Integrated Communicative and Functional Approach to Teaching English Proficiency Course
Article Details
Pub. Date
:
Mar, 2014
Product Name
:
The IUP Journal of English Studies
Product Type
:
Article
Product Code
:
IJES81403
Author Name
:
A Ratna Malathi
Availability
:
YES
Subject/Domain
:
English Studies
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:
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No. of Pages
:
9
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Abstract
English has become a universal language. Proficiency in English language has become a yardstick in placements and recruitment criteria. Paying attention to this aspect, many universities, especially Deemed universities, are opting for introducing special courses in English regardless of regular English subjects; one among them is Vignan University. The University has designed a course, ‘English Proficiency Course (EPC)’, to make the students proficient in English. The present paper is based on Training of Trainers (TOT) workshop organized by Vignan University in 2013 on EPC. The basic aim of the workshop was to explore the effective use of communicative and functional approach to English language teaching and learning. This paper is written in two sections: first, a discussion of theoretical perspectives of exploring issues and concerns to use communicative and functional approach in EPC classes to engage students in learning process; second, a presentation of some of the activities employed in the workshop for better learning outcome. It also believes that there is a wide scope of research for experimenting various teaching methods and approaches to special proficiency courses offered by universities.
Description
Despite systematic learning of language for many years, students find it difficult not only to speak and write fluently and accurately but also fail to comprehend the academic texts, especially in professional courses. Proficiency in English is thus essential for an engineering student to partake in the academic discourse of the classroom, since most of the literature on the latest advances in engineering domain as well as standard scientific and technical journals use English language. Further, an engineering student is expected to speak and write in all professional situations once she/he becomes a part of the multicultural environment. Focusing on this aspect, Vignan University has designed a course, English Proficiency Course (EPC), to make all students entering the university proficient in English. The main purpose of the course is to enable every student on the campus to speak and
write in English comfortably in both academic and non-academic contexts. The course has been introduced into B.Tech curriculum of the University with an expected learning outcome that by the end of 100 hours program, 90% of students on the campus will be proficient in English and be ready to take an Intermediate Level English Proficiency Test by an external certifying agency. Keeping in view the expected course outcome, the Department of English organized a workshop. The workshop was aimed at familiarizing communicative and functional approach to language teaching and developing appropriate strategies to overcome common difficulties inhibiting student learner in the language learning process by leveraging technology and online resources for promoting student learning.
Integration of Communicative and Functional Approach:
Keywords
English Studies Journal, Integrated Communicative, Functional Approach, Teaching English Proficiency Course, English Proficiency Course, Training of Trainers (TOT), Functional Skills Standards.
