Indian board adopts new language strategy

Schools from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) are set to apply a more "communicative" approach to teaching languages.

The new strategy will put more emphasis on reading, writing, speaking and listening to the languages being taught, rather than expecting children to learn from the use of literature alone.
The changes will implemented in the teaching of languages such as English, Hindi, Sanskrit and French from the next academic session. The board will simultaneously also add a new subject – web multimedia technology.

Gulf News spoke to Madhav Rao, the Secretary of the CBSE council and principal of Our Own English High School in Dubai, on the issue. He said: "As far as teaching of English language is concerned we have already applied this particular approach up to grade 10 but from the next academic year it will be extended to Grades 11 and 12.

"The communicative approach will be applied to languages like Sanskrit, French and Hindi from Grade 9 onwards."

He said language courses are more literature-centered, while under this new approach the importance will be laid on skills. Instead of simply using a chalk and blackboard, stress will be placed on interaction and group work among students.

He added: "The new subject of web and multimedia technology will be introduced from grades 11 and 12. This is being done in order to meet the job market requirements.

"Most of the courses that are being tailored by the CBSE are done in accordance with the future needs of students. In fact, the CBSE is giving a wider choice to students by introducing more courses."

The Central Board of Secondary Education's new school subject on 'Disaster Management' will become a major staple of the Social Science curriculum for class eight students.

"The curriculum is a reflection of today's international circumstances. "The CBSE has become increasingly aware of the need to prepare students for man-made or natural disasters. It is for grades 8 to 10.

"The CBSE has revised various subjects to encourage lateral thinking in resolving problems, particularly in physics, chemistry and accountancy."

There are more than 157,365 CBSE students in the Gulf, of which more than 65,629 students are in the UAE's 42 CBSE-affiliated schools.