Introduction

Students introduce yourself here. To do this address the questions below:

1. Your name 2. What you do, e.g. full-time student, part-time student, etc. **(2 marks)** 3. What kind of English books you read, e.g. novels, self-improvement books, etc. Give the title of a book that you have recently read. **(2 marks)** 4. What you would like to learn from this course. **(2 marks)**
 * 5. In your opinion is there a problem with learning of English in Bangladesh? If yes, what is the problem? (2 marks)**
 * 6. In your opinion, how can this problem be solved? (2 marks)**

Insert your answers in the table below. You will be awarded marks simply for answering the questions **//truthfully//**. For example, for question 3, if you do not read any English books outside textbooks, you will be awarded 2 marks for writing, "I do not read books other than textbooks".

Instructions: To start inserting, press **EDIT** on the top right corner. Go to the next available row in the table, click the mouse and type. When finished with one answer, use the mouse to go to the next column. Once you have finished, press **Save** on the Editor bar above.

**Well after 12 twelve years of English practice or schooling will definitely make a student sound in English but out of 100 its 10 who shows or have problem and I think it is because either shyness or lack of practice (not confident). I guess the major problem is being faced by the other medium of education where English is not getting a good preference. Madam honestly speaking you are trying hard but I think I sometimes come across problems that's because of number of classes we take n the other teachers of Prime has to be more serious about their teaching. If we count the weaker ones, the majority, then you must increase the number of classes and start a basic foundation course and definitely the pronunciations.** || The neighbouring countries made English compulsory and have given great emphasis on it. They made a point to teach as such that they come up with something presentable. We should do the same from the root level and have proper teachers to teach English. || Somehow we are bound to learn and develop our English skill. No one bound us but we are bound for our social status or some other purpose.None like to be bound,but we are.That's why teaching program must be interesting and motivated. This program is pretty good interesting.If you can include some award or something as gifts ,student will be motivated. Can we say that the above difficulties exists due to improper teaching methodologies and techniques? On the same the existing ones are not friendly? Do you feel that a specialized focus on 'base-building' can be a solution for this? (Sahil) Yes, I am agree with your last question. I am also suffering base-building problem. Can you explain Base-Building? Can base-building be done through reading? Base-Building means the basic structure(grammatical) of English language. I am sorry I don't think that only reading can solve this problem. For this answer I like to focus on Sahil's last comments. I am agree with him. || We have to research and find much easy mathod to teach english and make the subject interesting. Good, this is interesting! How could you do research? Personally don't like Examination. So my opinion is if the prosses will be exam free some students like me will get interest on it. Give more work to do,monitor class performenses give moer interesting assignment etc. On the basis of these give marks or grade. || I had Bangla in our course curriculum from pre-school. We followed few text / grammar books and were given regular home-works which comprised of essays, compositions, etc. In addition to that, weekly and monthly exams provided us incentives to focus more on the subject while developing a sense of competitiveness. Sahil, good! Thank you for your detail thoughts! Has reading Harry Potter added fluency to your English? Are you now more easily able to construct sentences and know how-to-say what-to-say? See what Krashen, a leading expert in foreign language learning has to say about language learning. Go to: http://www.languageimpact.com/articles/rw/krashenbk.htm and help the rest of the class understand what he says. The knowledge gained from reading Harry Potter added to my vocabulary and to some extent my fluency bettered. I overcame the 'How to say, what to say' dilemma by past endeavors, especially while brisking through Ludlum and Gerald Durrell Novels. I'll surely look into the link and address the class with what Krashen has to say. Thanks. Good! Sahil, do you think reading would help students? Have you read Krashen in the link above? It is almost a proven fact that one learns much quickly and the teaching is effective when all the 'five' senses are put into use. Reading being one of the vital method of transferring vocabulary. Lexical changes and styles by classy writers help students to get introduced to various techniques and ways to express thoughts and ideas. For example, the phrase 'a moment of happiness' as quoted from Gerald Durrell's 'Zoo in my luggage' is quite differently phrased as 'a breath of solitude and freedom' in a novel by Ernest Hemingway. I have gone through the summary of Stephen Krashen's write-up on Second Language Acquisition and found his hypothesis of the learning method quite interesting. Yes, Krashen suggest extensive reading. This would help a student understand how words are used and sentences are constructed. Once the reader has built up a good stock, he/she will be able to formulate their own ideas into proper sentences. Grammer will come automatically through extensive reading. || The government should take initiatives towards developing a structured curriculum in English for the primary levels with proper methodologies and techniques. The teachers should receive 'Training of Trainers' for capacity building to deliver an English course properly. Following examples from other countries can also prove effective. What type of people would the government use to create a structured curriculum? Definitely experts from home and abroad having well-proven track record. || besides i take good care of my family. || I am not keen in studying books but i do enjoy books of astrology,horoscope and ghost stories.`TRUE GHOST STORIES-by RUSSEL LEE is one of the best book i read.I also like novels of SIDNEY SHELDON. And locally i prefer HUMAYUN AHMED"s ghost stories.recently i read a text book of J.M.SYNGE-Riders T o The Sea. || As i didn't do any class so, i really don't know what to expect from this course but my interest is full in learning more modern english. || Yes, learning english is a problem in bangladesh because we have less opportunity to speak in english with our surrounding people,less basic knowledge in english,deficiency of skilled english teachers,and students fright to inhabit english subject as a casual and interesting subject. Farhana, have you read ghost stories by Roald Dahl? Why do you enjoy ghost stories? Did reading Sydney Sheldon help improve your fluency in English? How and why? || As a solution to this problem ,i think priority in junior class of learning basic english must be given and also pronounciation must be rectified in junior classes. further we need to establish more advanced and skilled teachers in the education board.also students fright for this subject should be removed by using more english in our day to day life. || needs improvement. Besides, I've discovered a new passion for study in Literature .This course will definately help me to know the process of learning or methods of language development. || In our education system I think the main drawback is lack of suitable Environment to learn a new language.We have started to learn English by doing only the grammar exercises.In many schools and colleges Teachers and student make Bangla conversations even in English language classes.There is no practise of free writing or creative wrting.Even for paragraphs and essays we are tended to make a suggestion through our teachers and memorize those to pass the examination.thats why our student's base in English is very weak.Moreover teaching technique of our teachers is monotonus and fails to attract the new learners interest and attention.In contrary they develope a fear against learning English which should not be the process. Yes, Munira, environment is very important. What environment did you get to learn Bangla? How do you suggest that an English environment be created and also how can English teaching be improved? || The problem can be solved by taking some effective steps,such as creating a English friendly environment in the classroom where every student are bound to speak in English.It will break their hesitation and students could learn the everyday use of language rather than only the grammatical exercises.A good collection books in library and the inspiration and motivation to read those by their proper trained teachers should be implemented. || http://www.languageimpact.com/articles/rw/krashenbk.htm || The problem learning with English can be over come by practice, encouragement and by getting the exposure to the language as much as possible. The learners can do this by watching English channels, through reading and the most important practice is interacting. || B.A(HONS) in Prime University Uttara Bangladesh. || I have read many English Literature. and also read many English books.I read the Macmillan the Sherlok Holmens, Shakespears The tempest,Othello,Romeo and Juliet, Robinson Crusoes Danial Defoe.Dan browns The Dvince code. || My back ground is Bangla medium.So i will have the attraction on English.I would like to make a English course.And developed myself as a fluent English speaker.I need this course for better of my graduation.And i will guide myself through. || Many students come from Bangla-medium. They face lots of problem. Grammatical problem is one of the major problem for them. They have also less basic knowledge in English. So their base in English is very weak. || If we solve this problem we take some steps. If we English in our environment students speak in English easily. By using grammatical exercise they solve their grammatical problem. By watching English movies,reading Newspaper also help for learning English. ||
 * **Name** || **Do?** || **Read?** || **Learn?** || **Problem?** || **Solve?** ||
 * Khalid Ahmed || I am working as an administrator of a school and studying too. I am doing B.A (Hons) in English in Prime University Bangladesh, Uttara Branch. I have a strong desire to study Literature. || I read a number of books out of the box written by many different writers. Fairy tales, comedy and myths like Homer's The Helen of Troy, The Red Headed League, The little Thumbalina etc. || I would definitely love to know the background of Literature, the ages which states the changes, the progress of poetry as a revolution and would surely want to learn more about linguist and linguistics. I am pleased to know about some Legends included in the course. || **The problem of learning English is quite evident.Students are facing difficulties in understanding English as the texts are all in English. Khalid, thank you for your entries! You are very prompt. After doing 12 years of English at school & college students still face difficulties? Why do you think this is? What difficulties do you face yourself? As a teacher of English, how can I help you or how can other students be helped? **
 * Sanjeeda Monowar || I am working as a teacher in Milestone School (English Medium Junior Section). I am also studing B.A(Hons) in Prime University Bangladesh, Uttara Dhaka. || I have read a number of novels written by english writers but translated form. In English I have read The Outsider, The Guide, Pride And Prejudice, a number of Fairy tales etc || Though I am a teacher of a school but I am not that much good in english language. So if I can develop my english skill by this course I will be greatful. || In Bangladesh The teaching technique is very old, tough, boring.More over this is our second language and not so easy at all so maximum students are facing lots of difficulties in learning English. Any ideas on how teaching can be made interesting?
 * Mohammad Sahil || I'm a 'Program Officer' at a NGO working in the field of journalism, development and communication. Presently I've engaged with the BA English curriculum in Prime University to pursue higher education. Side by side, I regularly do music at professional level. || Alongside reading academic books, I've indulged into many novels by mostly adventure and thriller writers like: Robert Ludlum, Jack Higgins, Truman Capote, Piers Paul Read, Gerald Durrell, etc. I find reading as an essential tool towards accumulating knowledge. It never failed to fascinate me with interesting English/Bangla words to vast ranging information! Recently, I was obsessed with the Harry Potter series! || To know more has always been my will. Accomplishing higher studies on English curriculum attracted me since O and A levels. The subject itself is highly demanded and matches with my regular work as a news-media analyst. || I used to teach English Language and commerce subjects to O level candidates before joining regular office. Most of the times, students faced difficulty from having low vocabulary and lack of grammatical prowess and skill. Also they suffered from inappropriate text/course books. On the same, proper teaching techniques and methodologies are not followed in every primary or even secondary schools. This hampers the basic foundation of learning English as a language. What would be a proper technique for teaching of English? Also, did you yourself learn Bangla by learning Grammar? How did you learn Bangla? The techniques are subjective! For a group having no background in English should be brought up from ground zero, pre and post assessment of knowledge in English can be helpful in this regard. Moreover, regular 'thought provoking' exercises, ice-breaking sessions, daily interaction prioritized to be in English (exceptions can be made while interacting closely with the candidate) will turn out to be useful tools. Having a library with rich-collection of reference books, guides, etc is another necessity.
 * Shifat Sara Alam || I am doing B.A. (Hons) in English from Prime University, Dhaka. || Yeah, sometimes I do read story books.I read Shakespeare's The Tempest, The Merchant Of Venice, Othello. King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round Table,Homer's Helen Of Troy, Gerald Durell's A Zoo In My Luggage,David Copperfield written by Charles Dickens,Diaries of Anne Frank, Last Act written by Christopher Pike, Lord Of The Rings,etc. || I would like to know about the background of literature. || Some students who comes from a Bangla medium school, they do face problems.They do a lot of grammatical mistakes and also find difficulties in constructing a sentence. Shifat, you seem to have read a lot of books! Did reading help you learn English? Did reading make you fluent? || In every primary section students should be taught english with greater effort and english should me made compulsory in order to have a good basic. ||
 * Farhana Akhter Nadia || I am working as a teacher in a school and also doing my honors in english.
 * Munira Yasmin || I am a housewife and had a few years of break of study .Now I am back on track and studing B.A (Hon) in English .I have a great desire for the higher education. || I like to read very much.But I have read a very few english books before I came to study in English.But now I think I am addicted to read english literature.So far I have read D.H.Lawrence's "Sons And Lovers",Jane Austen's"Pride And Prejudice",Charles Dickens's "Great Expectations", Bernard Shaw's "Arms and the Man",Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels",Henrick Johan Ebsen's play "A Doll's House",Edith Hamiltons "Mythology",Chinua Achebe's "Things fall Apart"etc. Did "reading" help you to learn English in any way? What kind of reading habits to students generally have? || I came from Bangla medium background so I think my English Language skill
 * Mahmuda Khatun || I am a student in English Hons in Prime University. But I teach Mathematics at School & Colleges. || I read Bengali novels. Now I can remember __Mejdidi__ . || To English spoken and written. || May be it's my problem, may be it's the teachers.I couldn't follow the teachers' methods. So I wasn't encouraged to learn English. || Question teachers for understanding & practice. ||
 * Shirin Islam ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Mharufa Hossain || I am doing BA (Hons) in English from Prime University. I used to do job in Yale International School as an English Teacher. Now I only teach students at home. I am hoping to join a job in school soon. || Once I used to read books as my hobby such as the series of //Sweet Valley Twins// by Francine Pascal then the series of //Fear Streets// and //Goosebumps// by R.L. Now I have to read books in order to teach my students and also for my own study. Recently, I have read //David Copperfield// by Charles Dickens. I often read books such as //Mastering Advanced English Language// by Sara Thorne, //High School English Grammar and Composition// by Wren and Martin and serve internet in order to improve my writing, collect some nice phrases, quotations and some other stylistic features. || I want to develop the level of my English skill from this course. || As English is our second language, we do not get the appropriate atmosphere of English in Bangladesh. In some English medium schools the teacher speaks English with the students and that helps a little to the student but most of the time they speak in Bangla with their classmates whenever they get chance. As a result they cannot overcome with the problem learning English. They choose to talk in Bangla, probably it is easier for them to communicate. Mainly, the students face problems in building the sentence structure properly or may be they do not find appropriate words while speaking. How much does learning grammar help you speak or write? Can you find out what importance Krashen gives to grammar learning as opposed to reading? Use the link below to find this out:
 * Arpita Afsana Azad khan || I am doing am
 * Mahmuda Akter || Not engaged in a job life. || Read Gitanoli by Rabindranath Tagore. However, it has been long and i only remember tids-bits of it. I've also read another book by Mir MOsharraf HOssian, 'Bishad Shindhu'. || I'm enrolled in B.A. English Curriculum in Prime University. I want to develop fluent written and spoken english skill and ofcorse to upgrade my social status. || I fail to understand, speak and write good enIglish. || I think these problems can be solved through ||
 * Shirin iIslam || I'm a housewife. || I've read 'Hoimonti' by Tagore. || I'm studying B.A. English Curriculum in Prime University . || I've low vocabulary. Also, i find structruing sentences quite difficult. || MOre practice, Focused learning, writting and reading can be antidot. ALso, mentoring will help me overcome these as well. ||
 * Foyjun Naher || I have already completed my fashion designing course now i am working in Myth Shop, as a fashion designer. || I really like to read books but i hardly get time for this. I've a craze for Humayun AHmed's novels. He is a great writer. Past few years I've read some english novels, such as 'Da Vinci Code' by Dan Brown, 'The Freedom Writers Diary' by Erin Gruwell, 'Gone with the wind' by Margaret Mitchell, 'The Lord of The Rings' J.R.R. Tolkien, 'Treasure Island' by Robert Louis Stevenson, 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley, 'Red Dragon' by Thomas Harris, 'Cnfessions' by St. Augustine, 'Pride And Prejudice' by Jane Austen, 'The Golden Notebook' by Doris Lessing. I've read other books both in english and vernacular.Fairy Tales and Folk Tales both are interesting to me, often i read this type of books. || I'm studying English Literature under B.A Honours Curriculum in Prime University.I think studying english will make my career more firm and it will prove me as a more personalised person in the society. || In Bangladesh we faces many problem to learn English language. Because we usually are not interacting in English. So, without practice and less usage of ENglish in daily lives it doesnt have a strong presence in our daily language need.Also we dont have sufficient books in our country to learn proper english in a easy way.In our institutions teachers are keeping their students in a bindings of basic syllabus only to get pass in exams.so students are not learning more than their syllabus. in our country most of the students dont know how english can be a interesting learning subject..... || English should be given more priority in the national curriculum. We should practice english as a language in our daily life. Removing the ever-installed fear about learning english language.we are not easy with english language maximum bengali medium students hesitates to speak in english language,they think if they use a single sentence the structure should be wrong,this thoughts will never let them come out from their problems of learning english language.so definately we need to do daily practice of english laguage,and it is obligatory for us to write and read more english language and books... ||