DESIGNING ENGLISH CURRICULUM FOR ENGINEERING STUDENTS

The English Language Teaching scene in India is diverse in diverse states because the state government education policies are different for different states. The Government of India’s three language formula of 1962 stated that English should be taught as a compulsory language at the secondary and university level, i.e. English should be introduced from or after class V. Introducing English at this middle stage should rest with the individual states. Following this policy, English is offered as a second language at different stages in different states in India. Variety in schools and other educational institutions in India is another aspect that speaks of great diversity in ELT scenarios across the country. At the primary level, we have

1. Government-aided regional medium schools,
2. English medium private/government-aided elite schools and
3. English medium private schools.

These schools, having a significant difference in infrastructure and resources, quality of English language teachers and financial structure, have led to different proficiency levels of students who go for further studies at the secondary level and then for various undergraduate courses. The general English course for students at the undergraduate level does not bring them to the required competence in all areas of the language at the end of their graduation. Therefore, there is a shortage of need-based English language courses.

This book is an outcome of my PhD dissertation, which focussed on a need-based English language curriculum for students pursuing engineering and other technical courses, a study in English for Specific Purpose (ESP). Through insights into the methodology of identifying the needs of the Engineering students in the present case study, the book may prove helpful for ELT/ESP practitioners, instructors and course designers. The methodology for target-oriented, need-based ESP courses may be applied to engineering courses and other technical courses. The book was written to delineate a process of designing a unique intensive course in English designed to help them in their course and future career prospects- a course in English for Specific Purposes (ESP).