Children IS going to school

Let me begin this piece of writing with the original piece that inspired me into writing it!

A student who scored 100 in CBSE Class 12 English exam in an email to Outlook:
“It all depends on how one pen down the ideas… The flow in the language helped me fetched marks.”

An English teacher to Class 12 students:
“Keep the language simple and yet so crispy… Do not get deviate from topic.”

I am more than just astonished. Such spectacular usage of words has reached me a zillion times before. But not really from a student who is considered the best at the English language by the Central Board of Secondary Education in India!! And an English teacher!

Well, I have been lucky to have been taught by excellent English faculty throughout my School and College. And let me not leave out the most important contributor to my English speaking and writing er… (skills?!) My mother. Mrs. Mythili Kesavasamy. She was the President’s Gold Medal Winner in her M.A and a brilliant faculty all her life. She got me the reading habit, she made me listen to the news. She made me read my lessons! :)

I do not stake claim as the best English speaker around or that I may even be close that title. But am shocked that the faculty standards could be so low! It is like I’m waking up from a good dream to nightmarish reality! I have always believed that it is the teacher who makes students fall in love or well… hate subjects.

Now, something to test you… where are u likely to find a board that reads:
· “Butter scoch shek” and would you think it meant? Answer: India, Butter Scotch Shake.
· “Child bear” and what would you think it meant? Answer: India, (hold your breath) Chilled Beer!

I recently read in a magazine which reported that a 2nd year degree student committed suicide for not being able to cope with English (He left behind a suicide note to that effect). He had all his education in Hindi medium and his education till 10th, but with English as the 2nd language, the language per se, did him no real good.

Proficiency in the English language is considered the passport to Indians to better lives. But they are taught absolute rubbish in schools and colleges. I can’t blame the students! Every street has a small outlet which “sells” dosages of easy English speaking courses for the thousands of wannabe English speakers Indians. And what do they sell? Simple:
“Childern is going to school”
“I am also English speak”
“My hobbies means I used to go to cinema”
“They is coming soon”

I am appalled and sad and I don’t know what else. I remember the days I used to teach my “mohalla” street kids in Bellary district, Karnataka… English! And how well they responded! Now, I’m not saying I am a great teacher… not at all. I was barely in 4th standard then! But the kids- they are so full of life and curiosity to learn new things, new languages. Incapable teachers ruin it all. If only we had the right teachers, I think the Indian youth will be a much awaited upon lot. And good teachers are not just born. Well, some of them maybe. But others become.

The only way I see now, is to find the best teachers in the language and get them to train at least 5 others. And then each of those 5 can take up 5 others. I know 5 is a small number. But it’s high time we made a difference. And like that starfish story we all know, every move of ours makes a difference. And the time to start could not be better than NOW.