A study on the teaching and learning of english as a second language at the degree level in the arts and science colleges affiliated to manonmanium sundaranar university tirunelveli

Abstract

Though the Charter Act of 1813 provided for an annual sum of one lakh rupees for the revival and improvement of literature and the encouragement of the learned natives of India and for the introduction and promotion of knowledge of the science among the inhabitance of the British territories in India, it did not mention English or the study of English as either the goal or a means of achieving the goals cited. With the arrival of McCauley English became the language of the government, education and advancement and he recommended that all funds should be utilized for imparting to the native population a knowledge of English literature and Science through the medium of the English language. newline In 1837, Persian was replaced by English in the court of law. English became the official language of the administration. Lord Harding in 1844 announced that the people with the knowledge of English and western science would be given preference for employment. This trend in favour of English has its continued influence to this day. newline In 1854, Wood s Despatch which is popularly known as the MagnaCarta of English Education in India made provisions for education to all the people. English and Indian languages were adopted as the medium of instruction, English for the socially elite and the regional language for the less privileged people. The English books prescribed for the studies were literary in nature. newline Government of India s resolution on Educational Policy (1904) and the Indian Universities Act of 1904 traced the defects in the system of higher education. The findings included among other things the educational institutions failure to develop the critical faculty of students; the instinct for memorization was usually strong and the system of education placed very great importance on examinations. newline newline