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OBJECTIVES OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING
The objectives of English language teaching are:
To enable students to learn and comprehend the written and spoken form of
English language.
To teach functional English to the learners and to polish their reading skills,
writing skills and listening skills.
To develop the ability in students to use English in day to day life and real life
situations. To teach functional English to the students that the students can use
and benefit from in their educational career, professional career and everyday
life.
To make the students understand the written text of the subject that is being
taught and make the students able to use skimming scanning skills.
The English teacher should use different language teaching methodologies to
achieve these objectives of English language teaching.
FURTHER OBJECTIVES OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING
1. DEVELOPMENT OF LISTENING SKILLS IN STUDENTS:
Listening/focused listening is the base of learning any language. No one can speak
English (as a second language) without deeply, carefully listening to it.
Students who come from English medium schools are good at the overall functional
use of English language, than those who come from Urdu medium schools.
WHAT CAN ELT/ENGLISH TEACHERS DO TO ASSIST THE STUDENTS?
ELT/English teachers can suggest or provide internet websites and CD’S etc,
which are related to improve English pronunciation skills.
ELT/English teachers can suggest students to listen mock group discussions
and speeches in English on internet websites.
2. DEVELOPMENT OF SPEAKING SKILLS IN STUDENTS:
Language is primarily in spoken form. English speaking skills are central to English
communication.
To know English language means to understand and speak the language.
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WHAT CAN ELT/ENGLISH TEACHERS DO?
The ELT/English teachers can conduct the following tasks which are helpful
to learn and strengthen the English speaking skills of students.
By conducting short, mock presentations in which the students have to express
their views on a particular topic in English for 3-5 minutes. It can be helpful
for the students in learning and improving vocal English.
Furthermore, by conducting group work activities or group discussions during
English classes, can help the students in improving communicative skills of
the students, like; the students can learn to greet each other, talk with each
other, exchange ideas and information in English.
3. DEVELOPMENT OF WRITING SKILLS:
Writing equips us with good communication and thinking skills/abilities.
Writing is a form of silent communication. A student cannot excel in English without
good writing abilities. Apart from English communication, potent English writing
skills polishes and help students to; explain and transfer their ideas to others.
WHAT CAN ELT/ENGLISH TEACHERS DO?
Reading and writing are closely interrelated. Good reading equips students with
good and improved vocabulary, grammar and writing abilities.
ELT/English teachers can suggest good and authentic reading material to the
students like, novels, books, magazines, good English dictionaries and
internet websites to improve the writing abilities of the students.
ELT/English teachers can conduct activities that can improve writing abilities
of the students. For example, paragraph writing, resume writing, cover letter
writing, application writing, email writing in English.
ELT/English teachers can teach to design and organize a writing material, by
teaching how to compose an introduction, main body, summary, discussion
of ideas and conclusion.
A good and authentic introduction, discussion of ideas and conclusion is
necessary for a good written text.
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ELT/English teachers should/must suggest and support rechecking in order to
maintain the authenticity and excellence of the final written text of the student.
FURTHER STEPS (ADDITIONAL STEPS TO BE TAKEN BY ELT/ENGLISH
TEACHERS):
ELT/English teachers should make use of modern technology to teach English
language effectively for example, multimedia facilities and modern software
programs (Microsoft word, PowerPoint, google classroom, google books,
google forms and various other modern software programs) in order to
achieve the goals of effective teaching and learning of English.
Teacher motivation is very important for students to progress. Teachers
should motivate students to learn English language.
Most of the students see English as examination point of view. They study it
just to pass the exam. In order to have an overall grasp of English, motivation
is important.
ELT/English teachers should be a facilitator of tasks. In order to teach
functional English effectively ELT/English teachers should study and prepare
every topic thoroughly and get knowledge regarding ways of conducting
various tasks, events for example guest lectures and competitions etc.
ELT/English teachers should motivate students by conducting workshops,
guest lectures and competitions on the use of functional English frequently.
If the schools and colleges lack electronics equipments and modern
technology, then it is the responsibility of the teacher to make the use of
modern technology for example laptops, multimedia, smart phones etc, to
teach the use of functional English to students effectively. By using
smartphones, laptops, multimedia etc ELT/English teachers can/should
download audios, videos and English language reading material to share with
students.
TO SUMMARIZE:
In order to attain English language teaching goals, it is important that, teachers
should be trained. If the ELT/English teachers are not trained and are not
competent at conducting effective English language teaching, then he/she
cannot lead the students effectively.
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On the other hand, class strength (number of students) of an English class
matters a lot because overcrowded classes may block the way of effective
English language teaching.
Time frame is very important, time frame of an English class should be
appropriate so that effective and successful teaching and learning of English
can take place. Allotment of three hours for ELT/English classes per week
may not be enough to complete the syllabus and conduct English language
activities.
English curriculum designing, upgradation and maintenance should be
conducted on regular basis in order to meet the educational and professional
demands of the modern/current era.
(The End)