Date:14/08/2006 URL:

http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/14/stories/2006081415040200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

English textbook released

Staff Reporter

Two-part work in single edition for engineering students

• Textbook first published as part of a project conceived around 20 years ago

• English is presented to students of technology in familiar, professional contexts
using topic areas

CHENNAI : The vice-chancellor of Anna University, D. Viswanathan, released a textbook

of English for engineers and technologists here on Friday evening. The textbook was first
published as part of a project conceived around 20 years ago by the department of
humanities and social sciences at Anna University.

The two-part book for first year engineering students has been published as a single book for
the new edition and is part of the prescribed syllabus for students at the University and
affiliated colleges.

Speakers said that the book represented Anna University's early concern for improving the
communication skills of its students. "The book recognises students as having views and
opinions of their own and not as locked into a system with no choices," said Usha Aroor,
director, Orient Longman, "It provides a student-centred skill based approach to learning
language."

English is presented to students of technology in familiar, professional contexts using topic

areas like energy, computers, transport and communication instead of the traditional prose
and poetry.

The presentation was flexible to adapt to different levels of learner knowledge, said
Premalatha Rajan, head, department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Anna University.

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