Tamil Nadu - Erode   

`Concentration is more on reading and writing'

Karthik Madhavan

Anna varsity changes English syllabus for first year engineering

Erode: From English to Technical English, Anna University's English syllabus for the first year engineering students has undergone a change.

This new syllabus, to be introduced in 2006-07, will focus more on reading and writing skills of students. However, the stress on listening and speaking will continue.

"The emphasis is greater on reading and writing because it will help the to-be engineers survive in their office or industrial environment. That apart, it will also help them comprehend things better and write reports in a precise, unambiguous manner," says Dr. V. Thiyagarajan, Professor and Head of the Department of English, Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, and one of the members of the syllabus-framing committee.

"The aim is not more on equipping the students to talk English as is on writing good English and presenting reports," he adds. In keeping with this, the syllabus has more lessons and exercises on reading and writing skills, and this includes drafting covering letters, preparing resumes, etc.

Additional unit each on reading and writing has been included. But, all these exercises will be in the backdrop of an industry.

"The exercises are based on real-life situations like a junior engineer writing to his superior to complaint, or suggesting changes in an existing set up, etc., because such exercises will help students understand things better," adds Mr. Thiyagarajan.

Annual pattern

The new syllabus incorporates about 60 per cent of the old syllabus and is a continuation of the English from the Plus Two level. And, in keeping with the annual pattern of examination for the first year students, the existing English I and English II papers have been merged.

In the process of framing the syllabus, the committee has suggested to Anna University to take Technical English to the second and third year students.

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