How English newspapers can help learn English

A newspaper can help students to develop their writing skill. Recently Copenhagen Summit was held focusing on climate change. Students can be asked to write a paragraph or composition on climate change going through the editorials (if the students are in grade 9-12) or read just the news of the paper. In a traditional classroom a teacher asks the students to write a composition without giving any hints or relevant information and students find it difficult to organize ideas and insert relevant information in their writing. When students are not given any hints or relevant information by the teacher, they just copy the composition or memorize it from an available source which is books available in the market though these books contain neither any latest information regarding world climate nor does this process help develop students’ creative faculty. This way does not prove any good scope to develop the students’ own language. In this case a teacher can take a newspaper in the class and allow learners to select an article that interests them; they can read it and report back to other learners also. As it contains many pictures of the topic, it will seem interesting to the students. Many a time a student does not understand many points of scientific explanation which they can find in the paper. When students see it visually, they become excited to learn and it is a very important point to remain in a language class. If they remain inactive and dull in a class, their internal organs hardly respond positively to learn something new.

During our student life we had to write compositions/ essays about newspapers or the importance of reading newspapers but out teachers and we did not think that newspapers could be effective and interesting teaching materials. We cannot but think of reading newspapers everyday for information. As it publishes the most recent and talked about topic of the world including many general topics such as editorial, opinions of different professionals, business news, international politics etc. all these topics can be used for the students in the class. Teachers can the newspapers in the class and ask the students to tell some information regarding the current topic and encourage them to see the picture of the newspapers and describe the situation to develop their speaking skill. Interaction in English and practice in communication about reading concerns is afforded though newspapers. Writing listening skills can also be practiced in the class using it. Newspaper makes a vital connection between the classroom and the real world; it can motivate students and lead to lifelong reading habit.

All language skills can be exercised using newspapers in the class while the element of threat, which often exists in formal language classes, is reduced. Various features of the newspapers are discussed and questions are suggested which may elicit discussion among students. If a teacher wants to teach verb in a non-native speaking class, he can take a newspaper to a class and choose an interesting news or article with pictures.

Ask the students to read it. Then he can ask them to identify the verbs underlying them. Changing the verb forms can be exercised. (Present indefinite can be changed into past indefinite or past continuous into present continuous).

All the items of grammar necessary for the student’s grade wise can be taught and practiced practically in the class using English newspapers. It is an available material in all the developing and developed countries and even in rural areas where electricity is not available. When a teacher takes a paper in the class it will definitely draw the attention of the students as it’s a new teaching material. This little excitement is necessary for learners.

Despite the existence of the ‘Newspaper in Education’ program in many elementary and secondary schools, the newspapers still remain an often overlooked resources in many countries. English newspapers can be incorporated into almost any teaching curriculum, and which is particularly useful for teaching older remedial students and adults. Newspapers can be used in teaching language skills and basic literacy to adults and learning disabled students and to the students of English as a Second Language. Newspaper works as a learning resource to develop both reading and writing and life skills’ Regular elementary level reading materials fail to motivate readers at the adult level and might be embarrassing for some adults to sue. Here newspapers can be a more comfortable instruction fit for adult learners.

Between the Lines: A Base Skills Newspaper Pack (1994) from England’s Literacy and Basic Skills Unit, incorporates source materials from local and regional newspapers from different parts of the United Kingdom into many types of learning activities to develop literacy skills. The activities pack has been developed in an open learning format and may be used for assignments, development of skimming and scanning skills, individual study, and development of indexing skills.

In Bangladesh the dailies are the Daily Star, the New Nation, the Independent, the New Age, the Financial Express, the News Today and the Bangladesh Today. The weeklies are Dhaka Courier and the Weekly Holiday. As a regular contributor to these papers and as an ex-English teacher of secondary and higher secondary level, I requested all the editors of Bangladeshi English dailies and weeklies to dedicate a special page either every day, if not possible, at least once a week. Some of them turned absolutely a deaf ear to my request. However, two editors just expressed their temporary inability and gave me hope to do so in future. However, one editor gave me the word and they started dedicating one full page a week for the students of secondary and higher secondary levels. This is ‘New Nation’ though its circular proves poorer than the first one or two dailies. This page is known as ‘Campus Chronicle’ which appears every Sunday with educational articles written by teachers, trainers, students, education researchers and education managers. It also publishes the prospectus of different educational institutions, questions and answers of secondary and higher secondary levels and the techniques of teaching English language and grammar. The Daily Star publishes one ‘weekly magazine’ on Sunday named ‘ Star Campus’ but it is focused mainly on the university students.

It is commercially viable than serving the educational purpose of a huge secondary and higher secondary levels community. When English newspapers will come up with their innovative ideas, suggestion, and help and with the articles of practicing teachers, educators and managers regularly, the poverty of English in these levels and struggling and fumbling with English will also disappear. Newspapers will also become commercially viable as about twelve lakh students appear in the SSC ( Secondary School Certificate) and HSC( Higher Secondary Certificate ) examinations every year. Moreover, and several other lakhs study from six to twelve grades. This huge number of students will be benefitted through English newspapers.

Teachers and students read newspapers everyday to learn the news and views. Without facing any extra pressure their development in English can happen automatically if they use English newspapers and do it as a regular habit. It will be more effective, interesting and practical when they do it in the language class. When a student or a teacher reads the editorial or opinion or even letter column of newspaper, she/he may get excited or reacted to the writing appeared there.

It may be against his/her opinion or profession or he may contradict. His/her reaction will either lead him/her to speak or write something. That means, the reading of newspapers encourages the readers directly to speak or write. The readers will write their feelings to the editor using their already achieved skills in English. Language is the vehicle for communication either among the students or with the teachers, readers and people around him. The more it will be practiced, the more it will get developed.

(Email: mmbillah2000 @yahoo.com)