Teaching English

Language is the expression of ideas. It is the set of human habits, the purpose of which is to give expressions to human thoughts and feelings to communicate with others. The human language is unique, species specific and innate. It is impossible to imagine human life without a language, either for contemplation or for communication. Communication is a two way process of transmitting and receiving information. Every child has an innate cognitive ability to acquire his mother tongue, which is believed to be a biologically determined system. Noam Chomsky, popular linguist claims that children are biologically programmed for language learning and that language develops in the child in the same way as other biological functions like walking playing etc. English has influenced in shaping the political, social, economic, intellectual and cultural life of India and is still serving as a dynamic instrument of social change. It provides easy access to the world literature, science and technology, radio and television and an ever-growing number of books, periodicals and newspapers. It plays an important role in communication across the globe. Teaching of English has assumed greater importance these days from KG to PG and the concept of teaching has taken sea change from teacher centered to learner centered. The teacher has to encourage and engage the student in the activities rather than providing unnecessary and unrelated information through dull and outdated methods and techniques. Learning should be emerged not as an intake of inputs by the teacher but as an outcome of the student’s understanding and proper communication. Language construction and effective communication should be the priority in the teaching and learning process rather than language reproduction in the classrooms. The present edited anthology Teaching English: Practices, Problems and Principles provides a chance to discuss various issues related to teaching English and the current practices. It also throws light on the principles of language teaching, the problems and solutions. It focuses on various processes involved in teaching English rather than on the product. The book illustrates the theory of language learning and teaching English as a second language and also tries to explain the pedagogical implications in teaching English. It also clarifies various intricacies related to using language teaching with the articles contributed by 37 practicing teachers and scholars.