Date:20/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/20/stories/2007122050930200.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Seminar on English language teaching

Staff Reporter

Bangalore: The International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL) is organising a seminar on “The way forward: learning from the international experience of TEYL (Teaching English to Young Learners).” The four-day seminar, organised in partnership with the British Council, will be held from January 3 2008 on the Regional Institute of English, South India (RIESI) premises at the Jnanabharathi campus here.

“The theme is in consonance with the changes taking place all over the world as a result of globalisation,” said Gayathri Devi, director, RIESI.

“Parents and governments are beginning to feel the need to get children introduced to English earlier, even at pre-primary levels.”

She said that the seminar would discuss a range of issues pertaining to teaching and learning English as a foreign language. These include implications of classroom teaching, content development, language acquisition by young learners and challenges in policy implementation.

The conference will have representatives from among policy-makers, administrators and teachers. Delegates from about 40 countries, including Turkey, Canada, Brazil, Japan and China, are expected to participate and speak about their experiences. An exhibition-cum-display of teaching/learning material for young learners, she said, would be the “highlight” of the event, with nearly 100 participating.

Ms. Devi said that RIESI would be introducing their 10-module English language kit in 1,000 schools in the four south Indian States by January next year.

Each kit will cost Rs. 4,500 and will include video and audio CDs of EduSat modules, she added. The project was developed with a State grant of Rs. 15 lakh.