Emerging Need of Nationwide Training and Development of English Language Teachers of Primary Schools

by Pratap Kumar Dash (Ph.D. ,P.G.D.T.E.,P.G.D.C.E), Assistant Professor of English, Faculty of Education, Brak Sebha University, Libya

Abstract

The paper focuses on the importance of ELT in India at present. Then, it points out the current practice of teaching of English at Primary level nationwide in general; the specific problems; and its consequences. Then, it proposes a long lasting, effective, modest and dynamic training programme for the teachers of English language for establishing a strong and solid  background among the pupils at Primary stage equivalent to the Native speakers of the language for achieving a special position in the world .

Introduction:

There is a popular saying that it is better to manure saplings earlier than to take care of trees later. In the context of language learning and teaching, this saying can be applied too. It is better to take care of the language learning of pupils and language teaching to pupils when they are budding but not brooding at a later time. For this, the role of the language teacher is very important. In the words of Jeremy Harmer, a language teacher is not only to teach but to act as a ‘facilitator’. The teacher has to perform the “Roles such as prompter, resource, or tutor…” (Harmer 2001:57). He goes on defining a language teacher as a ‘controller’, ‘organizer’, ‘assessor’, ‘prompter’, ‘participant’, ‘observer’, ‘a performer’, ‘a teaching aid’, ‘a language model’ and ‘provider of comprehensible input’. Worth saying, in the ever-growing field of skills of language teaching, many changes, experiments, and achievements are evident worldwide. This warrants language teachers’ consciousness and interest to learn the new skills and apply them in their respective levels of teaching to get a solid and effective output.

Statement of the Problem:

Worth saying that for more than two decades, Indians are flying to many Asian, African, European and Australian countries either as teachers of English, or software professionals and also join various other technical and scientific jobs. Similarly, multinational companies and globalization brings in the world into the country in many ways. This is going to continue in future too. In India, English is no more an optional language .It has become virtually an assimilated language with all the regional as well as national languages. English language is the strength for all to earn bread and butter and communicate with the rest of the world. India can supply more hands to the World in different sectors with the strength of English language than the Natives. This is high time to forget playing any politics or hide and seek in making pupils learn English at par with the developed Native speakers system of teaching and learning. (more…)