Training Teachers for Teaching English in Higher Institutes of Engineering and Technology: Challenges and Perspectives

DOI: 10.5176/2251-3566_L316.72

Authors: K.Manjula Bashini, M.Ponmani and Dr. S. Mekala

Abstract: Higher Education in India and abroad has undergone radical and seamless changes. The advent of information technology has redefined the attitude to English language learning and teaching. In order to meet the challenges and demands of the profession, teachers of English in Engineering colleges need to upgrade their professional and subject competence. This paper aims to explore the need for teachers of English in Higher Institutes of Engineering and Technology, to equip themselves to face their professional challenges. This necessitates teachers of English to undergo specific training programmes designed based on their target needs that would in turn enable them to become better teachers. A preliminary data was collected from135 teachers of English from various Engineering colleges in Tamilnadu, India. The findings reveal that more than 75 percent of the teachers expressed their views that there is an existing need for in-service training and development for teachers to teach English in Engineering colleges in Tamilnadu.

Keywords: Teacher Development; In-Service Training; Teacher Competency