Why is it that even after getting a proper education, going to a good school and completing college degrees, we tend to stutter sometimes or feel a gap? Why do the words evade us? How and when did we stop learning English?
Even after securing 85% in school board, when it comes to English speaking, why is that vacuum widening? The language is not alien; you understand the basics and reading is definitely not an issue. Why is it then that simple dinner conversations in English, with acquaintances, seem like a challenge?
It’s not your fault!!! The system is broken!
The logic is pretty straightforward – we learn English in educational institutes and in fact, it is in most setups the compulsory language and therefore, it ought to make sense that we are proficient at it. However, the logic is flawed.
Schools and colleges teach us to read and understand English; speaking in English was never their objective. We learnt lessons and crammed the information provided, but soon after graduation, nothing much stayed with us. There were grammar drills and punctuation worksheets and comprehension passages, however an absolute dearth of reasonable, practical communication exercises. Teachers conveyed us the rules and we applied them strictly for exam purposes, but we never had to write or speak to an editor or convey a message to the imaginary committee in English and thus, when it came to applying the language in our regular lives, we struggled.
Simply put, it was “marks vs competency”. Marks won & we lost!
The Real-World strikes
They say you can make mistakes at school and learn; however, you are rarely allowed to do so. Make mistakes and get berated is the reality. Henceforth, not only do you lose marks, but you also risk losing your confidence. Thus, it makes sense to simply memorize and ensure no culpability.
Once we are out in the real world, English language struggles become real and fierce. There is no longer the option of memorizing your essay for a parent teacher meet or fully cramming the sales pitch. You can no longer refer to a guidebook with sample questions and be sure of get passing marks in an interview. Real life is brutal; you slip once in front of your new neighbour or your teenager’s friends and you are labelled as desi for life.
It’s no longer just a mistake; it is an embarrassment.
Awareness of this reality only makes things worse. The fear of consequences, further plays with your nerves, and inadvertently, you end up confusing words or find yourself, simply frozen. Fear of judgement creeps in and kills the momentum.
Not every conversation has to be a test
What if there were no marks, no mistakes, no judgements … what if you could speak freely in English, as you spoke in your mother language?
How would that happen though?
Solution – You’ll have to understand the practical aspects of the language. Rather than hiding the gaps to obtain that decent score, you’ll have to fill the blank spaces with actual knowledge and this should be as per your life’s conversation goals and not your school syllabus.
Instead of those rigorous grammar topics, learning the English language needs to evolve around practising useful conversational English – by conversing in English. Start by expressing yourself in a safe space, learn the English language as it is commonly used in current practical settings and eventually gain confidence to converse freely in English language, as and when required.
Add a Comment