Objective of Teaching English: Teaching of any subject becomes much effective and more systematic only when the teacher is fully aware of the aims and values of teaching that particular subject. Because the basic principle of teaching is “Know what you do and only do what you Know”. Hence we have to understand the aims and values of teaching English.
Aims and Objectives
The words ‘aim’ and ‘objective’ are often used interchangeably in books on education. There are several words like aims, goals, purposes, objectives learning outcomes used loosely and indiscriminately by students and teachers so that a terminological confusion has taken place. An aim can be defined as a general expression of intent and an objective is characterised by greater precision and specificity. To make it more clear aims are long term intent and purposes and objectives are short term goals.
The difference between aims and objectives is made clear point wise in the following columns:
Aims:
1. Aims form the basic elements in educational planning.
2. Aims are very general in character and imprecise.
3. Aims are broad and often abstract in their expression.
4. Aims are long term goals.
5. It is difficult to specify the exact time limits for the achievement of aims.
6. Aims express the general purpose of education.
Objectives:
1. Objectives form the basis for curriculum construction.
2. Objectives are particular and specific.
3. Objectives are limited and clear cut in their expression.
4. Objectives are short term goals.
5. Objectives can be achieved within specified time limits.
6. Objectives express the specific purpose of curriculum at a given stage.
Aims of Teaching English in India
In India English now exists as a second language and it should be taught as a language and not as a literature. The aim of teaching English in India is to help students to acquire practical command of English i.e, students should be able to understand spoken English, speak English, read English and write English. Thus these are the four basic aims of teaching English. According to Thompson and Wytt the four specific aims of teaching English at school stages are:
i) To Understand Spoken English (Listening)
ii) To Speak English (Speaking)
iii) To Understand Written English (Reading)
iv) To Write English (Writing)
To Understand Spoken English
The student should be able to understand spoken English required in ordinary conversation, exchange of greetings, receiving orders and directions, listening to lectures, talks etc. This aim can be achieved if we give opportunities to our students to listen to English through Radio, Tape Recorder, Gramophone etc. To Speak English To speak English a student is required to produce sounds with proper stress and intonation. Speech occupies a unique position and it is the base for all the language learning. Many linguists are of the view that language is primarily speech. This aim stands totally neglected in our schools. We expect our students to talk fluently in English after 5 – 6 years of learning English.
This ability to speak English is required in big cities to communicate with persons from other Indian states and to talk with foreigners. To Understand Written English We expect our students, when they leave the school, to be able to understand the written English in books, magazines, news papers etc. It is also expected that he will be able to adopt English as the medium of instructions and examinations in his studies. At present our students are not able to comprehend material published in English. Recognition vocabulary of students should be increased to enable them to read English with Comprehension.
To Write English
Writing English is in no way less than speaking English. In teaching English we aim to enable our students to write in English simple letters, applications, description and accounts of events. Developing note-making and note taking skills, paragraph writing, precise writing, composition writing are the basic skills to be developed through teaching of writing.