Reflections on three days interaction with Prof J.H. Khan

ELT Task: Three Days interactions with Prof. J.H. Khan

English Language Teaching

16-18 August 2018

Three days guest lecture by Prof. J.H. Khan sir seems very fruitful and beneficial for all of us. We have learnt so many essential and important things about ELT by ELT specialist Khan sir. Here is brief over view of all these three days learning. Every day he deals with two interactions. In this way he has covered six interactions about English language learning. On first day he has discussed about Net-Slet in combine class with Sem 1 students.

Day 1
 i) Developments preceding the dawn of the millenium
ii) Net-Slet: The great Challenge

Day 2
i) Initiation to ELT in higher education.
ii) English for specific purpose (ESP): The academic angle

Day 3
i) English for academic purposes- Liz Hamp Lyons
ii) Assessment and evaluation: The shifting paradigm

There are many important things spoken by Khan sir. On the very first day he spoke about the importance of learning and how to build confident in ourself to present each and every thing in a very effective way. He says that only knowledge helps us to build self confident.

Importance of skill

Now a days non employability is increasing among youths that is only because of lacking basic skills. One must need to improve skills to reach towards the goal. Creativeness helps us in improving various skills, a student need to be creative rather than only remaining in only text oriented skill. Out of text there is big world full of new ideas about life, about art etc.

The Rationale

Student need to be rational rather than emotional. Khan sir spoke about very strong idea  about himself that he always prays about don't make him dependent on other. to be independent is the basic requirement.

Numeration inventions

There are numerous inventions by many scholars. But if people don't know how to use that inventions then it is useless and harmful for society. It may cause chaos. Every training is required, whether it is about building public relations or  about improving communication skills. Then only the threat of non-employability can overcome.

How a university would be?

i)Flexible
ii) Innovative
iii) Creative

As a literary student we are not creating knowledge, even the PHD course also not creating knowledge. The ability to compete and to get motivated came only from creative Ideas. There is need of change in the system. As normally what we believe is in limiting each and everything, we never think of competition. Whatever marks we have got we don't do anything for improving it to one step more.

Seek knowledge

In order to gain knowledge we have to seek knowledge. In reality we are not seeking knowledge we are demanding knowledge. We have to do lots of hard work then only we can get the power to change. Useless seeking not carried any meaning.

Teacher's role

The very first thing a teacher must do is  to motivate his/her students. The student should get positive response.
Difference in the university system of foreign countries and India
a) Trimester system
There is trimester system in foreign world where there are 10 weeks of teaching and 4 weeks of working vacations. There are many founadations courses, sandwich courses( means mixed courses)

b) Freedom of designing courses
Professors have their freedom to design their own courses in America, but that was not the case with Indian Professors.There should be learner oriented syllabus by keeping learners in mind and then designing the course. Otherwise the learners remains passive.

A person is considered as educated in true sense if he does these three important things:-
i) Use Information
ii) Gathered Information
iii) Seek Information


Developments of ICT

ICT developed a lot from 20th to 21st century. It enters in the field of education by providing various useful tools and helps to educate students in much easier way. Advanced technology in teaching field always required and ICT fulfils all these needs.  from Laptop to projector, mike, podium everything is connected with ICT.

Argument by Alvin Toffler

Alvin Toffler's argues that "The control of knowledge is the crux of tomorrow's worldwide struggle for power in every human institution. He who controls access to knowledge has power. "

An educated person has power and authority in his/her area of knowledge. The law on the intellectual property led to issues of copyright and plagiarism on the one hand and put a price tag on the exixting knowledge sources on the other.


Communication Skills

Communication skills used to refer to a variety of skills:-

i) A verbal or language skills
    a) Listening and Reading skills
    b) Speaking and Writing skills

ii) Non verbal skills
    a) Body language
    b) Gestures
    c) Eye contact
    d) Postures
    e) Facial expressions

iii) Interpersonal skills
      It is communication between two or a small group of people communicating with each other or          among themselves.

 iv) Group team skills

Net-Slet session

In Net-Slet session sir has explained many important things like  how to prepare, which type of books we prefer, how to do preparation, How to do systematic planning, need of good reading habits, about the structure of the test etc. At last he has given us task to write answer of five easy questions about Net-Slet preparation.

1-5 Questions

1-4 Answers

5th answer

Day 2 & 3

Initiation

i) What is initiation? Why do we need initiation?

Initiation is the process of formally introducing someone to knowledge or skills related to an area of specialisation.
Like naming ceremony is also an initiation. Why do we give name to someone? to give them identity?

ii) What is 'ELT'? What are the central concerns of 'ELT'?

ELT (English language teaching) is very broad term.

ENL- English as a native language
ESL- English as a second language
EFL- English as a foreign language

Concerns

1. What to teach?
2. When to teach what?
3. Why to teach it?
4. How to teach it?
5. What materials to use?
6. What methodology to use?
7. What tools of testing to use for measuring the outcome of these decisions?
8. How to correct the anomalies noticed?

Higher Education

Education beyond school is called "Tertiary education" and Tertiary education also referred to as higher education.

ELT courses: Tertiary level

i) General english compulsory
ii) ESP business english
iii) Language and communication

Sound: Phonetics and Phonology

i) Phonetics

The study of sounds of a language with reference to their articulated and acoustic properties and auditory aspect of language use.

ii) Phonology

The study of sounds of a language with regard to their structure, systematic patterning, distinctive features etc.

Grammar

Morphology

Morphology is the study of the internal structure of words including, inflexional and derrivational suffixes, other affixes, word compounds, and even Etymology(i.e the study of the roots of the words)

Idea of Dy-ad: Teaching and Learning

Teaching and learning is dyad, one thing cannot be use without other or one is incomplete without other just like bread and butter. Teaching is always been discussed in the context of learning.
Learning is a change in performance as a result of experience, change in subject's behaviour, change in a person which is manifested as new modes or patterns of behaviour.

Language learning vs Language acquisition

Language learning is the product of language teaching, Language acquisition is a reference to learning without having to make a deliberate and conscious effort to master a given language.

Principles of Learning

1. Preparedness to learn
2. Comforting feelings
3. Active learner participation
4. Immediate positive reinforcement
5. Adequate practice
6. Learning by imitation
7. Understanding part whole-relationship
8. Use of structured materials
9. Differing language pace
10. Creating a climate conducive for language
11. Arousing and fulfilling expectations
12. Developing competencies

Variables in teaching

i) Presage variables: Teacher's formative experiences, training and personal qualities.
ii) Context variables: Community, environment, institution, and learners.
iii) Process variables: What the teacher does, what the learners do, how the teacher and learner behaves.
iv) Product variables: Immediate learner growth and long term effect on the learners.

Dimensions in language teaching

i) Organisational dimension
ii) Technological dimension
iii) Psychological dimension
iv) Sociological dimension
v) Pedagogical dimension

ELT and its various Manifestations

i) ESP - English for Specific purposes
ii)EAP/EOP- English for Academic purposes, English for occupational purposes
iii) ESAP- English for Specific Academic purposes
iv) EGP- English for General purposes
v) EST- English for Science and Technology
vi) EVP- English for Vocational purposes
vii) EGAP- English for General Academic purposes

Liz Hamp Lyons Argument

 "English for academic purposes has emerged out of the broader field of English for specific purposes, defined by its focus on teaching English specifically to facilitate learners"

She argues primarily that:
a) The root of EAP lie in a broader field of study called ESP.
b) EAP focuses on the teaching of English.
c) EAP is useful in universities that offer English as a medium of instruction.

English for Literary purposes

1. The language of poetry
    a) Flexibility in the use of word order
    b) Transfer of one class of words to another
    c) Unusual collocations
    d) Figures of speech

2. The language of drama
    a) Use of dialogue in verse
    b) Conventional use of dialect
    c)  Non-standard variety of English language


Whereas English for business, scientific, commercial purposes is totally different from English for literary purpose.

There are many more topics discussed by sir in class, like Characteristics of knowledge era, What is assessment and why do we need it, need for introspection, Historical perspective, Experience at a British University, Learner autonomy and Self assessment.

In this way we get the basic essential idea about ELT in these three days learning. It helps a lot in understanding the concept in clear cut way. With ease all points get covered by Prof. javed Khan sir about ELT.

Remedial task: Vocabulary drill

Vocabulary drill: Five words from Hema Goswami

Thinking activity: Qualities of a good teacher and a student

ELT Task

Thinking activity on the qualities of a good teacher and student according to our views.

What do you feel how a teacher should be?

i) Friendly Nature

According to my views the very first quality that all teachers must possess is that they have to be friendly towards their pupil. Over strict nature always makes students fearful and because of that many hesitate to enter in class.

ii) Helpul

A perfect teacher must be helpul. He/she has to help his/her students each and every way without saying no, because when a teacher says no then the student lose all hope and started criticizing teacher. It is obviously upon teacher that how he/she is helping, by giving them all the clues or just giving them some specific points on which they have to think further. 

iii) Impartial

The most important quality about teacher is he/she must be impartial and should treat his/her pupils with equal care and help, without making any type of difference among students. Whether it is based on the top rankers, on caste system, or by economically rich. 

iv) Mastery over his/her subject

Apart from all the non-academical qualities their must be very important quality which is the mastery over the subject which the teacher is going to teach. He/she must be aware about all the aspects regarding his/her coursework, so if some students ask question he/she will able to answer in a proper way without going away from the topic.

v) knowledge of current topics to relate it with syllabus

A perfect teacher must have knowledge about the current updates, what was going on outside the text and has to built ability in herself/himself to relate it with the present syllabus of any class whom they are going to teach.

There are so many other qualities which all teachers must have like, to engage the class in discussion, to make students active, never let ypur students feel bored, through some joke in between of the lectures to make them refresh, has to give break. Normally what happen that a teacher keep on giving lecture without any pause. But these type of lecture doens't carry any meaning because normally a student have maximum 45 minutes of attentiveness in class, afterwards naturally all need break otherwise things must be go just like passing clouds without making any mark on mind. No matter how interestingly the teacher is teaching, the point definitely came when he/she started feeling bore because of regular class without any pause, only in first one hour, he/she gets the thing properly, afterwards the interest started falling down. 

What do you feel how a student should be?

i) Obedient

A student need to be obedient. Whatever task given to student they had to do without any hesitation or with interest. They have to follow wach and every advise sincerely

ii) Attentive

A student must be attentive in class. Their mind should be fully focussed. They have to present mentally in class rather than physically.

iii) Extrovert

A student need to be extrovert, so that he/she can ask question, raise argument, or can think in a better way.

iv) Pre-reading

A good student always comes up with pre-reading of text which is going to run in class, so that he/she can get the topic in better way.

v) Hard working

Every student have to work hard to reach to their goal. Lack of hard work, lazyness always leads towards the downfall of students.

There are many others qualities which a student must have like kind and helpul towards his/her classmate, need to be regular in class, need to follow every advise, need to balance between homework and other activities and have to think about some new things related to topic which was dicussed in class, to make mind updated, have to do revision everyday.

V.S Naipaul as a travelogue writer

V.s naipaul as a Travelogue writer from Hema Goswami

Film screening: Lagaan

15th august 2018
On the special occassion of Independence day we have watched the movie Lagaan(2001) directed by Ashutosh Gowariker.

This film covers various topics like patriotism, postcolonialism, religion, subaltern and many more.

First let us discuss about the common Archetypes of the film:-

i) Drought scene

The very beginning scene represent the drought prevailing across the village.  Since a very long time there is no rain. All the villagers are facing scarcity of water. The grief of villagers get reflected through the representation of drought. It was common that whenever someone facing trouble or, if there is no hope in life then the desert area shown, which reflects the barrenness of peoples mind. In the film also the villagers are losing hope day by day.

ii) Central focus

As usual the central focus was remains the hero of the film. Naturally the hero got all the qualities, and stand like a perfect figure and can face each and every problem with positiveness. Similarily in this film also the Protagonist Bhuvan has all the perfection. And the other characters are doing sacrifice for him. This is very common archetypal structure.

iii) Rain as a symbol of happiness

The villagers are waiting for rain and when it comes, it brings happiness for them. Now they find hope again.

iv) Temple

Temple is always used for reflecting the religious mindset of people, that how they are doing prayer in their worst condition, when there is no one to listen their problems, then they will turn towards the door of temple. And Temple always provide peace and happiness. This is the common archetype used in many films. Even when Bhuvan hits the bell of the temple then only all the villagers have started supporting him.

v) Use of Myth

Myth was always used to rebuilt the story or to give strong support to the plot. Commonly we can find some myth in any type of film. In this film, there is myth of Radha Krishna,who are separated from each other physically but not mentally. Even if they are not married, their love remains immortal. In the film the White Lady character, Elizabeth behaves like Radha, and Gauri as Rukmani with whom Bhuvan( representing Krishna) married and Elizabeth remains unmarried in her whole life.

Some basic themes

i) Patriotism

If we look at film only from upper layer, then we can find the patriotic idea, that is all the villagers are fighting for their nation, for the identity of nation, they don't want to obey the Britishers for any reason. They don't wants to pay taxes to them. They want freedom, from any type of strict or cruel rule. They can do anything for their pride of nation. Bhuvan accept the challenge given by Russell just to cancel the double taxation which was landed over the villagers by them.

ii) Problematic name for the untouchable

In the film there is one character named "Kachra". He was untouchable and his name also reflects the unwantedness of the character. It was really very problematic.

iii) Casteism

The inequality prevailing in the rural area was represented in the film. When Bhuvan get impressed by the bawling of Kachra, then he decided to include him in his team of cricket. But all the other team members started criticizing him for his decision and decided to leave the team, if Bhuvan includes Kachra, the untouchable. We can find the backward mindset of people who are not ready to accept the untouchable and afraid of doing anything with them, as if they are devil.

iv) Leadership qualities

In the film Bhuvan got all the leadership qualities such as, team building, deal with each and every member equally. seeing hope when all are hopeless, and many more. He has ability to forgive people. In the last when he comes to know about the cheating of Lakha, he gave him second chance, to prove himself. When all are fighting or wanted to beat Lakha brutally, that time Bhuvan saves him. Even in the beginning when all refuses to play cricket or to support Bhuvan, he decided to come with strong plan, so that all can believe in his idea, that they can do anything. Three months are enough to learn. He gives strength to the team. He is even not believing in rigid caste system of Indian society.

v) Unity in diversity

Director highlights or present the main characteristic of India that is 'unity in diversity'.  The cricket team which was made by Bhuvan included member from all religions and ideologies. Sikh, muslim, brahmin, untouchable etc. He is not doind any type of injustice with any memeber and treted each member equally. Therefore, there is unity in diversity.

vi) Subaltern

Many characters from the film are belongs to subaltern group means lower group who are voiceless, powerless for eg;-
- Kachra, was a character of hidden power, who is afraid of showing his talent to others in fear.  As he is dominated by the so called upper class. He was voiceless. He cannot speak loud in front of any people. Even if he has right to speak, he was totally unaware about his all rights.
 - Bhura, the other character who has sacrificed his chance for Bhuvan to play in cricket. He wants to play more but can't see his master getting out of team. Therefore he take the fowl of his master on his own head.

vii) Post-colonialism

The effect of post colonialism is still present among Indians. In the film, there is colonial game Cricket which was played by the Indians to win the challenge given by the Britishers. There is strong impact of the Britishers over the mind of Indians that still in present they are not able to come out from this game.

viii) Indianess

The ambiguity of, what is Indian? is present in the film. There is history of nationalist, history of hidden heroes. The very idea of Indianess, found in that heroes. What they believe as an Indian and what they supposed to do everything was based on nationality. there is no way of thinking from the outside.

ix) Similarity and dissimilarity between Lakha and Elizabeth

As both these characters are doing injustice with their nation, still there are so many difference between them. Elizabeth is helping Bhuvan for the sake of fair justice with Indians, without any selfish motive. On the other hand Lakha was in love with Gauri(beloved of Bhuvan) and in jealousy he did wrong thing by revealing each and every secret of his team to the Britishers. Their Karma is same but their motif is different.

x) Concept of food

In the film, there is full plate spicy food items given to the king. Whereas the poor villagers are eating dry chapati without any kind of pickle. We can see the two different food habits of the elite and lower class people. As lower people can't afford the costly ingredients for spicy food.

xi) Fairness of justice

There is fairness of justice system in the British Raj. They call honest umpire from abroad for the final round of cricket with the Indians and obeying each and every signal given by the umpire. There is not any kind of partiality from umpire's side. Even the British captain praising Indian also if they play best shot.

xii) Religion

There is strong believers of religion. We can see the influence of God over the mind of villagers who are doing prayer again and again, specially when they are facing problem. Even the king was wearing rings in his finger of 'Panna' (the green stone)' and 'moonga' (the red stone) which shows that how blindly he is following the superstitions.

In this way the film covers various topics.

Scarlet Letter: A difference between Film and Novel

On 26th July we have watched the film "Scarlet Letter" directed by Roland Joffe(1995) in our Department of English..

We have studied the novel first and after that watched the film. So we have pointed out the following difference between the novel "Scarlet letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne and the film version:-

i) Difference in the beginning scene

The very first scene of the film is totally different than the novel. The novel begins with the scaffold scene where Hester was standing in the middle of the crowd. But in the film the situation was totally different. The scaffold scene was comes in middle of the film. The film beguns with the scene of jungle where there are many tribal peoples who are celebrating something.

ii) Tribal people: more civilized

In the film the tribal people helps Arthur Dimmesdale and they seems more civilized than the other people of society. This kind of helping nature of tribal people we didn't find in the novel.

iii) One cunning fellow

In the film there is one man who is from beginning tries to get Hester but was not succed in his evil attemp and brutally murdered by Roger Chillingworth. Roger suspects him as Arthur Dimmesdale and in anger he murdered him. This is a totally new turn in the film. However in novel we didn;t find this man who attempted unsuccesful rap on Hester.

iv) Portrayal of Pearl

Pearl, the daughter of Hester was portrayed as a strong character in the novel, but in film she was not given much importance. The focus was remains on Hester and Arthur only. In novel Pearl was mature enough who knows what is good and what is bad. In film she is totally unaware about the fact and about her father.

v) Happy ending

In film all things get setteled and Arthur, Hester along with Pearl lives happily. Even the fallen health of Arhtur was not shoown in the film. whereas in novel there is no happy ending. The health of Arthur Dimmesdale was fallen down day by day in guilt of his sin, and in the end after accepting Hester in Public as his beloved, he dies.

Other observation

i) Mindset of Priest

In the film one elderly priest doesn't shake hands with pearl, this shows his narrow minded nature and also represent the inferior position of women in society, who never get same respect back after performing sin. The mindset of higher authority get refelected in the film, what they feel about woman also get uncovered.

ii) Women without man

It was always difficult for women to live without her man. Same thing happens with Hester whose husband was not with her. All women are gossiping about her character.

iii) Slave girl

By portraying the bad condition of slave girl, the film throws light on the system of colonization. Here the slave girl Mituba seems colonized and Roger, Hester seems as a colonizer. She is just following each and every ordered of her master without raising voice or without going against of them. Roger again shows his power here on Mituba and conspired to murder her.

iv) Interpretation of the wheel struck in the mud

In one of the scene from the film, the wheel of cart got struck in the mud and then there is entry scene of Arthur Dimmesdale who tries to get that wheel out. But that remain as it is and Hester's mind got struck in the dream of Arthur. Then the problems beguns. Therefore 'Wheel' symbolized the life of Hester and 'Mud' symbolized the society.

v) Symbol of Swords

When Arthur went in prison to meet Hester, there is Swords in cross position in between them, which symbolize the barrier of society, which never allows them to unite.

Thinking activity on Robert Frost's design

Thinking activity: Comparison  and Interpretation of two different pictures on the basis of the poem "Design" by Robert frost

Normally whenever someone asks  to draw picture of nature, the above image came in our mind. We are only drawing goody-goody things about nature. We are only celebrating the beauty of nature by drawing such type of picture. We all have tried to gives a perfect shape to nature, that is round shape for sun, triangular shape for mountains, rectangular or sometimes round shape for rivers and ponds. But the reality is totally different. Every things have its pros and cons,i.e good as well as bad quality.

Design by Robert Frost

The poet through this poem speaks about the harsh reality of nature. He is not highlighting the only good aspects of nature, but has draws out attention towards the problem and bitter truth about the nature. After readind the poem ones. the following image came in my mind which is totallly different from the above image.

In the above image the situation is totally different, the spider is eating up the moth. this image came in my mind after reading these lines-
"I found a dimpled spider, fat and white,
on a white heal-all holding up a moth...."

The poet by using these kind of metaphors assorted the characters of  death and blight. In a way he is trying to make moth as a 'tragic hero' and spider as a 'villain'. The intesity of pain was there. All wants to survive, the spider eats moth just to live long.

The poet knows very well that the intensity of pain is always greater than the intensity of happiness. So he was successful in his attempt to attracts the readers towards his poem by drawing the picture of harsh reality, need for survive, fight or killing other for food.

The very first line about the white color of spider breaks the archetypal symbol of white which stands for peace and innocence. Here the white spider is totally contrasting character. He is violent, aggressive, can do anything for food. Everytime white is not look beautiful someimes white is more uglier than black. The spider has taken moth's life and proves himself as a fighter.

Thererfore the poem Design is not something about beautiful design, but a design of darkness, death. The designed web of spider attract insects and they get caught in the web of death.