Introduction

Language is a medium of communication. Ability to speak different languages always helps

people to communicate better as not only people like to hear their own language, they can also
understand better.

In a country like India where multilingualism flourishes along with its cultural diversity in every
part of the country, the fathers of the Indian constitution felt the need to give recognition to
languages in the Constitution. The eighth schedule of the constitution recognizes 22 languages
viz.(1) Assamese, (2) Bengali, (3) Gujarati, (4) Hindi, (5) Kannada, (6) Kashmiri, (7) Konkani,
(8) Malayalam, (9) Manipuri, (10) Marathi, (11) Nepali, (12) Oriya, (13) Punjabi, (14) Sanskrit,
(15) Sindhi, (16) Tamil, (17) Telugu, (18) Urdu (19) Bodo, (20) Santhali, (21) Maithili and (22)
Dogri. Of these languages, 14 were initially included in the Constitution and 8 languages added
between 1967 and 2004.

History of India reveals that people under the British era began to learn the English language and
it became a status symbol. English medium schools run by the missionaries were recognized as
the place to send ones children for proper grooming. The British left India, but the English
language was here to stay. It is a similar story with most of the countries with a colonial past.

The government of independent India recognized the importance of language in improving

literacy levels in the country and encouraged states to impart education in regional languages in
schools as it was easier to learn in a native tongue than in a foreign language.

While this improved literacy levels to a great extent, it also brought in limitations as people, who
knew only one language, found it difficult to migrate to other parts of the country, as they did not
know the language of that state. The government was looking at the Hindi language to unify
India but this proposal did not cut ice with the Southern states and this resulted in the
government’s decision to support both Hindi and English as official languages.

The government also introduced the three language formula in school education that would help
to promote Hindi and English.
With the globalization gaining ground in India, particularly from the last decade, knowledge of
English language has become all the more essential to communicate better with the outside world
as it is the language for trade and commerce. The world of knowledge in terms of books or the
internet is available in English, much more than any other language. With technology providing
the competitive edge, knowledge of English language has become even more critical as the
language of technology and the development of science.

This is true as we find countries of the Middle East and the Asia Pacific region making serious
attempts to introduce English as a subject in the early years in school. In India too there is a
growing significance of the language in the society and it has been aptly quoted in the ‘position
paper - a National focus group on Teaching of English 1.4 of 2006 as under:

“English is in India today, a symbol of people’s aspirations for quality in education and a fuller
participation in national and international life. Its colonial origins now forgotten or irrelevant, its
initial role in independent India, tailored to higher education (as a “library language”, a “window
on the world”), now felt to be insufficiently inclusive socially and linguistically the current status
of English stems from its overwhelming presence on the world stage and the reflection of this in
the national arena”. (NCERT 2006.1)

The last decade has seen India turning into a major supplier of IT resources (Information
Technology). India also became a major hub for BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) services.
Even though we lack the best of amenities, number of tourists is growing. There is a growing
number of students leaving the country for education in the USA, Europe and Australia. In the
country too there are many more, who are pursuing higher education than before.

India is a country with many languages and dialects. In a country with so many languages of its
own, it is interesting to note the growing significance of the English language. Even though the
political influences are not much in favour of the language, on talking to people, both, in urban
and rural India, it emerges that people want to learn English particularly to speak as they find it
provides them better employment opportunities. Therefore, even the poor aspire to send their
children to English medium schools.
There is also a growing number of International Schools as well as schools offering ICSC
(Indian Certificate of Secondary Education) curriculum in metro and mega cities of India. Many
parents prefer to send their children to these schools as they are English medium schools and do
not have vernacular language as a compulsory subject. The growing number of institutions
offering spoken English classes indicates what is missing in the country’s education system.

On an average, students have to study English as a subject in vernacular medium schools for a
period ranging from 7 to 9 years, yet the students lack confidence to communicate in the
language. The result is that they face difficulties in getting a job in reputed organizations, despite
having a good academic record.

India is innovating and more than ever before, the country has taken major leaps in science and
technology. Today, when India is poised to be a major global player by becoming a
manufacturing hub and also opening up the tourism industry in a very big way, it becomes
imperative to create systems to impart English language learning and particularly spoken English
skills. The stress is on spoken English as verbal communication is used more than written
communication to actually communicate with people.

Over a period of time, as China became a major production hub for the developed nations, China
felt the need to be able to speak English. The knowledge of English helps people who work for
Chinese companies to deal with foreign clients. It also makes it easier for these people to
communicate better as they are required to work abroad. This change in China’s global status,
made the people of China desirous to learn English, to get a competitive edge. The Chinese are
teaching their children English from the age of two, they are also encouraging private institutes
to teach English. The efforts put in by the Chinese for four long years to help people learn
spoken English, before the Beijing Olympics, is another testimony of their endevour in this
direction, so that visitors to China could experience Beijing as a truly global city. The tourist
guides, shopkeepers and taxi drivers went through a training program to particularly learn to
speak in English.

Similarly, the Singapore government promoted the learning of English language through a Speak
Good English Movement, launched by the Prime Minister Mr. Goh Chok Tong, in 2000. He said
that for Singapore to become a first world global economy, it is essential that Singaporeans
speak good English. The government’s policy to promote Standard English, was derived out of
economic aspirations as English is known to be the global language of business, commerce and
technology. The government continued with the movement, by promoting a different theme and
target group, each year, with competitions, free classes and other activities. It encourages native
teachers to master the language to help students excel.

It is evident from the action taken by the governments of fast progressing countries that spoken
language skills, truly empower people to communicate better and helps in the economic growth
of the country.