Got English! BWC organizes Workshop on Revised English Syllabus of MU

Mangaluru: It was no “English Vinglesh”, “Butler English” or “Sandalwood English”-instead it was pure and genuine English well-spoken by everyone present, including guests of honor, and participants, at the “University Level Workshop on Revised English Syllabus for III Semester UG Courses of Mangalore University” which was organized by Department of English of Besant Women’s College, in collaboration with Association of English Teachers (AET) of Mangalore University, at Besant Women’s College Hall on Wednesday, 1 July 2015. The participants were predominately English teachers/lecturers/professors/doctorates who had come in large numbers to train themselves better in the Revised English syllabus prescribed by Mangalore University.

Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” The teacher imparts education hence the role of the teacher/professor is of paramount importance both in the present and the future of a student -they serve the society by instructing and guiding countless students through the different stages of their growth. They prepare them to take on the world which they are a part of. According to the great Saint Kabir, a teacher is greater than God because he/she guides us to the eternal God. His/her guidance is always of an utmost importance in a student’s life. Every field in life asks for guidance from a seasoned teacher, and English counts in the same category. Being the current global flavor this calls for a good teacher who can waft his student through the rough tides and finally get him settled on a safe coast.

Teachers are a key element in learning English. Their influence plays a fundamental role in a students’ progress, or a lack thereof. For English teachers, being good at the language is not the only yardstick to measure their efficiency, they should possess phenomenal teaching techniques as well. These techniques include specific teaching behavior and the handling of students’ diverse temperaments. English teachers should learn to be flexible. This is because, teaching a foreign language is a dynamic exercise. Teachers should also adapt themselves to the constant changes the language is going through, and thus incorporate newer techniques in their teaching style. The complexity of English as a second language needs a qualified teacher and an appropriate classroom environment. Overall it can be said a good teacher is at the root of the success of a student. And through this workshop the participants learned quite a few good techniques to equip themselves to teach the novels prescribed in the MU English syllabus for the III semester UG Courses.

Alfred Lord Tennyson rightly said, ” More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of”- so the formal programme began with invoking God’s blessings through a prayer song rendered by Deepthi and Apeksha of BWC, which was followed by the welcome address by Preetha Bhandary, the convenor of the Workshop. The inauguration of the workshop was done by guests of honor Devanand Pai- Correspondent of BWC, and K Shamsunder Kamath- secretary of WNES, along with other dignitaries on the dais namely- Dr Sudha-Principal of BWC, Prof. Cyril Mathias- President of AET-MU, and Conveners- Preetha Bhandary and Meera Edna Coelho. The inaugural address was delivered by Dr Sudha-the principal of BWC.

Three retired English professors namely- Dr Madhav Bhat (Professor and Principal- Vivekananda College-Puttur), Prof. Subramanya (St Mary’s College-Shirva) and Prof. Ramakrishna ( Vijaya College-Mulky) were felicitated with shawl, flower bouquet and memento for their contribution in the field of English language. These three eminent retired English professors were introduced with their elaborate profile by Dr Charles Furtado- English professor at St Aloysius Evening College-Mangaluru. After being felicitated, the three professors delivered the superannuation speeches, sharing their thoughts and views that they experienced during their teaching tenure.

Delivering the presidential address, K Shamsunder Kamath said, ” The teacher must play different roles in a student’s life. Teachers look after the best interests of the students. A teacher’s profession is an ideal profession. A teacher is the builder of nation. He/she is a prestigious person in the society we have so many expectations from a teacher ranging from his role in classroom environment to his role as a citizen of the country. As a pivotal person in the process ol education, a teacher is supposed to be performing different tasks. In the classroom a teacher is to ensure the goals of education which can be specified as learning in terms of predetermined knowledge, skills, and attitudes in specific subjects
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He further said, “Since different students learn in different ways, it’s important for an English teacher to employ a judicious mix of his teaching techniques to extract the best out of his students. Classroom management is an important thing to be taken care of by the English teachers”. The vote of thanks was proposed by Prof. Cyril Mathias, while the formal programme was professionally and eloquently compered by Meera Edna Coelho-Professor in English at BWC. The first part of the workshop was handled by facilitator Namitha Tholpady- Professor in English at SMS College, Brahmavar on the prescribed novel for II B Com – “The Strange case of Billy Biswas”.

Facilitator Dr T K Ravindran-HOD of English at SVS College-Bantwal handled the IIB Sc/FND prescribed novel ” Chemmeen”; Johnson Jacob- HOD of English, Crossland College-Brahmavar on II BA -Novel :Things Fall apart”; Dr Ammalu Kutty- Professor in English-University College, Mangaluru and Baburaj- Prof. in English-SMS College-Brahmavar- II BA Opt English-Novel-” Oliver Twist”; and Dr Rajalakshmi- Prof. in English-II BA Opt English- Background and Critical Concepts.