VAB launches an ambitious program for English Language Training in Rural High Schools

For the last three years VAB has been successfully steering its pursuit of mitigating the awfully poor English Language Skills in rural High Schools. A series of training programs were undertaken with the leadership of Engr. Amin Rahman, a freelance linguist and social activist residing in Australia. His Rotary Club of Wheelers Hill near Melbourne supported the programs for the past two consecutive years.

The training allowed the teachers and students to come out of their shell, but fell short of our expectation of generating a surge in English learning.

Based on the experience gained and field survey regarding the obstacles, VAB took an intensive and participatory approach. First, it developed an in-house training program, trained its own personnel in the delivery of the program, and sent them to the rural schools to train the students in English learning, in a participatory method.

The primary thrust of the program is to hand over the training to the students themselves, which is expected to be a more effective and sustainable endeavor. VAB acts as a catalyst providing a pathway. Two messages are made clear:

Students need to learn English for their own interests
Students can learn only through concerted practice

In each of classes VI to X, a group of ten students is selected. We call this the Leadership Team. This team will eventually train all the students in the class. We believe the 10-member team provides a critical mass in each class to change the dynamics of the use of English in the classroom. These students will catalyze the practice of English learning for the whole class.

Guideline is provided to the Leadership Teams. They are asked to practice in groups, in pairs and individually. Their performance will be reviewed after the end of one month. Every Team has a team leader who will record the practice schedule and outcomes.

Students are provided with a Guide Book: Road to Learning: A guide to learn and converse in English. In a day-long session, the students are shown how the Guide Book can be used effectively to improve skills in Vocabulary, Pronunciation and Spelling, Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. The students are also provided with a booklet on Limericks and a DVD containing various resources for pronunciation, spelling, listening, reading and writing from different sources. (Limericks give useful guidance for pronunciation. The booklet is authored by Dr. Mushfiq Rahman.) Demonstration is given on their effective use. Students are also shown the connection between requirements in their curricula with the Guide Book.

The training has already been conducted in twenty one schools and will be done in all cluster schools partnered with VAB, totaling 50 schools.

VAB is grateful to the donors, Bangladesh Bank, Ms. Hasneen Muktadir and Dr. Mushfiq Rahman for their generous contribution.

Quality education for the underprivileged in rural Bangladesh.

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