Challenges and opportunities in teaching English in India

          Introduction

"The study of language is the foundation of all other learning. Language defines us as human. To be human is to use language, and to talk is to be a person." Language is the medium of communication. English is a powerful vehicle of communication serves as a link language in a multicultural and multilingual society like India and also as a global linguistic mediator. Prof. Jackob Tharu says, "English is no longer some remote but a powerful mystery, lying hidden in the world of textbooks and examination."

For teaching English language in India there are many challenges but we also have many opportunities to overcome these challenges. Some of the challenges and opportunities are as follows: 

          Challenges

1. English is taught as a subject in schools and colleges. 

In the past, students were introduced to English only in their sixth standard. Students learnt English just as an other subjects like physics and mathematics and got very little opportunity to using it within the school as well as outside the school. Even today some teachers in rural areas taught English as a subject. They only taught the syllabus that was prescribed. They use a. Grammar Translation Method, b. Bilingual Method and c. Direct Method for teaching English. 

2. Influence of Mother-tongue. 

In a country like India, classes of mixed ability groups are feature of every small town or village. In most of the rural parts of India, learning teaching process is done in the vernacular language. The students of rural and semi urban areas in India face a lot of problems as English is not their mother tongue. English is their second language. In many places, English becomes the third language as they have local language, then Hindi followed by English. So, the influence of the mother tongue is also a challenge for teaching English language in India. 

3. Lack of proper atmosphere for English. 

For teaching English proper atmosphere is required. English is the second language of the students for rural areas. As compared to the learner from urban areas, learners from rural areas face more difficulties during the process of language acquisition. In urban areas parents are mostly educated. So, the domestic environment helps the students from urban areas acquire the language quickly.

4. Impact of Illiteracy. 

Illiteracy is the another challenge on the way of teaching English in India. Even today, in India there are many people who are illiterate. Illiteracy affects on the teaching of English.Illiterate people does not understand the importance of English in this time. Nowadays, mostly Indians are educated and they know the importance of English, but still there are some people who are illiterate; so we have to explain them the importance of English and try to finish the illiteracy. 

5. Lack of understanding of the structure of English language. 

Without structure English language is nothing. For speaking English language we have to know three things - sound, structure and vocabulary. In rural areas even teachers are lack in understanding the structure of English. If we have to make a proper sentence then we have to know how to frame the sentence or structure it in a proper way. If we understand the proper structure then we take a command on English language easily.

6. Lack of vocabulary. 
Vocabulary plays a vital role in improving English language. The students should be given proper knowledge about vocabulary. We know very limited words, we have very limited stock of it and so we use only that limited words to make a sentence. We have to improve our vocabulary so we can easily make proper sentences in English.

7. Lack of seriousness and interest towards language. 
In India, people are disinterested towards the English language. If we have no interest or if we are not serious about the English language, then we are not able to speak it. If there is a lack of seriousness or interest then person cannot develop the skill of speaking English. Even for the better opportunity in our future there is a need of seriousness towards the language. So we have to create interest among children, students of English language for their better future.

8. Lack of confidence. 
Indian students has lack of confidence. We know English well but because of lack of confidence we cannot express our feelings, thoughts, ideas in English. We are afraid that what people would think of us, so we cannot participate in any program in which we can improve our English. So we have to create confidence in ourselves then we will be able to learn English.

           Opportunities

1. To teach English as a language not as a subject.

In schools and colleges English should be taught as a language and not as a subject. Teachers has to train students in skills like learning, teaching, speaking and writing in English. The syllabus should be taken as a language. The outdated syllabus should be excluded. The teachers have to taught students and they have to make English speaking mandatory in schools and colleges.

2. To create informal atmosphere.

The friendly atmosphere has to be created in the classrooms, so the students will try to speak in English. We need to create an atmosphere to speak or learn English. Discussions in English is needed.

3. To give more prominence to English then other language. 

In India, English is a second language. We give more importance to our mother tongue. English language is the first language of the Anglo-Indians, because they gave more prominence to the English language rather than their mother tongue. We also have to give more prominence to the English language then other languages in India. 

4. To motivate non native learners.

Motivation is the most important thing. We have to motivate non-native learners. Teacher should motivate students to use English language in a daily basis. Motivation is the most powerful weapon towards success.

5. To stimulate the opening of private spoken English classes.

In India, English spoken classes are opening in a very fast basis. But every English spoken class is not good. Some classes teaches only grammar, but it is not enough. They have to work on communication skills of their students. They have to motivate the students to learn, speak, write English language. 

6. To encourage non-native learners to participate in communication process.

English teachers themselves have to devise innovative ways to make their students climb the staircase easily. They have to encourage the non-native learners to participate in communication process. They have to motivate them to take part in discussions, plays, elocution competition. They have to provide platform to the children so that they can participate in communication process.

7. More emphasis on practice.

Practice is the only solution to get the success. We have to practice English language to make a command on it. We practice English by participating in various competition, by speaking in English with family and friends. It was said that, "Practice makes man perfect." But I says that "Perfect practice makes man perfect."

8. Use of internet. 

Today we can access everything from the internet. We got everything available in it. We have many English speaking apps, we can use dictionaries, we can see videos and listen to the audios from internet. We can learn English easily with the help of internet.

9. Remove the barrier to communication.

There are many types of barriers to our communication such as physical barrier, psychological barrier, linguistic barrier, cultural barriers. We have to remove these barriers because they are the obstacles in our way of communication.

          Conclusion

Most of all, we should realisze the delicacy of learning the language and should put in much endeavour to master it for a better future and better tomorrow. Self practice can make language learning quickr. Thus, practice with interest and motivation is an independent exercise and has no substitute.