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The Best Method to Teach English Language

Article · March 2015

DOI: 10.16962/elkapj

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 ELK Asia Pacific Journals – Special Issue
ISBN: 978-81-930411-1-6

THE BEST METHOD TO TEACH ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Dr. T. Jeevan Kumar, Mrs. G. Sailaja,

Assistant Professor of English, Government College Lecturer in English,
(UG & PG), Ananthapuramu. Government Polytechnic, Dharmavaram.
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

In the field of English Language Teaching there have been arguments and counter arguments about the role of
various methods, approaches and techniques in learning the language. Over the centuries, these methods and
approaches have been critically in and out of favour in educational programmes. The recent expansion of
technology also led to umpteen innovative methods of teaching such as Teaching Assisted Language Learning
(TALL), Technology Enhanced Language Learning (TELL), Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL), Web
Enhanced Language Learning (WELL), and Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL). Every year the
institutions of higher learning conduct seminars, conferences, and teacher-training programmes and invite
experts on English Language teaching who give interesting talks. But the question is, Do they really help us? Do
we effectively use those techniques in the classroom? Do we actually get success in improving the students’
powers of expression? If the answer is ‘Yes’ then why the Indians are lacking communication skills and one
witnesses a marked failure in the effective use of English.

A study is made in the paper based on the Report that was published by British Council in The Deccan
Herald. The Report says:

The pace of improvement in the English language skills of the Indian population is currently too slow to prevent
India from falling behind other countries which have implemented the teaching of English in primary schools
sooner, and more successfully.

Thus, the present paper studies some of the reasons for our failures and also attempts to give a remedy to those
problems.

The liberalization of the Indian now call centres, multinational companies

economy ushered in all kinds of reasons to that need trainers to equip their employees
learn the English language. In the last with communication skills, besides medical
century, people who specialized in English transcription centres which need efficient
joined either teaching or the civil services. translators and reporters. In addition to
But today a whole new spectrum of job this, those who are desirous of immigration
opportunities has opened up. There are to the West also need the help of the
 ELK Asia Pacific Journals – Special Issue
ISBN: 978-81-930411-1-6

professionals to clear tests such as GRE, sooner, and more

TOEFL, IELTS, etc. Hence, the teaching successfully. … Poor
of English language became essential in the English is one of the causes
Indian classroom. of Indian universities falling
far short of rival countries in
The present paper is based on the
the quality of teaching and
Report that was published by The British
research.1
Council, Britain’s International Cultural
Relations Body, in The Deccan Herald. In conclusion, the study says a range of
The Report says that India is falling behind approaches is required to improve English
China in its attempts to increase the use of proficiency in India, and no single method
English, risking squandering a key will help.
economic advantage. The study estimates Before we look at the remedies to
less than five per cent of the Indian solve this problem, let us have a glimpse at
population speaks English which would the various methods and approaches which
mean that only about 55 million people in
are critically in and out of favour in
India will be fluent English speakers by educational programmes.
2010. In comparison, China adds 20
‘Grammar-Translation Method’ is
million English speakers each year as a
the oldest method of teaching English in
result of new education policies that require
India. The method emphasizes reading,
English to be a compulsory subject in
writing, translation, and the conscious
primary schools. China had 200 million
learning of grammatical rules. Its primary
English users in 1995 and currently it has
goal is to develop literary mastery of the
reached nearly 400 million English
second language. Memorization is the
speakers. The Report further says:
main learning strategy and students spend
The rate of improvement in their class time talking about the language
the English language skills instead of talking in the language.
of the Indian population is According to this method, English words,
currently too slow to prevent phrases, and sentences are taught by means
India falling behind other of word-for-word translation in to mother
countries which have tongue. In the words of O’ Grade, et al.
implemented the teaching of (1993),
English in primary schools
 ELK Asia Pacific Journals – Special Issue
ISBN: 978-81-930411-1-6

The curriculum requires the are skilled in handling language material.

memorization of paradigms, This method suits to those students who are
patterns, and vocabulary, linguistically strong as its basic principles
with translation being used that the aural-oral appeal is stronger than
to test the acquired the visual in learning a foreign language.
knowledge. Consequently, Dr. Michael West, the longtime
the role of L1 (that is, Principal of the Teachers’ Training College,
mother tongue or native studied the problem of teaching English in
language) is quite India in relation to the bilingual needs of an
prominent.2 Indian child. His method ‘Dr. West’s New
But the method ignores the natural way of Method’ is a reaction against the Direct
learning language and it aims at passive Method and suggests some improvement on
mastery of the language. It binds the it just as the Direct Method was a reaction
language within the rules of grammar and against the Translation Method. He views
makes the students passive listeners. that it is sufficient for the Indians to acquire
largely a reading acquaintance with English
Another method of teaching English
though speaking and writing are included in
is ‘the Direct Method’ that came as a
the English curriculum. But many people
reaction against the Grammar-Translation
criticized this method as they feel that the
Method. It is a method in which a new
language learning cannot be justified if it is
word or expression is connected in the
exclusively for reading purpose.
pupil’s mind directly with what stands for
and not through the medium of vernacular. ‘Bilingual Method’ is another
English is taught in the medium of English method that strikes the balance between the
and not in the medium of the mother- grammar-translation method and the direct
tongue. The pupils get many opportunities method. In this method, two languages are
to listen to spoken English that is very used, that is, one that is to be learnt
important for language mastery. It follows (English) and the mother-tongue. The basic
the natural way of learning the language. aim of this method is to help the student
But the method has its own disadvantages. speak and write fluently and accurately in
No doubt the method is very useful in the the target language. The use of the mother
early stages, but it cannot work well in tongue makes the students understand
higher classes as it requires teachers who quickly. But this method too has its own
 ELK Asia Pacific Journals – Special Issue
ISBN: 978-81-930411-1-6

disadvantages as the use of the mother ‘The Communicative Approach’

tongue affects markedly the students from argues that merely knowing how to produce
acquiring a working knowledge of English. a grammatically correct sentence is not
It also prevents direct thinking in English. enough. A communicatively competent
person must also know how to produce an
There are other methods like ‘the
appropriate, natural and socially acceptable
Natural Method,’ ‘The Phonetic Method,’
utterance in all contexts of communication.
‘The Audio-lingual Method,’ which also
‘Hey, buddy, you fix my car!’ is
stress only on a particular skill determining
grammatically correct but not as effective
the other skills of the language. Hence, no
expression in most social contexts as
method serves as a complete method. A
‘Excuse me, sir, I was wondering whether I
complete method or the best method is the
could have my car fixed today.’ The
one which develops the four important
approach lays emphasis on language
skills – Listening, Speaking, Reading, and
practice, pupils’ involvement, fluency in
Writing.
speech, cooperative relationships, etc. But
Besides the aforesaid discussed
the approach cannot be implemented in the
methods, there are some approaches of
Indian classrooms as our classrooms are
teaching English. English has been taught
over-crowded. Even average teachers with
by using different approaches and
limited language skills cannot make this
techniques from time to time. As such,
approach a success.
structural approach is one which lasted for
‘The Situational Approach’ makes
a long time. It creates suitable environment
the language teaching natural, meaningful
in the class for learning a foreign language.
and realistic by teaching the structural
It gives command over the language as
pattern and vocabulary situationally. It
there are more opportunities to the pupils to
gives a sound understanding and helps the
express their ideas, feelings and
teacher to practise the structure in relating
experiences in the English language. But
to its meaning. It also helps him in
some critics feel that the teacher cannot
building up a vocabulary of content words.
successfully teach prose, poetry, and
But it has its own limitations like the
composition and the present curricula is not
teacher has to do a lot of planning to think
suitable to follow this method.
of appropriate situation through which to
 ELK Asia Pacific Journals – Special Issue
ISBN: 978-81-930411-1-6

teach the language material meaningfully, effective use of computers. Sometimes the
lively, and effectively. management of educational institutions also
failed to establish computer laboratories to
‘The Oral Approach,’ and ‘Total
improve the standards of the students. So,
Physical Response Approach,’ are some
naturally these innovative teaching
other approaches which also failed to
methodologies with the help of computer
improve the communication skills of the
also could not serve the students.
students. The recent expansion of
technology also led to innumerable In fact, every year the Department
innovative methods of teaching such as of Higher education encourages the
Teaching Assisted Language Learning institutions of higher learning to conduct
(TALL), Technology Enhanced Language seminars, conferences, and teacher-training
Learning (TELL), Computer Assisted programmes so that the experts on the
Language Learning (CALL), Web language come out with innovative
Enhanced Language Learning (WELL), and methodologies that help the teachers in
Mobile Assisted Language Learning English Language teaching. But the
(MALL). Due to these methods, English question is, Do they really help us? Do we
language teaching (ELT) has undergone a effectively use those techniques in the
purposeful change in terms of syllabus classroom? Do we actually get success in
design, instructional material and improving the students’ powers of
techniques of teaching. This change is expression? If the answer is ‘Yes’ why in
mainly the outcome of result oriented tasks India one easily witnesses a marked failure
which led to a need-based instruction. The in the effective use of English and why do
constant interaction between the Institute the Indians lack in communication skills.
and the professional world has led to the The first and the foremost reason for
interflow of ideas and cross-fertilization of this is that the lack of clarity of vision about
concepts. With this ELT has gradually its goals. India’s association with English
become academically more meaningful and has been long and multifaceted. But its
socially more relevant. Unfortunately these teaching and learning have proved
techniques too could not solve the problem complicated, thanks to a host of factors
of English language teaching because most such as professional incompetence of the
of the teachers do not have computer
teacher, lack of interest among students,
knowledge and they could not make the improper syllabus design, lack of practice
 ELK Asia Pacific Journals – Special Issue
ISBN: 978-81-930411-1-6

and motivation from the teachers, faulty speeches, formal teaching, must be
system of examination, and a general prescribed to improve Spoken English. To
deterioration in education standards. develop writing skills components like
Another major reason that made the task of writing letters, reports, memos, orders,
English language teaching and learning notices, circulars, agenda, minutes,
really problematic is the methodology of technical proposals, abstraction and
teaching English in schools, colleges, and summarizing, research papers, articles,
universities. booklets, brochures, press releases have to
be prescribed.
As a corollary to the functional
imperatives of English language teaching, it As language is an over learned skill,
is essential to restructure the syllabus of the prescribed pieces should become the
English at schools, colleges, and springboard for the simultaneous study of
universities so as to attain the goal of language and grammar. Another thing that
functional proficiency in English. The one has to remember is that the ability in a
syllabus should be so graded that starting language grows by practice – constant and
with the basics of English language at the consistent – but not merely by knowing the
lower level, gradually the elementary and rules of grammar and cramming its
higher level may be introduced in the form vocabulary. Thus, the knowledge of
of interesting and instructive short stories, English must be imparted through
anecdotes, essays, and poems. Writing of appropriately structured syllabus which can
popular writers like Shakespeare, Narayan, be done only by an able teacher. Hence,
Ruskin, etc. may be chosen to capture the the competence of the teacher also plays a
imagination of the young minds. major role in the effective teaching of
English.
Nowadays, the English language
has gained importance in the Indian Truly speaking, the competence of
context, more specifically in relation to teacher is a vital issue to overcome the
business. As a consequence modules such problems of English language teaching.
as presenting writing material, oral The fact is that all the methods and
reporting, making inquiries, giving strategies become useless if the teacher is
instructions and directions, participating in incompetent whereas a competent teacher
meetings, seminars, interviewing, can make things happen without them.
negotiating skills, demonstrating, making Specialized training and knowledge is
 ELK Asia Pacific Journals – Special Issue
ISBN: 978-81-930411-1-6

required to develop linguistic competence remember the two-way process in which

among English language teachers, which is involvement and participation of the
simply not there. Most of the teachers students are absolutely essential. It would
remain ignorant of the new approaches, be no exaggeration to say that in most
latest aids and tools, and the changes taking classrooms in India learning of English is
place in the pedagogy of teaching and an extremely boring, even painful
learning. The teachers teach the English experience. The teacher reads a few lines
language not as a skill as it ought to be but from the text book and explains the
merely a subject to help their students to get meaning. The students sit through the class
through the examination. Consequently, at like dumb driven cattle with practically no
the end of a course, students acquire little initiative or involvement. As such they
or no proficiency in linguistic skills like learn nothing of the four basic language
speaking, reading, and writing. Frankly skills. Therefore, one must realize that one
speaking, many a teacher themselves are can learn something only by doing.
lacking in these skills. So they should be The following are some other
given periodical training through suggestions that could be considered to
workshops for better English Language uplift the standard of all English language
Teaching. In this regard M.L. Tickoo’s learners from the present irredeemable and
views are worth quoting: tragic state.
In the hands of a teacher 1. The authorities of schools and
appropriately trained, a colleges should encourage students
structural syllabus can be an to speak only in English. The
effective tool for teaching
classroom must also be made
English … It is indeed a interactive by employing various
delightful sight to see a class techniques like role-play, play
buzzing with activities like reading, group discussion, buzz
the bee-hive as it gainfully group activity, debates, elocution,
learns by doing and etc. which would involve the
speaking.3 students in the English study and
Another solution to impart English unconsciously remove the stage
language teaching effectively in the Indian fright and make the students more
classrooms is that the teacher must articulate.
 ELK Asia Pacific Journals – Special Issue
ISBN: 978-81-930411-1-6

2. The educational institutions should a diploma course in ‘Spoken

be empowered and encouraged to English and Public Speaking’ and
adopt the stream so that all students ‘What is Not Taught in the
with respect to their varying degree Classroom’ in addition to the
of proficiency in English would University prescribed English
reap the benefits of learning curriculum;
English. This system would 6. The students could be frequently
definitely provide a challenging exposed to good English plays,
atmosphere to the outstanding movies of popular classical novels
students and a healthy atmosphere and good English programmes
to the average and weaker students through video sessions in the
in English; classrooms.
3. The conventional evaluation Finally, the teaching of English is
methods should be modified not something that ‘you do the tough and
appropriately so that they assess
master the easy.’ But the reverse seems
both the learner’s theoretical true. The four components of teaching a
knowledge and oral communication language – the learner, the teacher, the
skills in English. class, and the syllabus – if properly
4. As there is a gradual rise in the organized and coordinated, English
trend towards job oriented courses, teaching and learning can be effective. To
the university could contemplate conclude, we can say that unless we rectify
vocationalizing English and and overcome the failures we cannot
designing separate English achieve success.
curriculum for every subject by
References
analyzing the requirement of
[1] “China has more English speakers than
specific jobs in consultation with
India,” Deccan Herald, 20 November
the employers and professionals of
2009.
various fields.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/3
5. According to the local needs and
6979/archives.php. Retrieved on 20-02-
standard of the students, the college 2015.
could offer an enrichment course or
 ELK Asia Pacific Journals – Special Issue
ISBN: 978-81-930411-1-6

[2] William O’Grady, Michael

Dabrovolsky, and Mark Aronoff,
Contemporary Linguistics: An
Introduction, New York: St. Martin’s
Press, 1993.

[3] M.L. Tickoo, Teaching and Learning

English, New Delhi: Orient Longman
Pvt. Ltd., 2005.

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