Challenges and issues in English language testing in Indian classrooms

          Introduction


Testing English language in Indian classrooms is challenging, yet rewarding career choice. As an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher must learn to constantly adapt their student's needs. Many times, this means dealing with a variety of challenges and issues in the classroom, many of which are all too common occurrences. Some of challenges and issues in English language testing in Indian classrooms are given below. 

 Challenges in English language testing


Some of the challenges in English language testing in Indian classrooms are as follows: 

    1. Over-crowded classes
Teachers of English experience a lot of problems in handling such a big class. 60 to 70 students are regarded as the normal class size and in certain cases the class size is 100 - 120 students especially in degree colleges. It is difficult to pay due attention to individual students.

    2. Over dependence on teachers
Many times, students will automatically look to the teacher for correct answers instead of trying themselves. If the teacher obliges them with the answer each time, it can become a determinantal problem instead, focus on giving positive encouragement. This will help to make students more comfortable and more willing to answer.

    3. Tenacious use of first language
Persistent use of first language became hurdle in learning the English language. As an ESL teacher, it's important to encourage students to use English, and only English. If the students use their first language then the teacher has to establish a set of class rules and develop a penalty system for the students.

    4. Lack of motivation and interest
The secret of success in the classroom is to ensure that no one feels bored or leftout. It is a duty of the teacher that he/ she should make the study of language as interesting as possible. It is impossible for the teacher to motivate or support the whole class at the same time.

    5. Inadequate provision of teaching aids
Lack of audio visual aids is one of the difficulties in teaching English as a second language. With the help of these aids teaching become interesting and lively. Ultra CD's, LCD projectors should be provided to the students. It also creates the interest among students and make them active as well as enthusiastic.

    6. Lack of clear cut aims
There is a general lack of clarity about the aims and objectives of teaching of English in India. The teachers know that they have to teach the subject since it is included in the syllabus. The students study English not as a subject to be 'learned' but as a subject to be 'passed'. For many such students, therefore, the future seems a long dark tunnel. It is this reason why teaching and learning of English in India's school and colleges is in a muddle.

    7. Lack of coordination between teachers and students
Co-ordination between teachers and students is very important in learning English language. Passing of the knowledge become difficult if there is a lack of coordination. Passing of knowledge and learning English language is a give and take method.

    8. Professional development and teachers need
Professional development and teachers need is also important. One of the critic D. P. Pathak remarked "Education should not be the business but it should be run like a business". So the professional development is important.

These are the challenges in English language testing and Indian classrooms.

Issues in English language testing


Some of the issues in English language testing in Indian classrooms are as follows: 

    1. Professional status of teaching
Teaching is not considered as one of the most sought after career in India; hence the primary issue is to raise the status of teaching as a career choice. This stems from the general perception that people harbor about this profession which is, that anyone can become a teacher as it takes minimal skills and is nothing but glorified baby-sitting.

    2. Financial compensation
Teaching is one of the most underpaid jobs bearing some schools which strictly adhere to pay commission of scales. Even appreciation in form of financial incentive is not a very popular culture. Women are not considered as the primary breadwinner of a family and hence there compensation is absymally poor compared to the fee structure that these international school charge.

    3. Commercialisation of education
The general Indian mentality believes that privatisation is the solution to everything dysfunctional in our country. It gives immense pride to parents and an opportunity for them to gloat about the fact that their children go to the school where students are well dressed, their classmates come from elite strata of the society and most important they are in 'English medium schools'. This is really detrimental to teacher's moral who believes and practices idealism, honesty and fair practice.

    4. Lack of motivation and support
Teachers don't have a voice and had no say about educational policy. The real focus shifts from student learning outcomes to complying orders as fount fit by the administrative department really getting teachers to a mere stature of puppets who have no voice. Sometimes teachers are thirst with grades and subjects that a teacher is not equipped to handle or interested to teach. Hence, teachers are not motivated because they are not empowered and there is no support for them.

    5. Professional development and teachers needs
Education sector is a very dynamic industry. A good teacher needs to be constantly updated with the best practices practiced across the world. This means reevaluating and reflecting one's pedagogical skills by adopting rigorous study, practice and self improvement. Teacher lack the skills to manage such diversity in class. Training programmes are designed keeping in view the situation existing in urban schools and problems faced by teachers like high teacher student ratio on multigrade teaching are hardly discussed. 

    6. Personal image and society's expectations
A teacher is expected to project a 'perfect teacher' image. She is required to epitomize calmness and behave like a conservative moral police. Society put this image pressure on teachers as if their every decision, act and word can inspire or devastate students. So if a parent, student or god forbid the school coordinator spots a teacher having a quite romantic dinner with her partner, then it won't be accepted or decent behaviour as per the model code of conduct the teachers are expected to follow.

           Conclusion


Thus, I have given some challenges and issues which teachers has to face in English language testing in Indian classrooms.
   


   



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