METHODOLOGY FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS

Theoretical Inputs Status of English in India English was introduced in India two centuries ago by the East India Company first for trade and commerce. It was once the language of our rulers. Later, the language expanded into all spheres of public life, became the medium of instruction in schools and colleges. The famous Lord Macaulay's minute of 1835 was the turning point in the history of our education. The Wood's Despatch of 1854 which is often preferred to as the Magna Carta of English Education in India stabilized the position of English system. During the British rule, English was the language of the state, all official correspondence had to be done in English. All the administrative jobs, even petty clerical posts were open only to those who had knowledge of English. English has become to be the only language that is widely known among educated classes of the country. It has been stressed that much of our national unity in political and other spheres of activity has been brought about through the study of English Language, literature and modern western thought by all educated Indians. The present position of India in the international sphere is partly due to the command that educated Indians have acquired over English. Many eminent educationists and scientists have, therefore, expressed the opinion that under no circumstances should we sacrifice the many advantages that we have gained by study of English. They hold that on matters pertaining to education, sentiment should not be the ruling factor and that what was most urgently needed was that our youth acquire knowledge from all sources and contribute their share to its expansion and developments. In the attainment of this objective, study of English is bound to play an important part. Ever since, Lord Macaulay introduced English as medium of instruction in schools and colleges; Bilingual Education in India has always been a study of status of English language teaching and regional languages. After independence and the emergence of linguistic states, a new educational policy was introduced.