Language is considered an index of intelligence, culture and personality. According to poet Thomas Gray, language may be regarded as 'a means of expressing emotional and mental concepts.'
Anyone who uses language also acquires different abilities. Listening skill is the first language skill which a child develops. This leads to speaking and speaking to verbal communication. Third important language skill is understanding what one reads. Reading is an active process. But normally people are engaged in silent reading.
Children need to become good oral readers. Oral reading requires all the sensory and perceptual skills such as visual discrimination and rhythmic progression. Oral reading demands skills in voice, tempo and gesture and in sensing the mood and feeling intended by the author.
Having given an outline I am moving to help you students at your key hour. Since the approaching Board Examinations are currently shaking every nook and corner of the country, I would like to share some of the tips with you students appearing for their finals.
The English board exams have three sections, ie, reading, writing and literature.
Reading Section: The passage given can be lengthy and unpredictable. Read questions before reading the passage so that you can easily get what the examiner is demanding. Practice one or two reading comprehension passage every day, ten days prior to the exam. You can improve your speed and understanding through the method.
Writing Section: Undertake revision of all the formats at least thrice before appearing for the exam. This will help you in attempting questions like notice, messages and formal or informal letters. Be cautious about beginnings and endings of the letters. For example If you are writing a letter to the editor, you may begin like this. “Through the column of your esteemed newspaper I would like to throw light on the topic..” Or if you want to wind up.. write “waiting for your reply..” Proper beginning and ending will give a good impression on the examiner. Always make sure that you don't exceed the word limit. Be conscious about what and how much you are writing. This consumes your time and energy.
Last but not least is the Literature Section: Longer questions like writing articles, debate and speech will appear here. So you may follow a divide and conquer method. The first paragraph can be an introduction. In the second paragraph give relevant details. You can come up with positive points and then with negative points. Finally come out with a conclusion.
(The author is English teacher with St Albert’s HSS, Ernakulam)
