The main objective of a learning a language is using language comfortably for communication.

One can learn learn swimming only by swimming. It is a skill. A skill is to be practiced. One should listen to others and try to speak without any fear or shyness. Linguists say that there are a number of ways and means to listen to; but the teachers should not forget that our students get such an opportunity only in the classroom.

The child can develop the listening skill only when it is exposed to listening to. The teacher need not worry whether the students understand or not. The teacher should speak to the students in English as the parents, relatives and friends go on talking to the child in their mother tongue. Fluency in listening will lead to fluency in speaking.

The teacher’s english should be simple and natural. Wherever he stands in the classroom he should speak facing the students.The teacher should try to develop the four basic skills of a language. They are: listening, speaking, reading and writing. In a period the teacher should allot 35% of the time for listening skill, 30% for speaking skill, 20% skill and only 15% for writing skill..

It is not definite and clear-cut demarcation of time. It may slightly vary and more time may be alloted for writing skill in composition classes.Listening and speaking skills are not tested in exams: so they are neglected; it is an injustice caused to the students. The syllabus expects the teacher to pay greater attention to develop these two skills also.

Thank you,

R.Rajkumar