Learning compulsory English at graduation level
Sunday, 21 September 2008
M A Islam
English is a compulsory subject for graduation level students who are either in degree pass or honours classes under National University in Bangladesh. Students study the subject in the second year of their graduation period. Everyone has to pass the 100 marks exam, but many find it difficult to cross the hurdle and many are not motivated to study the subject. Why?
Many students study the 'Compulsory English' only to pass, only to score 33 out of 100. Those who are ambitious study the subject seriously but they also put efforts upto a certain level only. This is an integrated course and at best 10 marks is added from this course. If one has got 43, one will get 10 marks. Again, if one has got 70, one will get 10 marks only. What a discrimination! "This '10 marks' factor works as a demotivating factor for many students who would otherwise make efforts to add good marks from this subject," said Sanjoy Mazumder, a lecturer of English in Mymensingh City College.
In case a student gets more than 80, he or she will get distinction. But this is also not that inspiring. If someone gets 85, his 10+5=15 marks will be added. "This is really funny, students rarely get more than 80 and this type of incentive is really poor," said an English teacher.
If a student fails to score the minimum pass mark in the first effort can sit for the exam again. This type of opportunity also makes a student idle. They start thinking: "If I do bad this time, I will try next time." This attitude prevents them from becoming serious about the subject.
Since students in their graduation level do not study seriously, they remain weak in this subject and face fierce competition in the job market. For example, these students cannot pass the English portion of BCS preliminary or cannot do good in the BCS English (written). Those who are very conscious start going to language centres to develop their English language proficiency. " I have seen my seniors and batchmates who are very serious about their career going to different coaching centres to learn IELTS, spoken and thus to enrich their knowledge in English," said A B Siddik, a fourth year student of Dhaka College.
Even after 37 years of independence of the country, the learning of English as a compulsory subject in degree level remains in a catastrophic situation. "The effect is when these students come out of their academia, they cannot write even two lines of English correctly," commented Sanjoy Mazumder.
It is time for the policy makers to look into this and take necessary actions so that hundreds of students across the country studying at graduation level enjoy studying the 'Compulsory English' and thus become more competent for the job market.
English is a compulsory subject for graduation level students who are either in degree pass or honours classes under National University in Bangladesh. Students study the subject in the second year of their graduation period. Everyone has to pass the 100 marks exam, but many find it difficult to cross the hurdle and many are not motivated to study the subject. Why?
Many students study the 'Compulsory English' only to pass, only to score 33 out of 100. Those who are ambitious study the subject seriously but they also put efforts upto a certain level only. This is an integrated course and at best 10 marks is added from this course. If one has got 43, one will get 10 marks. Again, if one has got 70, one will get 10 marks only. What a discrimination! "This '10 marks' factor works as a demotivating factor for many students who would otherwise make efforts to add good marks from this subject," said Sanjoy Mazumder, a lecturer of English in Mymensingh City College.
In case a student gets more than 80, he or she will get distinction. But this is also not that inspiring. If someone gets 85, his 10+5=15 marks will be added. "This is really funny, students rarely get more than 80 and this type of incentive is really poor," said an English teacher.
If a student fails to score the minimum pass mark in the first effort can sit for the exam again. This type of opportunity also makes a student idle. They start thinking: "If I do bad this time, I will try next time." This attitude prevents them from becoming serious about the subject.
Since students in their graduation level do not study seriously, they remain weak in this subject and face fierce competition in the job market. For example, these students cannot pass the English portion of BCS preliminary or cannot do good in the BCS English (written). Those who are very conscious start going to language centres to develop their English language proficiency. " I have seen my seniors and batchmates who are very serious about their career going to different coaching centres to learn IELTS, spoken and thus to enrich their knowledge in English," said A B Siddik, a fourth year student of Dhaka College.
Even after 37 years of independence of the country, the learning of English as a compulsory subject in degree level remains in a catastrophic situation. "The effect is when these students come out of their academia, they cannot write even two lines of English correctly," commented Sanjoy Mazumder.
It is time for the policy makers to look into this and take necessary actions so that hundreds of students across the country studying at graduation level enjoy studying the 'Compulsory English' and thus become more competent for the job market.