I have been teaching ESL to children and adults whose mother tongue is Kannada( state language of Karnataka, India) for almost 15 years. Most of the ESL issues that are discussed on many international forums/ websites/ blogs, keep English language learners( ESL students) in English speaking countries as the focus. We have a situation wherein English is recognised as a second language by our constitution but there is absolutely no proper research and training in ESL, here. On the other extreme, we have Booker Prize winners in India. We are also proud that Indian English is a recognised form of English. But, we have a special situation where the TESL has hit the bottom in public schools for many years now, and there are some elite Englsih medium schools where it is flourishing very well.TESL in non Englsih speaking countries pose a special challenge. I am interested in knowing what should be the primary education policy of public schools with respect to TESL. Our Govt.,'s policy is to focus only on Listening and Speaking skills rather than Reading and Writing skills for the first four years in primary schools. As the children are not trained to read and write in Englsih from grade I to grade IV, how can we expect them to read and write from grade V? As we are talking of academic skills rather than social skills in a school setting I think reading and writing should be given top priority. Do you agree?Suren
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