory session in the evening. Mrs. NiharikaBarik, IAS, Divisional Commissioner, Bilaspur, was the Chief Guest and Dr. Sheela Tiwari, Retd. Principal, Govt. Bilasa Girls’ College, Bilaspur was the Chairperson of the session. Mr. Basant Sharma, Chairman, Governing Body, D.L.S. PG. College, Bilaspur and Mr. Surinder Singh Chawla, Director, Career Point World School, Bilaspur were the Special Guests. The session began by presenting the dignitaries on the stage with saplings. Mr.RakeshDighrasker presented the report of the seminar. The prize distribution of the Inter-School Competitions held as a part of commemorating the 400^th Death Anniversary of William Shakespeare – Shakespeare Alive 2016 was carried out next. Mrs. Barik gave away the prizes for Oratory, Drama and Quiz competitions to the winners. The two best paper presentations were also awarded by the Chief Guest. The First Best Paper award with a cash prize of Rs. 1500/- was won by Dr. Prasenjit Panda, Asst. Professor, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya, Bilaspur and the Second Best Paper award with a cash prize of Rs. 1000/- by Mr. Vikas Chandani, Research Scholar, Guru GhasidasVishwavidyalaya, Bilaspur. The certificate of the Best Chapter Award won by Bilaspur Chapter for the second time was presented by Mrs.Barik to the members of the chapter.

            In her address Mrs. Barik expressed her pleasure in being part of such an academic event. She was delighted with the response of students and their active participation. Recounting her own days as a student and her reading of Shakespeare she praised the efforts of ELT@I Bilaspur Chapter for organizing the event.  Dr.SheelaTiwari in her address revealed her depth and insight on Shakespearean plays by narrating the dialogues of The Merchant of Venice. Mr.Chawla spoke eloquently on the topic of the seminar and enthralled the audience with his knowledge of Shakespeare. The seminar came to a successful finale with the vote of thanks rendered by Dr. G. A. Ghanshyam, who thanked the guests for their encouraging presence and support that made this event possible. The co-host of the event, D.L.S. PG. College, the chairman Mr. Basant Sharma and the staff, were profoundly thanked for their cooperation and assistance. Dr. Ghanshyam also expressed his gratefulness to       Mr. Surinder Singh Chawla and Career Point World School for their continued support in every endeavour of ELT@I Bilaspur Chapter. Last but not the least he thanked his team of ELT@I Bilaspur Chapter for their dedicated efforts that made Shakespeare Alive 2016 a grand success.