Students find a dearth of English language books in rural areas
Sunday, 26 August 2007
M A Islam
Every year, many students of Bangla medium fail in the SSC and HSC examinations. A majority of them fail because of their very poor performance in English. It is seen that students of the rural areas generally are less competent in this foreign language. Other than lack of good teaching arrangement, one of the main causes why students of the rural areas remain lag behind in English language is their lack of access to various books (like novels, dramas, cartoons) written in English language.
The book-sellers in the non urban areas of the country sell mainly English text books prescribed by the National Textbook Curriculum Board (NTCB), various grammar books recommended by different school management and guidebooks that assist them in their exam preparation. These book-sellers hardly have English novels, dramas, story books, cartoons, even educative magazines in their collection. They do not have these books because there is no demand of these from their customer community.
The most unfortunate thing is that students of the non urban areas do not realise the need to read such extra books which could help them in developing their English language faculty. They simply do not have the knowledge that learning of a language can be much more interesting if they read some extra-books written in that language. They only depend on the limited texts, grammar books and guides. If they would read more books in the language, definitely they would do much better in the language. It is the teachers of the schools and the guardians of the students who have a great role to play in this regard.
Teachers must make it mandatory for the students to read some 'outside' English books on regular basis. Some marks even should be allocated for this. They should regularly monitor whether students are learning from those books. Also there should be a library in every school and students should be motivated to spend time effectively in the library.
Guardians can also encourage and motivate by buying 'outside' English books for their kids. They must appreciate them when they complete a good book written in English.
It is only when the teachers and guardians will be more aware and alert, students will be motivated (and bound, if you would like to call it so) to read English books and the book-sellers will be under pressure to keep those in their stock. That way, failing of many students in the subject can be stopped and overall learning of the foreign language can be developed. Learning of English language will no longer be boring for them, rather will be interesting and delightful.
Every year, many students of Bangla medium fail in the SSC and HSC examinations. A majority of them fail because of their very poor performance in English. It is seen that students of the rural areas generally are less competent in this foreign language. Other than lack of good teaching arrangement, one of the main causes why students of the rural areas remain lag behind in English language is their lack of access to various books (like novels, dramas, cartoons) written in English language.
The book-sellers in the non urban areas of the country sell mainly English text books prescribed by the National Textbook Curriculum Board (NTCB), various grammar books recommended by different school management and guidebooks that assist them in their exam preparation. These book-sellers hardly have English novels, dramas, story books, cartoons, even educative magazines in their collection. They do not have these books because there is no demand of these from their customer community.
The most unfortunate thing is that students of the non urban areas do not realise the need to read such extra books which could help them in developing their English language faculty. They simply do not have the knowledge that learning of a language can be much more interesting if they read some extra-books written in that language. They only depend on the limited texts, grammar books and guides. If they would read more books in the language, definitely they would do much better in the language. It is the teachers of the schools and the guardians of the students who have a great role to play in this regard.
Teachers must make it mandatory for the students to read some 'outside' English books on regular basis. Some marks even should be allocated for this. They should regularly monitor whether students are learning from those books. Also there should be a library in every school and students should be motivated to spend time effectively in the library.
Guardians can also encourage and motivate by buying 'outside' English books for their kids. They must appreciate them when they complete a good book written in English.
It is only when the teachers and guardians will be more aware and alert, students will be motivated (and bound, if you would like to call it so) to read English books and the book-sellers will be under pressure to keep those in their stock. That way, failing of many students in the subject can be stopped and overall learning of the foreign language can be developed. Learning of English language will no longer be boring for them, rather will be interesting and delightful.