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 won the President’s Gold Medal in her M.A and has been a brilliant faculty all her life. She got me the reading habit, she made me listen to the news, and it was she who made me read my lessons! :)

I don’t speak great English myself. But I would like to understand others who speak the language! The least I can expect is teachers to speak decently well. But am shocked that the faculty standards could be so low! It feels like I’m waking up from a pleasant dream to nightmarish reality! I have mostly interacted with people who spoke decently well English but to think that more than half our nation has to struggle with the language is almost unfathomable! I have always believed that it is the teachers who make students fall in love or well… hate subjects.

Now, here is something to test you… where are u likely to find a board that reads:
--- “Butter Scoch Shek” and what 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 had all his education in Hindi medium. And the fact that he studied English as the 3rd language till 10th standard did him no real good for his career prospects. It truly is alarming to see how a language might affect the lives of youngsters and old alike. When I think of this case, a thought hits me in the face- what a waste of life! He would have been a great engineer, a designer an architect… We lost him because he didn’t know English!

Well, one thing is certain. There is a way of life. English today doesn’t remain just a means of communication any more. It has become an essential part of survival and the medium that ensures earning bread.

Proficiency in the English language is considered the passport to better lives, at least, in India. But Indians are taught 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 Angrezi-ispeaking Indians. And what do the outlets 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 how to read words and construct sentences. And how well they were thrilled! Now, I’m not saying I am a great teacher… not at all. I was barely in 4th standard then! But the kids- they were 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 right teachers are not just born. Well, some of them maybe. But others are made… they become.

China has realized how important a role English is going to play in the coming years. It has started pooling in English speaking taltents across southern Asia to get its youth the best available. The world is changing and with it, we must too. There really isn’t any choice.

The only way I see now, is to find really good English teachers from schools and colleges… (Am sure there are quite a few of them. Atleast everybody who taught me are simply great! ) 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.

PS: The Starfish Story (For the benefit of those who haven’t heard the story and those of us who’ve heard it and don’t mind reading it over and over again!)

A little boy was walking on the beach early one morning when the speaker of the story finds him. He wonders what the boy is doing. He sees the boy picking up the starfish that got washed ashore by the waves and throwing them, one by one, back into the sea. His curiosity aroused, he walks to the boy and asks, “My dear fellow, may I know what you are doing?” The boy replies “Am saving lives of the starfish, Sir” “But don’t you know there are thousands and thousands of starfish washed up along the beach and it would take you years to throw them all back into the ocean? How do you think you’ll save them?” To which the boy simply picked up another starfish and said politely, “I don’t know about others yet Sir, but I saved that one.” The speaker is suddenly ashamed and stunned. He soon joins the little boy in his mission and starts picking up starfish and throwing them back into the sea.