English Language Problems Presentation 1

Problems of Using English in Pakistan

at

Secondary level classesSecondary level classes

Army Public School and College Army Public School and College Attock CanttAttock Cantt

http://www.moe.gov.pk

English Language English Language

English is being treated as a world English is being treated as a world language because of its vast presence language because of its vast presence all over the world. all over the world.

At this juncture, learning English gains At this juncture, learning English gains commands on English language. commands on English language.

Language ProblemLanguage Problem

There has been a serious break down of our There has been a serious break down of our educational system. educational system.

It has happened due to several reasons.It has happened due to several reasons. These are poor budget allocations, uninspiring/ These are poor budget allocations, uninspiring/

syllabus, unimaginative planning, and loss of syllabus, unimaginative planning, and loss of idealism and dedication of teachers due to their idealism and dedication of teachers due to their training. training.

The dual medium of instruction is another problem The dual medium of instruction is another problem along with poor enrollment of students. along with poor enrollment of students.

The result is that education has not taken up roots The result is that education has not taken up roots even after 63 years of independence. even after 63 years of independence.

Statement of the ProblemStatement of the Problem

Language is the best taught when it is used to Language is the best taught when it is used to communicate messages and conversationcommunicate messages and conversation

English Language and SubjectEnglish Language and Subject

The English medium and the Urdu medium schools The English medium and the Urdu medium schools these days a new development and entirely a post-these days a new development and entirely a post-Independence phenomenon. Independence phenomenon.

The government had no education policy to satisfy the two The government had no education policy to satisfy the two

demands and was not in a position to ignore either. With demands and was not in a position to ignore either. With political interests coming into educational field the issue of political interests coming into educational field the issue of medium of instructions was politicized and there was a great medium of instructions was politicized and there was a great demand to switch over to the National Language as the demand to switch over to the National Language as the medium of instruction. medium of instruction.

Duality of standards of English Duality of standards of English medium and Urdu medium schoolsmedium and Urdu medium schools

English will be an easy subject in English medium schools. English will be an easy subject in English medium schools. Thus, the duality of standards of English medium and Urdu medium Thus, the duality of standards of English medium and Urdu medium

schools, is the education policy of a class society aimed at maintaining schools, is the education policy of a class society aimed at maintaining and strengthening the elite in Pakistan1.and strengthening the elite in Pakistan1.

The concept of teaching English as a foreign language in Pakistan is The concept of teaching English as a foreign language in Pakistan is absolutely misleading. In fact, when we think of teaching a foreign absolutely misleading. In fact, when we think of teaching a foreign language, it generally means to impart instruction only to a limited language, it generally means to impart instruction only to a limited number of people who would like to learn that language for some number of people who would like to learn that language for some specific purpose. specific purpose.

Teaching of English in Pakistan is actually a programme close to that Teaching of English in Pakistan is actually a programme close to that of mass literacy, even more difficult, mass literacy is not imposed. of mass literacy, even more difficult, mass literacy is not imposed.

The problem of teaching English in Pakistan is not just the problem of The problem of teaching English in Pakistan is not just the problem of teaching a foreign language. Nobody seems to have thought of this teaching a foreign language. Nobody seems to have thought of this dimension of the problem.dimension of the problem.

Educational Policies and Language Educational Policies and Language problem in Pakistanproblem in Pakistan

Our education policy in general, and the language policy in Our education policy in general, and the language policy in particular, have further confounded an already hopeless particular, have further confounded an already hopeless situation. situation.

English cannot be given up and no earnest effort is made English cannot be given up and no earnest effort is made to provide for its proper teaching. to provide for its proper teaching.

Proficiency in English has actually come to be regarded as Proficiency in English has actually come to be regarded as a criterion of education and culture. a criterion of education and culture.

Those persons who fail to acquire this proficiency feel Those persons who fail to acquire this proficiency feel socially backward and develop an acute inferiority complex socially backward and develop an acute inferiority complex and become mentally sick in English medium schoolsand become mentally sick in English medium schools

Every year a large number of candidates in various Every year a large number of candidates in various examinations fail mainly due to English. examinations fail mainly due to English.

Literature ReviewLiterature Review ““A comparative analysis of the Secondary and the British GCE-O level A comparative analysis of the Secondary and the British GCE-O level

programme” especially with reference to science education.programme” especially with reference to science education.

The major objectives of the study were to conduct a comparative The major objectives of the study were to conduct a comparative analysis of the policy objective, scheme of studies, curriculum analysis of the policy objective, scheme of studies, curriculum objectives, contents, teaching methods and the examination system objectives, contents, teaching methods and the examination system of Pakistani SSC level and the British GCE-O level programme in of Pakistani SSC level and the British GCE-O level programme in Pakistan.Pakistan.

A Comparative Study of English Language writing courses meant for A Comparative Study of English Language writing courses meant for teaching writing skills at Matriculation and “O” levels. The ‘O' Level teaching writing skills at Matriculation and “O” levels. The ‘O' Level students are good at English in terms of writing skills. Traditional students are good at English in terms of writing skills. Traditional courses are encouraging cramming which is hazardous in the courses are encouraging cramming which is hazardous in the development of writing skills. Functional courses are very useful as development of writing skills. Functional courses are very useful as they promote understanding and concept based learning. they promote understanding and concept based learning.

Grammar Translation MethodGrammar Translation Method

Grammar Translation Method is the Grammar Translation Method is the thing of the past; whereas Direct thing of the past; whereas Direct Method is the thing of present era. Method is the thing of present era.

Developing reading comprehension at Developing reading comprehension at Secondary level in Urdu medium schools even Secondary level in Urdu medium schools even today loud reading enjoys very special place in our today loud reading enjoys very special place in our educational system.educational system.

English Language learning strategies are a English Language learning strategies are a valuable addition to the challenging tasks of valuable addition to the challenging tasks of learning and teaching a second language. learning and teaching a second language.

Problem faced by the teachers by Problem faced by the teachers by using English Languageusing English Language

1.1. Lack of good command of the English Lack of good command of the English language both spoken and writtenlanguage both spoken and written

Teachers hold the good conversation in Teachers hold the good conversation in English with most standard SSC LEVELEnglish with most standard SSC LEVEL

Lack of communication skillsLack of communication skills

The current situation and the root The current situation and the root causes of the problemscauses of the problems

Acquisition is a monumental task with five main Acquisition is a monumental task with five main components9:components9:

i. phonology i. phonology

ii. vocabulary ii. vocabulary

iii. grammariii. grammar

iv. discourse (how sentences are put together such iv. discourse (how sentences are put together such as stories, explanations)as stories, explanations)

v. pragmatics (rules about how to use the v. pragmatics (rules about how to use the language).language).

What is needed for Good English What is needed for Good English Teaching and learningTeaching and learning

Consideration of what is needed for Consideration of what is needed for good English teaching and learning good English teaching and learning

for Standardfor Standard Equipping the teachers with secure knowledge of the basic Equipping the teachers with secure knowledge of the basic

structures, vocabulary and pronunciation which can structures, vocabulary and pronunciation which can underpin:underpin:

effective real use of English in routine events in the effective real use of English in routine events in the classroomclassroom

Some specific teaching of elements of English within a Some specific teaching of elements of English within a planned schemeplanned scheme

Developing in the teacher a positive and enthusiastic Developing in the teacher a positive and enthusiastic attitude towards Englishattitude towards English

Enabling the teacher to apply principles of effective Enabling the teacher to apply principles of effective SECONDARY teaching to the specific instance of English SECONDARY teaching to the specific instance of English teachingteaching