Designing a suitable bridge course for developing the english language skills of first year engineering students in affiliated colleges of anna university tamil nadu a study

Abstract

The main objectives of the present study are to survey ESL teachers views on teaching and accommodating ELLs in their classrooms This was with specific reference to teachers in engineering colleges affiliated to Anna University in Tamil Nadu and also to develop a suitable ESL Bridge course to help English Language Learners in Tamil Nadu using the insights gained from the survey taken Further the study critically evaluates the currently available bridge courses in use by ESL teachers in Tamil Nadu This analysis was not restricted to engineering institutions alone but to bridge courses used by ESL teachers in Arts and Science colleges The English language needless to say is one of the biggest dividers in the 21st century India Most state governments in the country allow the poor to get educated in its schools where the medium of instruction is in the mother-tongue and the quality of education is largely poor English was introduced as a language to study in the sixth class until a decade ago but since then most state Governments have introduced the learning of English from class one onwards only speaking and listening and from class three onwards writing and reading as well The ESL and other teachers in colleges and universities expect their students to move forward from school by taking charge of their learning and displaying their understanding of basic concepts by applying them This crucial yet fundamental skill is missing in the majority of learners coming from government schools It is not difficult for anyone to imagine the host of problems faced by both the teacher and the learners after this awareness dawns on either of them. newline