Essay on English as a second language
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Introduction : English is an international language. Today, it has become a media for linking oneself with international communication channels and moving through information highways. Even the teaching and learning of English has already taken a stable place in the education system of Bangladesh. In the changing global circumstances, it is assumed that in future English will claim even more attention in our national level of education. However, the issue of English Language Teaching (ELT) is high on the incumbent government's agenda.
Present state and status of English in Bangladesh : In the constitution of Bangladesh, Bangla is declared as state language and there is no mention regarding the status that is to be given to English. During Pakistan period, English enjoyed the status of official language in this territory. It was used in the administration, higher education and as a link language between educated speakers of Bengali and Urdu.
Now in Bangladesh, English is taught as a foreign language in the curriculum. Since 1992, it is introduced as a compulsory subject and remains so until 14th grade in the national curriculum. Outside the government funded institutions, there are innumerable language centers, English medium schools and a good number of private universities who teach English according to their own curriculum and syllabuses.
At present, there are no training institutes exclusively for English teachers in Bangladesh. The usually followed methodology for classroom language teaching is Grammar-Translation method. In the examination system ranging from primary to tertiary level, the topics of prime focus usually include questions based on prose and poetry, grammar items, reading comprehension, translation, paragraph writing, letter writing and composition writing. Besides, the evaluation of the contents of English text books shows mat students' ability of communication through language is given secondaryconsideration whereas thematic or knowledge of society is given the primary consideration. As a result, students are often deprived of the varieties of language inputs necessary for their everyday life of communication. Moreover, the students listening and writing skills are not at all measured in our testing system. However, communicative system has been introduced at secondary and higher secondary levels.
As for classroom teaching methodology, most of the language teachers come
without a background in ELT or any practical training in the field. Even until now, there has not been any formal graduation course in Enghsh Language Teaching (ELT) in Bangladesh. Among the universities, Dhaka University, at present, offers only a one year course titled 'Applied linguistics and ELT' at the masters level.