Trinity CEO Sarah Kemp's Visit to Hyderabad: 5-Feb-10
Hinglish in India. Does it work ?
English remains the ‘official language’ in India and has been quite popular all over the country. English is quickly moving far and beyond being only used as the main medium of communication in business transactions, banks and government offices. India presently demands a workforce well versed in the English language. With international standard business growth in India, Indians need to be fluent in the English language. We will soon have to do without communicating somehow in Hinglish or Tamglish or any other Indian-English version of the English language, which is a common way of speaking English in the country. The youth needs to speak proper English in order to get better jobs. Hinglish and Tamglish are beginning to raise eyebrows everywhere. The pressure is contagious and intense, and is rapidly spreading on to concerned parents and students who want to carve out a niche market for themselves in the real world.
Foreign companies outsource IT projects to Indian companies banking on our ‘lavishly available and intellectual IT workforce’ and ‘cheap labour,’ and end up making huge profits and saving their dollars; which is all very good for them and also perhaps for us, (we need those jobs back here, don’t we?) But the foreign company professionals choose to write the ‘error messages’ in English, in-house. They do not trust the Indian IT scientist who sits behind a computer and writes the software programs in lightening speed to write the error messages. What the heck, if we can write those rocket science programs, we should as well be able to communicate them in ‘prim and proper’ English.
It’s time to brush up our English speaking skills and show the world that we can manage to get the work done and also make sure that it is communicated well. The much recent spread of multinational companies everywhere in India demand the need for good communication skills from its workforce. India calls for English speakers! Gone are the days of translating the vernacular into English. It’s time we shed off the ‘Hinglish and Tamglish’ and brush up on our spoken English.
Foreign companies outsource IT projects to Indian companies banking on our ‘lavishly available and intellectual IT workforce’ and ‘cheap labour,’ and end up making huge profits and saving their dollars; which is all very good for them and also perhaps for us, (we need those jobs back here, don’t we?) But the foreign company professionals choose to write the ‘error messages’ in English, in-house. They do not trust the Indian IT scientist who sits behind a computer and writes the software programs in lightening speed to write the error messages. What the heck, if we can write those rocket science programs, we should as well be able to communicate them in ‘prim and proper’ English.
It’s time to brush up our English speaking skills and show the world that we can manage to get the work done and also make sure that it is communicated well. The much recent spread of multinational companies everywhere in India demand the need for good communication skills from its workforce. India calls for English speakers! Gone are the days of translating the vernacular into English. It’s time we shed off the ‘Hinglish and Tamglish’ and brush up on our spoken English.
‘Spoken English’ goes missing in schools in India
India has a large number of English medium schools all over the country and English is taught extensively here. There is a shift towards more and more English medium schools in India, but the ratio is not directly proportional to the spoken English standards of the students. If the number of English medium schools increases, there should be an adequate increase in English speaking skills among the students as well; but, students continue to lack speaking skills. The Indian examination system is ‘written-exam’ oriented, therefore failing to test students’ English speaking skills. Spoken English and listening skills among Indians in India has been a straight line in the graph, without any significant effort put in towards its upward movement.
In Indian schools and colleges, English is taught as a subject. Communicating in English or developing communication skills is not a part of the syllabus. Indian education system gives much needed importance to grammar, reading and writing; but, the same amount of importance required is not given to develop student’s spoken English skills. Schools do not have classes dedicated to spoken English and teachers do not emphasize on speaking skills of the language. While Indian students are learning to read and write, they are not learning to speak clearly and fluently.
Students are unable to introduce themselves in basic English and take part in simple conversations. They lack confidence as they do not get enough practice in spoken English. Students do not receive proper guidance and feedback on their speaking skills, and therefore, often end up speaking in a way which sounds grammatical correct when written, but not quite appropriate while speaking. They also have a tendency to think in their local language first and then translate it to English as best as they can, which in most cases sound inappropriate.
To speak good English, one has to practice speaking the language and building up the confidence. Educational institutions do not provide students with opportunities to build confidence in speech. Indian education system also puts emphasis on memorizing answers. Students who memorize answers well, gets a good grade. Therefore, a good grade does not guarantee that the student is good in the language. Students may get a good grade in English but actually have poor English language skills. Schools lack in implementing a proper method of testing and improving students applied language skills.
Spoken English skills can be developed and nurtured by creating an environment where the language can grow. Students should get into the habit of listening to proper English. The internet has a lot of resources on English language learning, audio-visual materials on spoken English, various English programs and speeches, which are all available for students to listen to and improve their English. Reading books, magazines and newspapers in English can also significantly improve language skills. Proper listening and reading activities on an ongoing basis can create an environment to learn and improve English speaking skills.
In Indian schools and colleges, English is taught as a subject. Communicating in English or developing communication skills is not a part of the syllabus. Indian education system gives much needed importance to grammar, reading and writing; but, the same amount of importance required is not given to develop student’s spoken English skills. Schools do not have classes dedicated to spoken English and teachers do not emphasize on speaking skills of the language. While Indian students are learning to read and write, they are not learning to speak clearly and fluently.
Students are unable to introduce themselves in basic English and take part in simple conversations. They lack confidence as they do not get enough practice in spoken English. Students do not receive proper guidance and feedback on their speaking skills, and therefore, often end up speaking in a way which sounds grammatical correct when written, but not quite appropriate while speaking. They also have a tendency to think in their local language first and then translate it to English as best as they can, which in most cases sound inappropriate.
To speak good English, one has to practice speaking the language and building up the confidence. Educational institutions do not provide students with opportunities to build confidence in speech. Indian education system also puts emphasis on memorizing answers. Students who memorize answers well, gets a good grade. Therefore, a good grade does not guarantee that the student is good in the language. Students may get a good grade in English but actually have poor English language skills. Schools lack in implementing a proper method of testing and improving students applied language skills.
Spoken English skills can be developed and nurtured by creating an environment where the language can grow. Students should get into the habit of listening to proper English. The internet has a lot of resources on English language learning, audio-visual materials on spoken English, various English programs and speeches, which are all available for students to listen to and improve their English. Reading books, magazines and newspapers in English can also significantly improve language skills. Proper listening and reading activities on an ongoing basis can create an environment to learn and improve English speaking skills.
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