{"id":367,"date":"2010-07-22T08:57:24","date_gmt":"2010-07-22T08:57:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.eltweekly.com\/elt-newsletter\/?p=367"},"modified":"2010-07-22T08:57:24","modified_gmt":"2010-07-22T08:57:24","slug":"65-article-allow-reading-aloud-to-feel-proud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/?p=367","title":{"rendered":"#65, Article: ‘Allow Reading Aloud to Feel Proud"},"content":{"rendered":"

ALLOW \u2018READING ALOUD\u2019 TO FEEL PROUD<\/strong><\/p>\n

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*Dr. G.A. Ghanshyam<\/strong><\/p>\n

Head, Department of English, Govt. M.L.Shukla College, Seepat, Bilaspur (C.G.) India.\u00a0Email: gagshyam@gmail.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Speech is civilization itself. The word, even the most contradictory word, preserves contact \u2013 it is silence which isolates.<\/strong><\/p>\n

– Thomas Mann<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Speech, the first form of communication came much earlier than the written form of<\/p>\n

language in the progress of civilization. Even today there are many tribes, which have an oral form of language with a non-existent written script. Though writing preserves the wisdom, knowledge and experience of man for posterity, yet it is the spoken form of the language that\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 gains in stature and priority.<\/p>\n

The world in which we are living today is a globalized world, a world entirely dependent on effective modes of communication. Language being the medium of communication, it is essential that a certain degree of perfection be achieved in the area. According to Ludwig Wittgenstein \u201cWhat can be said at all can be said clearly; and whereof one cannot speak thereof one must be silent.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 –<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lucidity and clarity of the spoken word is very essential for communication to be\u00a0effective and useful. All our social, personal, political and economical interactions are based on the foundations of correct and accurate use of the language; that is an efficient communication system. So language learning occupies a pivotal place in our life.<\/p>\n

Language learning involves development of the four basic skills, LSRW that is listening, speaking, reading and writing. So for the development of speech skills firstly what we require is to listen to the language being spoken. Listening is placed first in the acquisition of language skills because it is through listening and imitation that a child learns a language. And when the child imitates he does so in the spoken form. Only after the first two skills are developed the child goes on to acquire reading and writing skills. However in case of second language learning the students have to face a serious handicap and that is the lack of proper environment conducive to the development of the first two skills. In such a case it is primarily through the development of the third skill, reading, that a learner can learn to speak correctly.<\/p>\n

Acquisition of language requires the development of the vocabulary and comprehension powers of the learner. Unless the student is placed in an atmosphere that helps him\/her to imbibe and develop these skills, language learning will pose a problem. For a learner to be proficient in the language, nuances of the language need to be learnt.<\/p>\n

Second language learning like ESL is an essential part of our curriculum today. In this age of globalization and revolutionary advancement of communication, English has become a universal language, a language that has broken down barriers and immensely contributed to the emergent trend of the world being seen as a \u2018global village\u2019. In the Indian context, English has not only shed its colonial image and taken roots in the native soil but has also transcended the regional divide effectively. Recognition of English as the second official language and the immense potential that it has come to represent for the skilled human resource of the country on a global level has greatly increased the importance of the language.<\/p>\n

Though English has been included in our course curricula from the school level continuing till the time we graduate, yet the level of competence achieved in the language is hardly satisfactory. Learning in an atmosphere that is not very favourable to the development of the language skills hampers the learners\u2019 progress. As there is not much scope for the student to listen and speak the language as a part of their learning process, it is essential that proper concentration and guidance be given to the development of reading skill.<\/p>\n

Reading has various advantages and plays an important role in the acquisition of language. Reading can be of two kinds- silent reading and reading aloud. Silent reading has its own benefits but in the present case scenario that is in the development of language skills, reading aloud needs to be emphasized.<\/p>\n

Acquisition of language especially for oral communication requires proper attention to be given in the acquiring of the various nuances of the language like pronunciation, intonation, stress, pauses, punctuation, voice modulation, expression, etc.<\/p>\n

However despite its importance the art of reading is steadily getting lost among the new generation of students.<\/p>\n

\u2018Reading\u2019 as a habit is fast disappearing amongst the younger generation. They would prefer to see a movie adaptation of a novel or a play because \u2018reading\u2019 can be time consuming. (Major, 2004: 31)<\/p>\n

Advent of the electronic media and modern modes of computer-based education is distancing the learner\u2019s from the printed texts. Gradually they are losing touch with books and joys of reading. It is therefore very essential that:<\/p>\n

The student must be trained to read and think about the text rather than just listen to lectures on its literary and linguistic nuances. (Jose, 2003: 27)<\/p>\n

Reading aloud is the closest that an average Indian student can get to speaking and listening to the language. For development of oral communication in English, which has gained much importance in the present context, it is necessary that the student learn to speak correctly. Reading aloud gives them an opportunity to not only practice their speech skills but also develop the confidence to speak in public. The practice also provides the student with an opportunity to correct himself\/herself wherever he\/she falters while reading.<\/p>\n

It is a common phenomenon in India that the teachers of English have to hassle a lot in motivating and inspiring the students to speak English, the target language. The disinterestedness and the lack of motivational approach from the teacher have made the target language the most vulnerable among the learners. Keeping reading aloud in mind I have undertaken the responsibility of motivating the students and also to create interest among them towards English. During my teaching in the English class, I planned to carry out an experiment of reading aloud in English with the undergraduate class in the rural area, so as to make them confident, efficient and determined. The students who were reluctant to utter a single word in English have been asked to read the textual lesson in the class everyday.<\/p>\n

Before setting out with the execution of my experiment, it would be worthwhile to have a glimpse of the problems faced by the miserable lot of English teachers, and the objectives that we aim to achieve by overcoming these obstacles to knowledge.<\/p>\n

OBSTACLES TO PROGRESS:<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>Innumerable problems and obstacles plague the job of an English teacher in his\/her professional life. Some basic problems hampering the progress of the class are:-<\/p>\n