The purpose of this paper is to discuss the importance of developing and nurturing children’s abi... more The purpose of this paper is to discuss the importance of developing and nurturing children’s ability to read and write during the pre-school days and to explore the possibility of initiating strategies for creating literacy environment for the young children of the non-literate societies. Literacy is held in high esteem in all cultures, and that it is the symbol of prestige and power is proved by many a rhyme, popular saying and folk tale. Let us take the examples of a popular Bengali rhyme and a Hindi saying
It was a hot summer afternoon of 2016 in the capital of an Indian State which had invited us to b... more It was a hot summer afternoon of 2016 in the capital of an Indian State which had invited us to be associated with its textbook renewal exercise. We were working with the Faculty of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) of the state and a few textbook writers drawn from two other organisations working in the field of education. Suddenly, the serene academic atmosphere of the place was marred by a slogan-shouting mob who had entered the SCERT building to gherao and submit a memorandum to the Director, SCERT alleging ‘gross irregularities’ in the process of textbook revision initiated by the Government. The demonstrators also raised slogans against outside forces interfering with the textbook revision exercise of the State. The SCERT colleagues working with us in our respective groups advised us not to venture out. I peeped through the window and was shocked to see that the majority of the demonstrators were in their early twenties
Designing a language textbook is a multi-dimensional task that requires a nuanced understanding ... more Designing a language textbook is a multi-dimensional task that requires a nuanced understanding of the objectives of the language curriculum, a sound knowledge of the theories of language learning and their pedagogical implications, an understanding of the requirement of the examination boards and the language policies of the Government. In order to make a language textbook result-oriented, the author has to understand and appreciate the correlation between the theory and practice of curricular material development in language. A language textbook is not merely a collection of texts drawn from different genres; it reflects a particular pedagogic point of view arrived at by the textbook designers after taking into account the broad educational objectives that inform the curriculum followed in a particular context. In this paper, therefore, I will discuss the theory and practice of designing a language textbook in English in general and critically analyse the process of designing an English textbook for class IX in particular. I will record the theoretical considerations that prompt textbook designers to form a specific perspective of English language teaching. I will also highlight the pedagogical principles that inform the choice of the material in consonance with the theories and practice of teaching English as a second language in a in a non-native context.
This report on the 3rd International English Language Teacher Educator Conference organized by ... more This report on the 3rd International English Language Teacher Educator Conference organized by the British Council in collaboration with the English and Foreign Languages University (EFL-U), Hyderabad, India in 2013 was published in Language and Language Teaching Volume 1 Number 2 Issue 4, July 2013. As the theme of diversity was placed at the centre of the agenda of the conference, the linguistic diversity of India and the role of the mother tongue in the Indian educational system were highlighted in a number of presentations. The essence of the conference was very succinctly expressed by Prof. Sunaina Singh, Vice Chancellor of the EFL University, when she remarked that the conference had given the participants an opportunity to explore the tremendous diversity of teaching-learning approaches available to teachers and teacher educators and provided a suitable platform for discussing issues related to society’s role in particular with the ultimate objective of formalizing teacher development.
The Position Paper on Teaching English prepared in connection with the National Curriculum Framew... more The Position Paper on Teaching English prepared in connection with the National Curriculum Framework 2005 of the National Council of Educational Research and Training, an autonomous organization of the Government of India, specifies the place, role and the methodology of teaching English in India and it is accepted as the official policy document on English language teaching across the country. Though this position paper tried to articulate India’s national vision and perception of English language teaching in the context of the global ELT scenario, the implementation of its recommendations is still a far cry in India. It seems that this position paper suffers from an inherent contradiction prevalent in the national psyche of the Indians who are yet to approach the Indian ELT scenario dispassionately. The absence of a clear ideological perspective on the teaching of English in India cast its shadow on this position paper and consequently, it failed to articulate the national policy on English language teaching in an unambiguous manner. The present paper, therefore, tries to examine the issues raised by the Position Paper on Teaching English and explores the unspecified position of English language teaching in India from historical, social and pedagogic perspectives. It is assumed that the confused ELT scenario of the country is the inevitable result of a historical fallacy that conditioned the perceptions of the policy makers as well as the academicians of the country. It is argued that an integrated language curriculum in a multilingual context will promote the cause of English language teaching in India without affecting Indian languages.
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the importance of developing and nurturing children’s abi... more The purpose of this paper is to discuss the importance of developing and nurturing children’s ability to read and write during the pre-school days and to explore the possibility of initiating strategies for creating literacy environment for the young children of the non-literate societies. Literacy is held in high esteem in all cultures, and that it is the symbol of prestige and power is proved by many a rhyme, popular saying and folk tale. Let us take the examples of a popular Bengali rhyme and a Hindi saying
It was a hot summer afternoon of 2016 in the capital of an Indian State which had invited us to b... more It was a hot summer afternoon of 2016 in the capital of an Indian State which had invited us to be associated with its textbook renewal exercise. We were working with the Faculty of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) of the state and a few textbook writers drawn from two other organisations working in the field of education. Suddenly, the serene academic atmosphere of the place was marred by a slogan-shouting mob who had entered the SCERT building to gherao and submit a memorandum to the Director, SCERT alleging ‘gross irregularities’ in the process of textbook revision initiated by the Government. The demonstrators also raised slogans against outside forces interfering with the textbook revision exercise of the State. The SCERT colleagues working with us in our respective groups advised us not to venture out. I peeped through the window and was shocked to see that the majority of the demonstrators were in their early twenties
Designing a language textbook is a multi-dimensional task that requires a nuanced understanding ... more Designing a language textbook is a multi-dimensional task that requires a nuanced understanding of the objectives of the language curriculum, a sound knowledge of the theories of language learning and their pedagogical implications, an understanding of the requirement of the examination boards and the language policies of the Government. In order to make a language textbook result-oriented, the author has to understand and appreciate the correlation between the theory and practice of curricular material development in language. A language textbook is not merely a collection of texts drawn from different genres; it reflects a particular pedagogic point of view arrived at by the textbook designers after taking into account the broad educational objectives that inform the curriculum followed in a particular context. In this paper, therefore, I will discuss the theory and practice of designing a language textbook in English in general and critically analyse the process of designing an English textbook for class IX in particular. I will record the theoretical considerations that prompt textbook designers to form a specific perspective of English language teaching. I will also highlight the pedagogical principles that inform the choice of the material in consonance with the theories and practice of teaching English as a second language in a in a non-native context.
This report on the 3rd International English Language Teacher Educator Conference organized by ... more This report on the 3rd International English Language Teacher Educator Conference organized by the British Council in collaboration with the English and Foreign Languages University (EFL-U), Hyderabad, India in 2013 was published in Language and Language Teaching Volume 1 Number 2 Issue 4, July 2013. As the theme of diversity was placed at the centre of the agenda of the conference, the linguistic diversity of India and the role of the mother tongue in the Indian educational system were highlighted in a number of presentations. The essence of the conference was very succinctly expressed by Prof. Sunaina Singh, Vice Chancellor of the EFL University, when she remarked that the conference had given the participants an opportunity to explore the tremendous diversity of teaching-learning approaches available to teachers and teacher educators and provided a suitable platform for discussing issues related to society’s role in particular with the ultimate objective of formalizing teacher development.
The Position Paper on Teaching English prepared in connection with the National Curriculum Framew... more The Position Paper on Teaching English prepared in connection with the National Curriculum Framework 2005 of the National Council of Educational Research and Training, an autonomous organization of the Government of India, specifies the place, role and the methodology of teaching English in India and it is accepted as the official policy document on English language teaching across the country. Though this position paper tried to articulate India’s national vision and perception of English language teaching in the context of the global ELT scenario, the implementation of its recommendations is still a far cry in India. It seems that this position paper suffers from an inherent contradiction prevalent in the national psyche of the Indians who are yet to approach the Indian ELT scenario dispassionately. The absence of a clear ideological perspective on the teaching of English in India cast its shadow on this position paper and consequently, it failed to articulate the national policy on English language teaching in an unambiguous manner. The present paper, therefore, tries to examine the issues raised by the Position Paper on Teaching English and explores the unspecified position of English language teaching in India from historical, social and pedagogic perspectives. It is assumed that the confused ELT scenario of the country is the inevitable result of a historical fallacy that conditioned the perceptions of the policy makers as well as the academicians of the country. It is argued that an integrated language curriculum in a multilingual context will promote the cause of English language teaching in India without affecting Indian languages.
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Papers by Partha S Misra
As the theme of diversity was placed at the centre of the agenda of the conference, the linguistic diversity of India and the role of the mother tongue in the Indian educational system were highlighted in a number of presentations. The essence of the conference was very succinctly expressed by Prof. Sunaina Singh, Vice Chancellor of the EFL University, when she remarked that the conference had given the participants an opportunity to explore the tremendous diversity of teaching-learning approaches available to teachers and teacher educators and provided a suitable platform for discussing issues related to society’s role in particular with the ultimate objective of formalizing teacher development.
As the theme of diversity was placed at the centre of the agenda of the conference, the linguistic diversity of India and the role of the mother tongue in the Indian educational system were highlighted in a number of presentations. The essence of the conference was very succinctly expressed by Prof. Sunaina Singh, Vice Chancellor of the EFL University, when she remarked that the conference had given the participants an opportunity to explore the tremendous diversity of teaching-learning approaches available to teachers and teacher educators and provided a suitable platform for discussing issues related to society’s role in particular with the ultimate objective of formalizing teacher development.