LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Internet Usage and Its Effect on Reading Skill among the College Students -
A Case Study of Coimbatore Region

S. Anand Lenin Vethanayagam, Ph.D.

Introduction

The technology which finds place everywhere comforts the users in many a way and inconvenience in certain ways as well. However, using technology for performing cooking, or entertainment or education or any type of social activity have become things of the current age. The scientific advancement in the field of communication is beyond compare and still more wonders are to be expected to occur in the years to come

So the Internet can play multiple roles in language communication. It originated on the mainframe as a tutor that delivers language skill practice. With the advent of multimedia technology on the personal computer, and with the development of computer networks, it now serves as a medium of local and global communication and a source of authentic materials. This multiplicity of roles has made the computer an electronic workbook and the varieties of software open new avenues to better their peoples' language use. The betterment in their language depends on a number of factors, including the nature of interaction via computer, the socio-cultural contexts that shape that interaction and the way that students communicate and use the multimedia modes.

The college students with their English language interact globally through Internet. This phenomenon paves way for improvising the language skills of students significantly. Technologically there has been some development of computer networking; which allows the computer to be used as a vehicle for interactive human communication.

Computer Technology in Communication

Computer networking allows a powerful extension of the computer as-tool in that it now facilitates access to other people as well as to information and data computer networking. In the education setup provides two important technological and social developments.

1) Computer mediated Communication (CMC)
2) Globally Linked Hypertext

Computer mediated communication allows the users in either asynchronous (not simultaneous) or synchronous (simultaneous, in real time) mode. The tools such as e-mail allows participants to compose message whenever they choose or Internet Relay chat which allows individuals all around the world to have a simultaneous conversation by typing at their key boards. CMC permits not only one-to-one communication but also one-to-many communication. Participants share not only brief messages but also lengthy documents facilitating collaborative reading and writing.

Globally linked hypertext and hypermedia, as represented in the World Wide Web, represents a revolutionary new medium for organizing, linking and accessing information. It's important features are

1) Informational representation through multipliers strands linked electronically.
2) Integration of graphics, audio, and audiovisual information together with texts.
3) Rapid global access and 4) Ease and low cost of international publication.

The worldwide web offers an abundance of information resources whose utility is just beginning to be tapped. Using the World Wide Web, students can search through millions of fields around the world within minutes locate and access authentic materials. These features can facilitate an approach to use technology in which authentic and creative communication is integrated. Further more, the World Wide Web has tremendous potential for creating and providing access to multiuser, interactive multimedia environments.

Despite today's computer programs not yet intelligent enough to be truly interactive, there are apparent advantages. Computer programs that are capable of evaluating the appropriateness of a user's writing or speech, and intelligently choosing among a range of communicative response options are not expected to exist for quite some time. Although intelligent computer assisted communication may be the next and ultimate usage of computer, it still remains a distant dream.

So the computer can play multiple roles in language communication. It originated on the mainframe as a tutor that delivers language skill practice. With the advent of multimedia technology on the personal computer, and with the development of computer networks, it now serves as a medium of local and global communication and a source of authentic materials. This multiplicity of roles has made the computer an electronic workbook and the varieties of software open new avenues to better their peoples' language use. The betterment in their language depends on a number of factors, including the nature of interaction via computer, the socio-cultural contexts that shape that interaction and the way that students communicate and use the multimedia modes.

Language

Every developed language possesses four important skills viz, listening, speaking, reading and writing (LSRW) as tools of communication.

Listening is a passive and receptive skill. It includes perception and decoding of the audible signals, which come to the ear. Listening skill is applied for capturing the meaning from the speech. It is the first and foremost skill acquired by every normal human being.

Speaking skill is an active and productive oral skill. It is an effective mode of communication that includes production and encoding of audio signals. It plays a very major role in the day-to -day language activities.

Reading skill is a literacy skill, it is a passive and receptive skill and it helps to acquire knowledge and experience transmitted through writing. In Social context, reading is considered as a highly elegant skill. In most of the communicative activities, the role of reading is inevitable.

Writing is also a literacy skill. It is active and productive skill. Historically this skill is acquired at a later phase of language development and of language learning. In pedagogy writing an advanced level of language skill, is considered as an important skill for teaching /testing procedure.

The language skills are otherwise recognized as passive and active skills. The productive skills viz., speaking and writing are now-a-days denominated as active skills since the language users while involving in the act of writing or speaking, are so active. That is, the act of speaking or writing is explicitly seen by other and for excreting these acts, either as a speaker or writer, one has to physically do certain overt behavior, and for the act of listening, or reading, one need not take special effort overtly. Therefore, the skills of listening and reading are known as passive skills.

Role of English in Modern World

English, in modern days has not only been functioning as a lingua franca but also as a panacea for communication barriers being arisen because of the linguistic diversities on the road of world wide information transmission transmitted either through conventional or modern technological media. If one misses the bus in learning English; in the modern social behavior he cannot make head or tail out of the English utterances or sentences. The knowledge of English in globalized village is a prerequisite for every individual to perform many a social activity and for social maintenance especially for one's private and professional life.

Language Skill Vs Internet

If one takes an inclusive view if all language activities, the number of abilities or skill is fairly large. For example, such a set would include appreciation of literature, recitation, commercial correspondence, and translation, etc. However, for the lower levels, the abilities revolve themselves into the following general skills.

The understanding of oral languages.

1. The speaking of language
2. The reading of language
3. The writing of language

From one perspective, there is an affinity between 1 & 2 and between 3 & 4 since the former involve audible and the later graphic signs. However, according to the nature of activities the preferable grouping is 1and 3 and 2 and 4. This may be brought out more clearly if we present four abilities in the form and order.

1. Understanding what is heard.
2. Understanding what is read
3. Expressing ideas in speech
4. Expressing ideas in writing

When we speak or write we are engaged in producing or reproducing language. On the other hand, when we listen to others speaking or when read our role is receptive.

The term usually applies to mark the distinction between the two sets of functions, active and passive. These terms are open to objection as they mean simply that listening and readings are not activities. It is only when we note the vast distinction between reception and production of language that by contrast that one appears to be an active process and the other almost passive. The terms are retainined here for convenience owing to these having gained currency as both objectives and norms.

Study Area - Coimbatore Region

Coimbatore (population-1.25 million) is the second biggest city of the southern state of Tamilnadu, India and is identified as one of the fast developing metros of India. There are about 50,000 small, medium and large-scale industries. It has 5 universities, 25 Engineering Institutions & more than 100 arts & science colleges.

Coimbatore City is strategically located at the junction of the three modern southern states Tamilnadu, Kerala and Karnataka with proximity to many important cities of Southern India. It is well connected by air and surface transport. This friendly city has a salubrious climate and surrounded by major tourist spots, has always been a natural favorite with international tourists. The scenic hill stations of Ooty, Munnar and Kodaikannal, the historic temples of Perur, Palani, the historic city of Madurai, Guruvayur, the nearby exciting Kerala with its enchanting back-waters and ayurvedic health resorts to name a few are all a couple of hours drive.

Coimbatore has been a major center for higher education from the early 18th century. Coimbatore has an Agricultural University, several Government and private engineering colleges, two medical colleges and a number of science and arts colleges, which offer Bachelor Degree, Master Degree and Doctorate Degree. The most famous are the Bharathiar University, Coimbatore Institute of Technology, Kumara guru College of Technology and PSG College of technology whose annual Design Data Book is said to be the engineering industry's bible. There are a number of reputed and well-equipped education institutions in Coimbatore, which are of high standard compared to any other institute in the whole of Tamilnadu. The colleges have a large number of academic programs to choose from. Coimbatore Institutes specializes in high quality teaching with emphasis on fundamentals and innovative concepts. All the Collages are well staffed and well equipped to meet the needs of latest technological trends and International standards. Coimbatore was the only city with a wide variety of courses and higher education facility in southern districts of Tamilnadu.

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