TACKLING THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE STRUGGLES: Insights From The Malayalam Medium Students
Abstract:
This article explores the challenges faced by Class 9 students of St. Stephen's Girls High School, Malayalam medium, in mastering the English language. The study identifies key difficulties in three main areas: reading comprehension, writing skills, and the fear of speaking or communicating in English. These challenges were observed during my internship at the school and provide an insight into the specific linguistic struggles encountered by students in a non-English medium of instruction. The article discusses the underlying causes of these challenges and offers suggestions for overcoming them, with a focus on practical strategies for language learning in a classroom setting.
Keywords: English language difficulties, Malayalam medium, reading comprehension, writing skills, fear of speaking, educational intervention.
Introduction:
The ability to communicate effectively in English has become an essential skill in today's globalized world. However, for students in non-English medium schools, particularly in Malayalam medium institutions, the challenges associated with mastering the English language are manifold. During my internship at St. Stephen’s Girls High School, I observed several difficulties faced by Class 9 students in learning English, particularly in the areas of reading, writing, and speaking. These challenges hinder their overall proficiency in the language, and it is crucial to understand their root causes in order to find effective solutions.
This article aims to shed light on these issues, based on firsthand observations, and to suggest methods for addressing them. By exploring how students from Malayalam medium schools approach the English language, we can better understand their learning processes and provide insights into improving their language skills.
1. Reading Comprehension Difficulties:
One of the primary challenges identified among the students is reading comprehension. Many students struggle to understand English texts, especially those that are lengthy or complex. This is primarily due to a lack of familiarity with vocabulary and sentence structures in English. Since their primary medium of instruction is Malayalam, the students are often unable to make quick mental translations from Malayalam to English while reading.
Causes:
- Limited exposure to English texts outside the classroom.
- The absence of a strong foundation in English vocabulary.
- Dependence on Malayalam for understanding, which hinders quick comprehension of English material.
2. Writing Difficulties:
Writing in English is another area where students face significant challenges. The majority of students have trouble organizing their thoughts, constructing grammatically correct sentences, and using appropriate punctuation. This is partly because the Malayalam language structure is vastly different from English, which leads to confusion when trying to express ideas in English.
Causes:
- Lack of practice in writing English sentences.
- Limited understanding of English grammar rules.
- Over-reliance on Malayalam language structure
Causes:
- A lack of confidence in speaking English.
- Fear of making mistakes in front of peers.
- Limited opportunities to practice speaking in real-life situations.
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