Dear Editor,
On the world's stage, English can be considered the number one language. It is the official language of 54 countries, the United Nations, International Olympic Committee, European Union, Organisation of American States, etc. It is the language of science and commerce. English is also the language of aerial and maritime communication.
Research shows that 375 million people speak English as a first language, while 470 million to one billion people speak it as a second language. Most of the native speakers of the language are from USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is the language that is most often taught in countries where it is not the official language. English is the most often studied/learnt foreign language in Europe.
It is important for Jamaicans and other nationalities to have a good command of the English language as it creates job opportunities and economic benefits locally and internationally. A very good command of the English language is required for many professions. Moreover, the quality of English used in a country is an index for measuring the standard of education in the said country.
There are some individuals who are of the view that English should not be studied. Some feel that the knowledge of English is automatic. I disagree with such persons. One needs only consider the fact that many students in Jamaica and other parts of the world perform poorly when evaluated by tests. Therefore, to improve the pass rate in English examinations and the quality of our English in Jamaica, I recommend the following:
1. English grammar and syntax should be taught at primary school.
2. Students should be exposed to the phonological and phonetic elements of the language.
3. Spelling rules should be taught and correct spelling emphasised.
4. Students should be encouraged to be avid readers, as this will enable them to build their vocabulary.
5. Parents and teachers should encourage students to use English a lot in their oral and written communication. This will provide them with the opportunity to bring into play those rudiments of the language that they have learnt and internalised.
6. Drama, songs and drawings should be used as an apparatus in language teaching and learning.
7. Debates and essay writing competitions should be held not only in schools but in the wider society. Business operators need to sponsor such ventures.
It is necessary to state that we should not see the English language as a vestige of British colonialism or a symbol of linguistic imperialism but a vehicle for achieving international intelligibility.
Ugochukwu Wilson Durueke
udurueke@yahoo.com
Road to English... speaking
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On the world's stage, English can be considered the number one language. It is the official language of 54 countries, the United Nations, International Olympic Committee, European Union, Organisation of American States, etc. It is the language of science and commerce. English is also the language of aerial and maritime communication.
Research shows that 375 million people speak English as a first language, while 470 million to one billion people speak it as a second language. Most of the native speakers of the language are from USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is the language that is most often taught in countries where it is not the official language. English is the most often studied/learnt foreign language in Europe.
It is important for Jamaicans and other nationalities to have a good command of the English language as it creates job opportunities and economic benefits locally and internationally. A very good command of the English language is required for many professions. Moreover, the quality of English used in a country is an index for measuring the standard of education in the said country.
There are some individuals who are of the view that English should not be studied. Some feel that the knowledge of English is automatic. I disagree with such persons. One needs only consider the fact that many students in Jamaica and other parts of the world perform poorly when evaluated by tests. Therefore, to improve the pass rate in English examinations and the quality of our English in Jamaica, I recommend the following:
1. English grammar and syntax should be taught at primary school.
2. Students should be exposed to the phonological and phonetic elements of the language.
3. Spelling rules should be taught and correct spelling emphasised.
4. Students should be encouraged to be avid readers, as this will enable them to build their vocabulary.
5. Parents and teachers should encourage students to use English a lot in their oral and written communication. This will provide them with the opportunity to bring into play those rudiments of the language that they have learnt and internalised.
6. Drama, songs and drawings should be used as an apparatus in language teaching and learning.
7. Debates and essay writing competitions should be held not only in schools but in the wider society. Business operators need to sponsor such ventures.
It is necessary to state that we should not see the English language as a vestige of British colonialism or a symbol of linguistic imperialism but a vehicle for achieving international intelligibility.
Ugochukwu Wilson Durueke
udurueke@yahoo.com
Road to English... speaking
-->