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Insufficient learning resources barrier to honing English skills

^13^ ^tar roundtable told

Staff Correspondent
Students find it difficult to learn English due to insufficient learning resources in schools and this is where the "English in Schools" programme steps in, said speakers at a discussion yesterday.
Robi and The Daily Star organised the consultation, on the latter's premises in the capital, among those empowering students with English language skills on the possible efficacy of the program me they have undertaken.
As per the September 6 contract of the programme, 1,000 secondary schools all over the country will get three copies of the newspaper five days a week (except Friday and Saturday). This will initially continue for six months.
Moreover, English teachers from 100 schools in Rajshahi, Khulna, Chittagong and Sylhet will be trained in the language skills for six months while these 100 schools will also be receiving 50 copies of the news-paper instead of three.
The Daily Star will also resume publishing a weekly page dedicated to teaching English in secondary schools, said Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, managing editor of The Daily Star.
"There are no textbooks in English apart from the textbook used to teach the subject," said Bangladesh English Language Teachers Association President Dr Arifa Rahman.
She termed learning without understanding, including memorising grammar, a bad practice.
Teachers of local schools lack the proficiency to teach English in a way where students memorise less and understand more, stated Education Secretary Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury.
"Learning without really understanding is hazardous. Better communication skills in English can only come with understanding, "he said.
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He also recommended that the programme should not just aim to provide good learning materials but also the environment where the tools will be properly used.
"The programme should not focus only on schools at divisional headquarters because there is a high regional imbalance in the extent of English taught and learnt at the schools in marginal communities, "he added.
The training must note that even teachers can have different levels of aptitude, said Robi Vice-President (CRL Division) Mohiuddin Babar.
Training teachers in English might encourage some to seek out higher paid jobs in the cities, warned the speakers.
This interactive training
fails when teachers do not get the support while trying to practice innovative methods within the classroom, said Shireen Hasan, founder and executive director of X-cel Institute of Interactive Learning.
Teachers can dedicate an extra class to use materials from the weekly page, recommended Nipa Nastin, lecturer at Brae Institute of Languages.
"Also, veteran teachers are less likely to adapt to new technologies. So focus should be on younger teachers who can prove to be more flexible," she said.
Manindra Nath Roy, director of the Directorate of Primary Education, recommended that students be taught to speak English as well.
"In addition, the needs of
primary school students must be addressed too," advised Faizul Kabir, manager of Teach for Bangladesh.
Robi Executive Vice President Mahmudur Rahman suggested forming clubs that improve the practice ofEnglish.
Alexandra Tyers, senior training and development consultant at British Council, suggested that Robi provide learning materials using mobile services.
Even the use of information communication technology needs a good grasp ofEnglish, said Robi acting chief executive officer Matiul Islam Nowshad.
Our human resources often miss out on important global opportunities and cannot compete in the international arena because of a lack of proficiency in English, he said.