CBSE moves to improve students’ diction Central board plans to develop oral, aural skills of students in the ‘global’ language

CBSE moves to improve students’ diction

Central board plans to develop oral, aural skills of students in the ‘global’ language

Now, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) schools will teach their students to speak right. Abandoning a merely textbook approach to the English language, the CBSE has asked its schools to train their students in speaking and listening skills to improve their diction and communication skills. The board has proposed a formal testing of speaking and listening skills in the form of Formative Assessments (FAs), in English at secondary and senior secondary levels from the academic year 2013-14. In its latest circular to all the schools affiliated with the central board, the CBSE has envisaged that all language skills need to be integrated into the school English language curriculum. “In today’s world, where national and international boundaries have no real meaning for the global citizen, the English language has acquired the role of a crucial medium of communication. It has become the language for knowledge seeker as we move towards a knowledge-based economy,’’ states the circular. For this purpose, CBSE also plans to develop a cohort of oral examiners to be involved in testing of speaking and listening skills in English. ‘’Many schools are teaching English only through textbooks and assessment is being done only through projects and tests. But we want to develop the student’s personality and make them confident speakers of the language. While some schools are already following it, many schools have not implemented it thoroughly. So, we have decided to introduce a formal test for such skills,’’ said a senior official from the CBSE board. Many schools in the city say that they try to develop such skills amongst students through group discussions, debates, public speaking etc. Dipshikha Srivastava, principal of the Rajhans Vidyalaya at Andheri said, ‘’We train children in voice modulations and phonetics, ask them to read aloud passages while the teachers correct their diction. It’s a module that even children enjoy as it helps them communicate better.’’ Besides improving communication skills, it also a helpful assessment tool say experts. Geeta Balgangadharan, principal of the Kendriya Vidyalaya, Colaba, said, ‘’Around 10 marks in the formative assessments are for the student’s oral and aural skills. Some children may not be good in writing, but they are proficient in speaking the language. The test will help evaluate such students.”