Newspapers and Language Teaching
We teachers often seem completely dependent on school books when it comes to language teaching. It seems as if there are no other language resources apart from this. If you look around you, you will find many alternative resources. Take the newspaper that comes to your home every morning,
It can prove to be an important and interesting resource for language learning.
Not only from a story published in a newspapers other than a text book, but from any news published in it, we can teach language, we can make a neutral class interesting. For the sake of discussion, we are taking here an excerpt from a folk-tale ‘Agoor is sour’, published in a children’s magazine. Here are the opening lines of the story.
The red fox was walking in the forest when he saw a giraffe plucking grapes. Lali went to him. The giraffe looked at Lali. “The grapes are sour,” he said with a smile. “Huh, I was kidding!” Lali grumbled angrily.
The above part of the story is only 42 words. But we can go into the detail of language even from such a fraction. Through this various topics, small talk, discussion, homework, conversation as well as writing can be done.
We do not want to see the above part tied to any particular class. The conversation, discussion and teaching can be broadened or narrowed depending on the level of the class. However, we will try to expand the discussion by focusing on language teaching in the primary and secondary classes.
Language and other subjects
We all know that teachers are the backbone of the classroom and the education system. If he wants, he can get all the subjects taught in the language class.
Teachers should remember that when an average child comes to school on the first day, it is not a blank. For example, if you ask for a pot for tea, he will only bring a glass or cup, not a plate. Overall we can say that language learning for the child becomes a part of the classroom later, before he starts making his own language perspective at home.
Now it is up to the teacher how to develop the linguistic ability of the child by leaving the technical side of language teaching, out of the bookish world of the course.
Example 1
For example, we begin with the first sentence of the same small part of the story.
‘Lali fox was roaming in the forest when he saw a giraffe plucking grapes.’
Through this passage, we can open the various dimensions of the discussion in which different topics can be covered.
* For example, what names can be given to animals. Whatever names the children name, all should be considered correct.
* Fox is a carnivorous animal. And which are carnivores? This discussion can go a long way.
And on this pretext, from ant to dinosaur can be discussed.
By connecting with science and environment, we can do unlimited things with examples on the physical structure of living beings.
* Around this one sentence, we can lead the children in the direction of compiling and making related pictures.
Grammar-free writing
Today language teaching needs to be freed from the shackles of grammar and definition. Children should be kept free from the technical aspects of grammar up to the primary classes. In the higher classes, they would be familiar with these aspects of language if needed. Initially, children need to be given open freedom to use language. Later they will learn that often in conversation, in writing, they have been using grammar.
* We can motivate children to write new sentences.
Learn grammar-free writing
* By associating grapes with fruits, a list of fruits found around children can be made. They can write the names of the trees they have seen.
* The animals they see in everyday life can also be written about.
You should know that there is no limit to creativity.
* By dividing the class into some groups, taking this part as the basis, a new story can be written. Groups can be small or large depending on the class.
The elaboration of the conversation that we have given here has been done only by a small fraction. The possibilities are limitless, all you need to do is take a step forward with a little bit of creative thinking.
Example-2
‘Ganga Yamuna Action Plan may be ready by December’
New Delhi. Action plan for cleaning Ganga and Yamuna may be ready by the end of this year. The Central Government gave this information in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. Responding to a question, Minister of State for Water Resources Santosh Kumar Gangwar said, after consultation with the concerned parties, a blueprint for cleaning Ganga-Yamuna will be ready by December.
Let us explore the possibilities for language teaching on the above news.
From this passage we would like to broadly ask the students to discuss, group discussion and answer some questions for oral expression and written expression. It is also possible that we ask the students to read this news carefully and write it in their own words. Students take great pleasure in this. They relate the news to the situation in their area, and also write. However, the following points can be raised for discussion from the above news.
List the rivers of India and the world.
Explain them also.
Through which states does the Ganges pass? Compile it in your book with the help of map. Also write the names of their capitals.
Will the disappearance of the Ganges affect the cities on the banks of the Ganges?
- After units, tens, hundreds, thousands, up to what number can you write?
- How many words can be written the antonyms of the above news?
- How many words that came in the above news can write one or two synonyms?
- In this news the word ‘Ganga-Yamuna’ is additive. At the same time, the word is also a conjunction. But what is the difference between the two? How many words with the same difference can be collected?
These activities require time. It would not be right to settle them in one or two periods.
What more could a teacher need?
Manohar Chamoli: Language teacher in Education Department, School Education, Uttarakhand. Writes stories. Awarded with many state literary awards. Residence in Pauri (Garhwal).
All Illustrations & Design: Kanak Shashi: As an independent artist, she has been illustrating for children’s books for over a decade. Worked with the Design Group of Eklavya, Bhopal.
Important for students
The current affairs of the students who read the newspaper daily updated and they also know which job is going to come out when.
Also, by keeping the current affairs updated, they are always ready for the interview, due to which they are never afraid to go to any company for the walk-in interview.
Therefore, the graph of his career also keeps on increasing.
This is the importance of newspaper – So now you must have come to know that reading newspaper daily gives you many benefits.
If you do not believe, then start reading the newspaper daily from today itself. You will start seeing the difference within two months.
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