Challenges and Role of English Language Medium of Instruction in Colleges of Sundergarh.
Piyali Tripathy- HOD Economics Gandhi mahavidyalaya piyalitripathy20@gmail.com.
Sanghamitra Acharya -Professor and chairperson centre of social medicine and community health school of social sciences JNU sanghmitra.acharya@gmail.com
This paper investigates the view of lecturers regarding the challenges of teaching English language as a medium of instruction (ELMI) and its impact on students of various colleges in Sundergarh. The study uses quantitative and qualitative method of interview as a research instrument. In total 20 lecturers from 3 different streams and 14 subjects are selected using purposive sampling techniques. The technique of Stratified Random Sampling was used to collect the data from 60 students of different colleges of various streams from Sundergarh, Rourkela. Thematic analysis is used to examine interview transcripts.
In general it was found that the students can take notes, read academic texts, interact and listen through ELMI instructions but they lack verbal fluency and do not prefer to write answer scripts in English language. Those subjects in which text books are not published in native language (odia) students are more inclined to write answer scripts in English than in subjects where in odia scripted books are available. The three language formula is extensively used amongst the students were in understanding of concepts comes more precisely in the native language odia, than English and Hindi. There is also a visible disparity among the students inhabiting in urban areas prefers to write in English with that of rural areas.
The study provides suggestions for development of ELMI in various higher educational institutions for implementation purpose.
Key words: Language barrier, communication, multilingualism, mother tongue based instruction.