Page 15 - EDU-March April 2022

English Learning Enrichment Course for

Government School Teachers in Telangana

oday, one's academic
learning and the ability to
converse in English are
inextricably linked in
Tshaping one's future. The
English language becoming a global
language introduces us to the world
beyond regional boundaries and
helps us better understand the global
world through knowledge transac-
tions. Also, in the modern era of edu-
cation, communication skills in Eng-
lish are one of the eligibility criteria
for obtaining employment and a key
parameter in one's professional pro-
gression. Therefore, with changing
educational sphere, students must be
equipped with English communica-
tion skills from their early years of
education.
As schools are the best places for
children to grow holistically, nurtur-
ing the English language must begin
in primary classes. Given the demand
for the language, the government of
Telangana, which strongly empha-
sizes re-skill and upskill, decided to
operate state government schools
with English as the medium of in-
struction from the next academic
year. To achieve the same, the Telan-
gana government kicked off the first
phase of the English training pro-
gramme, "English Language Enrich-
ment Course", collaborating with
Azim Premji University, Bengaluru,
on March 21, 2022. The objective of
this course is to allow teachers to em-
brace, acquire, and get equipped with
English communication skills that
will eventually build an efficient also organised. The themes are iden- themes accompany the learning backgrounds found it difficult at first
teacher workforce for running State tified to teach English for teachers. process for each week, alongside dis- because their mother tongues were
Government English medium The themes for primary teachers in- playing videos and stories on the pro- their main means of communication.
schools successfully. clude environment, food, relation- jector to reinstate the significance of Yet, they strived to learn English and
The nine-week interactive, inter- ship, friendship, school, animals, etc. visual learning. The participants communicate in the language. The
esting, and communicative training The high school teachers ar working were also encouraged to nurture customized training programme
emphasizes the need to equip English on themes relevant to their subjects. their storytelling skills as it is one of brings about positive feedback, and
speaking skills. In the first phase, a In the workshop, the teachers can the appreciable approaches to teach- teachers are overcoming their reluc-
four-week course is offered for all pri- learn at their own pace and are en- ing. A storyteller is not only a good tance to speak in English because
mary and secondary school teachers couraged to improve their English- communicator but also a good edu- mistakes are rectified, and learning
in the state. The first week of the speaking skills every week. Different cator. However, teachers from rural is celebrated in the workshop.
course will be face-to-face, and the
remaining weeks will be virtual. The Total Key Resource Persons
five-week-long second phase will Trained: 363
start from June 2022 onwards, with Total mentors Trained: 2,981
the first week face-to-face and the re- • Primary Level: 1,298
maining four weeks virtual. The • Secondary Level: 1,683
phase one face-to-face workshop was
held in 448 centres. Each centre had Total registered participants:
45 to 50 teachers and three mentors. 19584
In addition, online batches consisting Active online users: 17087
of 15 mentees and one mentor were
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