A global perspective is required in today’s environment. With globalisation and an increasingly shrinking world, our need to know English has grown significantly. I attempt to provide my views, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of teaching English as a medium of instruction against the local language in Indian schools, and to highlight how India may be a better place by providing its students with knowledge of both. Many nations have evolved into great powers without having a state language or forcing one language on everyone (Japan, South Korea, Germany, France).
This is how it should be done. English must be taught as a language of instruction in schools, including Government and private institutions and some specialised programmes such as medicine and engineering. To everyone’s advantage, we must reform our regulations so that kids are not discriminated against because of their mother language. This will make it simpler for youngsters to acquire both languages with equal ease – which should be everyone’s objective. We can do this by fostering bilingualism in them from an early age.
English has become the worldwide language of business, education, and diplomacy for a variety of reasons. But what are these specific reasons? Is English truly so superior that it should supplant local languages all across the world? Let us examine the reasons for and against English as a medium of education in greater depth.
The most apparent justification for using English as a medium of education is that it is widely spoken. More than 350 million people speak English as their first language, and over 1 billion speak it as a second language. This makes it the world’s most frequently spoken language. It’s no surprise, therefore, that English has become the lingua franca of international communication.
Another reason why English is used as a medium of education is that it is thought to have benefits over other languages. Many people think that English is a more logical and succinct language than other possibilities, making new terminology simpler to learn and retain. Furthermore, because of its regular spelling and grammatical norms, English is reasonably easy to read and write. This can make studying English easier for pupils who are currently failing in school.
There are, however, significant disadvantages to utilising English as a medium of education.
There are several reasons why schools should employ the local language as the medium of education. For one thing, it is the language in which youngsters are most comfortable and hence learn most quickly. It is also the language kids will use in their daily lives, therefore it makes sense to educate children in it. Additionally, adopting the native language as the medium of education can help kids develop cultural pride and solidarity. Finally, it can assist to slow down the rate at which youngsters acquire English, making it simpler for them to focus on their studies. It is common knowledge that learning should take place in the language that a youngster is most comfortable with.
This is because when they are not battling with another language, they perform better and learn more quickly. It makes no sense to force-feed them English when they do not need to learn anything other than their own tongue. This includes how they interact with others, how sociable they are, and how inventive they may be when it comes to learning new things. All of this demonstrates that you do not need to teach your child English at such an early age if you want him or her to succeed.
There has long been discussion regarding whether English as a medium of instruction or educating in their native language is better for children. Some claim that the former is the only way to ensure that children have access to the greatest education and possibilities available, whilst others think that local language instruction is more effective and good for children. So, which strategy is best?
Both English and local language training have advantages and disadvantages. On the one side, English as a medium of instruction may provide youngsters with more opportunities to learn about various cultures and become global citizens. Furthermore, because English is considered the language of business and commerce, studying it at a young age might provide youngsters an advantage in their future careers. Children, on the other hand, learn more successfully when they are taught in their original language, according to studies. They are also more likely to remember and apply information in real-world circumstances.
Finally, there is no one-size-fits-all response to this topic. The ideal method is determined by the child and what works best for them. Some children may thrive in an English medium setting, whilst others may do better in their own language.
To summarise, the use of English as a medium of teaching in education has both benefits and drawbacks. Before making a choice, it is critical to examine the context in which it will be utilised. Many elements must be considered, including the pupils’ level of skill, the aim of education, and the resources available. The most significant variables to examine in this scenario are whether the pupils are ready for English-medium education and how to utilise English successfully in the classroom. Language of instruction is a critical problem in education.
We must ensure that we educate our pupils on how to study languages rather than just what to learn. Remember that imparting knowledge is simple, but encouraging critical thinking is more difficult.
