LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Personal and Labour Market Environment Factors in English for Employability:
A Case Study of KSA

J. Samuel Kirubahar, M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D., B.Ed.
V. Jeya Santhi, M.A., M.Phil., B.Ed., DCA.
A. Subashini, M.A., M.Phil., B.Ed.

Abstract

The magic impetus behind the employment scenario today is the word of spell -"Employability". The concept of employability has been in the literature for many years. Current interest has been driven by the changing nature of public employment policy, with increasing emphasis being given to skills-based solutions to economic competition and work-based solutions to social deprivation.

The term "employability" refers to a person's capability of gaining initial employment, maintaining employment and obtaining new employment if required. The employability of an individual depends on the KSA - Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes that one possesses; the way in which these three assets are used and presented to the employers; crucially, the context (for instance-personal circumstances and labour market environment) within which one seeks work.

The changing nature of the work environment, the emergence of technology-driven processes and the diversified needs are the challenges to the ability of College and University students to meet the demand for employable higher order learners. In the current global job market, employability skills bag the first place. These skills can be termed as 'Soft Skills' which are given utmost importance in campus proceedings. Many learners need various forms of support to overcome the physical and mental barriers to learn English for personal development. It was one of the pillars of the Employment Strategy until the reformulation in 2000 along with entrepreneurship, adaptability and equal opportunities since the skills are the global currency for a globalizing world.

What we need is a "Thought Shift" from employment to employability; from providing fish to teaching how to fish. Our progress will not be worth of the trip if we do not give a majority of our students the strength and self-esteem that comes with a job. The journey has just begun with regard to the challenge of linking Education to Employability in the global knowledge economy. As per the recent researchers view, language teaching and learning is more effective if the curriculum is styled to suit the learner needs and if the learners are given greater responsibility for their learning process.

1. Introduction

The magic impetus behind the employment scenario today is the word of spell "Employability". The concept of employability has been in the literature for many years. Current interest has been driven by the changing nature of public employment policy, with increasing emphasis being given to skill - based solutions to economic competition and work based solutions to social deprivation. In Professor Amartya Sen's words, Indian economy has to be people-oriented as against the multinational economy which is commodity-based. (Dhanavel. P, "Globalization, English Teaching and Information Technology", p.30).

2. What is Employability?

The term, "Employability" refers to a person's capability of gaining initial employment, maintaining employment and obtaining new employment, if required. The employability of an individual depends on KSA - Knowledge, Skills, Attitude that one possesses; the way in which these three assets are used and presented to the employers. It also includes personal circumstances and labour market environment within which one seeks work.

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Research Centre in English
VHN Senthikumara Nadar College
Virudhunagar
Tamilnadu, India