University of Sindh Thatta Campus

“Role of Remedial English Classes in Helping Learners to Improve Their

Proficiency in Language”

Concerned Faculty: Dr. Rafique Memon

Subject: Research and Methodology
Submitted by: Saqib Ali, Shahbaz Ahmed and Aijaz Ali
Class: (B.S English Literature) Final Year
  Abstract:

English department at University of Sindh thatta campus is going well since the start of campus in 2013.

There are well educated teacher who passed their master in English literature. Still one problem that

students are facing in English department is their English language which cannot be avoided and must

be considered. Certainly, student cannot become master in English language in his four years of time at

campus but there is possibility of improving their language. To solve this problem there should be

discussion at university of sindh thatta campus. There should be talk among students and teachers

whether remedial English help them to improve their language or not. If yes then how it is helping, how

it can better students language, if not then what are the causes behind it, why we study this subject. For

this investigation this work will be discussing above given issue at university of sindh thatta campus.

Many different views of students and teachers regarding the problem will be trying to find the causes

behind the struggle of students in improving their language and role of remedial English subject in this

context. The finding of this assignment shows how teacher teach students in the classroom, which

method he use mostly, including the role of students and their interest towards this subject.

 Introduction:
The aim of this assignment is to find out different opinions of the students about the topic that will be

discussed is to investigate the role of remedial English classes in helping learners to improve their

proficiency in English language. The interviews were taken particularly from the students of English

department in university of sindh thatta campus where remedial English as a subject is taught by the

teachers in the first and second year and it is also available for the students of previous side. The

different question related to above mentioned topic were asked from the students and as a result

different came before in order to understand students ideas and their suggestions for teachers to

increase the performance of the students. It is also important to mention that teachers who teach

this subject also shared their views about remedial English subject that how it can be useful subject for
the students of thatta campus.

 Research Question:

Investigating the role of remedial English classes in helping learners to improve their proficiency in

Language.

 Site of study: University of Sindh Thatta Campus

 Methodology:

There are different types of research such as historical research, experimental research and co-

relational research but here descriptive research is used to find out the purpose of remedial

English and its role to improve language. The main function of descriptive research is

to describe, and explain finding data after taking interviews and questionnaires from

participants. After getting answers of participants through interview our next motive is to

describe given response. The main focus of our descriptive research is to describe what

happens in remedial class and different students and teachers views about given topic. In last,

complete collected data will be concluded. The importance of this type of research is to

understand current phenomenon what exist in the society and to analyze different social,

political, cultural or educational issues.

 Findings:

 Background of student
 Interest of student
 Different activities in the classroom
 Role of teacher in the classroom
 Role of student in the classroom
 Different teaching methods
 Relation between teacher and student

 Description of Findings:

 Umay Ahmed (B.S English first year)

First of all she believes that it is important for the students to attained regular classes of remedial

English because mostly it can be noticed that students do not take regular classes and in result they

definitely they cannot learn things clearly so firstly, students must be sincere with themselves and

secondly, they should increase their interest towards English subject because interest is the main part of

when we talk about any particular subject and it can lead them towards perfection. According to her,

interest is like a engine for any students in helping them to reach their goal. Furthermore, she says,

while talking about remedial English subject it is important to highlight the role of teachers because he

gives different ways to students in improving the language and it and it is certain that student always

understand things with the help of teachers so it is also the responsibility of teachers to teach different

sides of language and it can be listening, reading, speaking and writing skill. It depends upon teachers

how he deals with the text and students. Teacher should give opportunity to students to participate in

the class because students learn through participation and while talking about remedial English it is

important for students to talk in the class whether he is going in right way or wrong. She suggest that,

there should be different activities in the class of remedial English because it teacher only teach those

topics that are given in text book then students cannot improve their proficiency in English language.

Moreover, she suggest that here in sindh university of sindh thatta campus there should be one activity

in each class so that students can participate in the class and improve their language skills. In last she

argues that, environment or family background is also important to consider here because environment

shapes students capability to understand things. if the environment where students are trying to get

things is not suitable then it will be difficult for him to move forward.

 Syeda Zainab (B.S English first year)

She concluded her whole discussion in three main points. Firstly, freedom of expression is significant

part in improving student’s language. She says that most of the times what happens that student do not
get proper chance to express their problem in the class in front of teachers and lack of confidence do

not let them show their talent. Furthermore, she believes that remedial English subject cannot make

students master of English language until and unless they do not get freedom to express how they

wants to be taught this particular subject. Secondly, she argues that teacher should not speak difficult

language in class but he must talk in simple language so that each and every student can understand.

According to her observation, in university of sindh campus thattaa teach do not give chance to students

to speak with each other but she says that there should be half an hour for students speaking practice

from three of class. The last thing she talked about was method which teacher use in the remedial class.

Their different methods of teaching students remedial English. For example: Group discussion or lecture

delivering but she suggest that whatever method teacher use but at least it should be beneficial for the

students in which they get more chance to improve their language.

 Manzoor Ali (B.S English first year)

According to him, teacher’s role in improving learners their proficiency in English language is more

important than subject of remedial English. He has observed that often teacher do not come out from

the text book and rely on whatever is written there so he argues that teacher should only take help

from the book of remedial English then he should give chance to students to make their own notes

according to their own understanding. Further he thinks, students must give presentation on any topic

that is being taught by teacher. He should appreciate students when they present their presentation and

he must inform them about their weaknesses and mistakes and should encourage them to work on it.

Thirdly, he understand that teachers use different methods in their class which cannot be helpful for

them so he should work in single method. For him, it is teacher’s responsibility to teach basic grammar

step by step and then change it into practice so that it can be easy for students to understand different

sides of grammar without which students cannot get real purpose of the subject.

 Steephy Mehreen (B.S English literature third year previous)

According to steephy, remedial English subject has been helpful for the students but there are some

problem which must be solved. The first problem she observes is the background of the students from

where they come, Whether he passed intermediate from Government College or private. Those
students who come from private college do not face problem in English subject and easily understand

this subject and also participate in the class. Their confidence level also remains high and gets more

advantage of this subject. But on the other hand, those students who come from Government College

have lack of confidence due to absence of better environment where teacher do not speak in English.

Now when he come in university where whole environment is different from previous college. It is the

first and major problem why still students are facing difficulties in understanding remedial English.

Beside that she suggest, if students have problem in understanding lesson then teacher should talk in

their mother tongue in order to comprehend the subject and its significance. Students always

understand easily in their mother language as compare to second language. While talking about

teaching method of remedial English group discussion has more importance because it gives different

opinions that how students and teachers thinks and while discussion in group students should try to

speak English more and more. Last but more important point that she discussed is teaching training

where those teacher should be trained who are able to teach this particular subject and inexperience

teacher should not be allowed to teach in university campus. She argues that teacher should plan and

prepare the lesson before delivering lecture and this kind of organized way of teaching remedial English

can be beneficial.

 Daisy John (B.S English literature third year previous)

What she believes about remedial English is that it gives students proper way of learning English

grammar and language. Books like oxford practice grammar is simple in which each unit has been

instructed through pictures which gives enjoyment to students and each unit is divided into different

activities and exercise so that student can fill the given exercise what he understand through guidance

of teacher. Further she talks about teachers experience and its value for teaching the subject because

she thinks that remedial English subject is not easy subject to teach and it need hard work from both

sides teacher and student. She also says that environment of the institution also matters a lot where he

is studying. Finally she concluded her whole discussion by saying that teacher should have at least six to

eight years experience of teaching remedial English subject.

 Muqqadas (B.S English literature third year)

While asking questions from him about this topic his main was teacher behavior towards students. He

think that remedial English can only be useful subject unless teacher do not understand students

problem. For him, teacher is like a doctor who has to treat with patient and first of all teacher should ask

from every students about their weakness on order to work hard on their weak point. Moreover, he also

suggests that teacher should use multimedia in remedial class which can help them to understand

lecture and should give small task in every class to work on any topic. Presentation is also important in

developing student’s confidence level. According to him, teacher should teach students in simple way

and should give opportunity to each student to participate in the class because most of the times

students remain unclear about the topic but even he does not ask any question only from fear because

sometimes teacher give punishment if they ask question from teacher, so he concluded saying that

every subject is important and has their own value but it depends upon teacher who is teaching this

subject and his attitude towards student must be counted and it must be notice which method he use in

the remedial class.

 Medam Shaheen’s views:

Having eight years of teaching experience what she thinks about the subject is somehow different as

compare to others. The very thing which she observe that mostly what happens people believe it is

teachers fault why student is not improving his language but we should understand teacher cannot do

anything unless students do not give response in the classroom. If people talk about teachers

responsibility then there should be talk about students role. If teacher is doing hard work only for

students then students must give response. It is the responsibility of students to ask questions and take

help from teacher because one cannot find out the problem with students until and unless student

expresses his problem. Secondly, she talks about whole education system or institution where students

come for learning. She says, the problem here is not only with teacher or student but education system

also must be considered. For example if anybody asks question why student of thatta campus are not

good in English language and speaking then what will be our answer. Surely we will say that our

education system is not good but people will not try to find solution. According to her point of view,

there should be different activities in the classroom and every student should participate in the

discussion. Teacher should encourage student to increase his confidence level because there are
student who are very much talented but due to lack of confidence level they do not speak in the

classroom and continuously he suppress his talent and creative mind which must be avoided. Final she

suggests, Government should set a program only for teachers training where they should be trained

about different teaching methods to improve students language.

 Medam Suriya’s views:

Everybody knows well about the importance of English language and everybody wants to become

master of English language. At this time it can be noticed that even people give more value to English

language and subject. Because if he do not know about English language he cannot get job that is why

for getting job now it has become necessary to improve English language. Problem rise when people

think how to improve language. So this problem can be solved if they are aware about the book Oxford

Practice Grammar by John Eastwood. in which basic grammar, tenses, parts of speech including model

verbs has been given with different activities and exercises having instruction with the help of pictures.

So that student can easily improve their basic grammar. What she believes is that to improve language

the first step of student should be to learn this basic grammar which can lead them next step which can

be reading. According to her thinking, student can learn and improve English language when he passes

first step of basic grammar that is guided in simple and brilliant way in above suggest book. After that

she depends upon teacher who is teaching this particular subject. Whether teacher has some

experience of teaching this subject or not. If teacher knows better how to teach this subject, which

method he should use in the classroom. She says teacher should take test every month to check

mistakes of students and should guide again and again. Student can easily improve himself if he take full

advantage of remedial English subject that has paved their way towards success.

 Information about Teachers:

Teachers Name Teaching experience Sex

Medam Shaheen 8 Years Female

Medam Suriya 4 Years Female

 Information about Students:

Students Name Studying Sex
Muqaddas B.S Eng literature Third Year Male

Manzoor Ali B.S Eng First Year Male

Steephy Mehreen B.S Eng Literature Third Year Previous Female

Umay Ahmed B.S Eng First Year Female

Daisy John B.S Eng Literature Third Year Female

Syeda Zainab B.S Eng First Year Female

 Conclusion:

While taking interviews from different students of English department we come to understand that

most of the students rely on teachers, their different ways of teaching remedial class and their main

focus was teacher that it is his responsibility to improve the language of the students. Sometime it can

be seen that students background also matter in improving their English language. Beside that

classroom activity was given more importance in remedial English classes. Moreover, many participants

believe that students do not get opportunity to speak in class which must be considered. The major

problem of our society is that people always think teacher know each and everything and it is his

responsibility to teach everything to his students and give complete knowledge. But we must

understand that there are some causes behind this situation.

It can be social or political ideology and how it operates peoples conscious and their behaviors because

society always shapes people public conscious. For example, one can understand that in a democratic

society people keep believe on their government and their elected members. The same problem is here

that students and their parents believe on teacher who can give them complete knowledge about each

and everything. Secondly, one can notice that in a single class some students catch things easily who do

not face any difficulty in understanding teacher but at the same time there will be students who belong

to lower class and lives in rustic areas, they fell uncomfortable in the class and do not get things. Now

when different class of students sit together in a same class then what happens that those students who

come from private school and college can easily deal with remedial English because there basic

grammar is clear. On the other hand there are students who are unaware about basic grammar and
English language because his background did not provide him to compete with other so he always

remains backward. Teacher should observe the background of students and their previous education

institution from where they come at university. Mostly it can be seen teacher divide students conscious

in different categories and he thinks some students are creative and talented so they are learning easily

and others are not capable to learn and understand. They do not try to understand students from

different sides. In the philosophical world, it is philosophers responsibility to ask question about the

universe in order to understand the basic and primary cause behind this universe. Teacher’s role in the

class should be as a philosopher and if teacher give any task to students then it is his responsibility to

ask question from every student again he should ask question from the given answer in order to reach

at the depth of everything to know students thinking capability, how he thinks and how he understand.

The purpose of saying is that teacher should understand students problems and weaknesses to work on

it because any student cannot improve his language, even remedial English subject cannot help them to

improve their proficiency in their language unless these basic problem are not solved.

Jacques lacan, French psychoanalyst, says that desire or behavior always remain others and human

conscious is the discourse of other and human conscious always adopt these behaviors, desires and

language from other and in the same way state always impose its ideology on the people. There is

difference between eastern and western society, their ideology, behaviors, culture and education

system but still teacher try to impose same teaching method which he observe in the western side. As a

result, it gives birth to different other problems. As discussed earlier, how state impose its ideology

among people and this same problem remain with our language class how teachers impose its single

method in a class for every student. Then students become victim of isolation and the lack of confidence

do not let them ask questions from teacher in a friendly way. The main issue here rises in the relation

between teacher and student in the classroom. Antonio Gramschi, Italian Marxist philosopher, talk

about organic intellectual in which he suggests role of organic intellectual in the society who has to

make organic relation with people in order to reach at the inner script of the people. So this same

organic relation teacher should have with his students and he should be organic intellectual of the class

who has to find basic problems of students they face while learning, which in return does not allow

them to improve their proficiency in English language.