LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 18:1 January 2018
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
         N. Nadaraja Pillai, Ph.D.
         Renuga Devi, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.
         Dr. S. Chelliah, Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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Newspapers as Supplementary text for Pedagogical Activity
in ESL Classroom

Mrs. Saritha Reddy, M.A., B.Ed.
Dr. Shahana Nazneen, M.A., B.Ed., Ph.D.

Abstract

Newspapers are one of the best available exhaustive source for practicing English language. English enjoys the status of ex-officio language of the country. It is taught as a third language in schools and as a second language at college level. The highest number of newspapers is published in English language throughout the country. Keeping this in mind we cannot ignore that majority of learners are exposed to English language not through television or movies but through newspapers.

Reading newspapers is seemingly an intellectual habit. Newspapers have wider reach and acceptance. In such a scenario it is but natural that newspapers sooner or later find their way into the language classrooms. Language teachers traditionally depend on the prescribed course books to teach English. These course books provide detailed explanations for every aspect of language and expect the learners to grasp everything. However research in pedagogy has proved that language learning is better facilitated in environs where language interaction is natural. Newspapers can fulfill the role of environ where language occurs naturally because the language is authentic. Young adult learners of language easily connect with newspapers than a technical English text. Newspapers are linguistically rich and varied. An ESL classroom that focuses on functional English can make effective use of newspapers. Newspapers can be used to enhance the skills of reading, writing, listening, speaking and vocabulary building. The best feature about making newspapers a guide in language class is that it is relatable to slower learners as well as advanced learners.

Introduction

English language has stood the test of time in a multilingual country such as India and emerged successful. It is the ex-officio language of India and one of the most commonly spoken languages. Today we can find people, both, educated and uneducated speaking and understanding English with various degrees of skill. A linguistically rich country such as India shows distinct difference in register and dialect from place to place even when the mother tongue may be one. We may assume learning a foreign language must be an easy task for a country exposed to such wide variety of languages. This is sadly not the case. Inspite of being exposed to English language since early childhood education we find our young learners struggling to learn English language. The flourish and finesse of a native speaker is desirable but unattainable. The young adults of today, whatever their educational background, have subconsciously come to terms that they can only try to learn English this much. In such a scenario, a teacher, how much ever good intentioned and capable, can seldom help the learners.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Mrs. Saritha Reddy, MA, B.Ed.
Associate Professor (English)
Kasireddy Narayan Reddy College of Engineering and Research
Hyderabad
Telangana
India
saritamalreddy@gmail.com

Dr. Shahana Nazneen MA, B.Ed, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, English
CMR College of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad
Telangana
India
shahanasyd@gmail.com

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