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Learn English the English way |
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Learn English the English way THE obsession to learn English among Indians is quite farcical. People have been simply swept over by the rage to speak English. In schools too English is given preference. But the disheartening fact is that nobody bothers about the accuracy of the grand language. One must know the technicalities of the English language — the origin of the word, basic structure of words and sentences, the technique of correctly pronouncing words and even the variation of stress in a sentence. All these and many more are the basic tenets of the language and need to be ingrained in a person right from schooling. But this is not the case in India. More stress is laid on the mugging up of language, without knowing the rules and regulations of the same. As a matter of fact, grammar is nothing but a set of rules. Although grammar is one of the most important aspects of writing correct language, yet it is the biggest casuality. In public schools, the quality of education is assumed to be superior. The obvious reason being that English is taught from the very begining. But they too are not a class apart after all. Recently, I had the ‘honour’ to know the forms of verbs from a public school ‘scholar’. The forms of verb ‘cling’ according to him were: cling, clang, clung (instead of: cling, clung, clung). He had probably rhymed it with: ring, rang, rung. Another ‘scholar’ did not even know that a verb has three forms. He wrote: write, writing (instead of: write, wrote, written). English is a very complex and a vast language. But a little effort and hard work can help one to feel at home with it. There exists a large number of dialects within the British English, let alone other English like American English, Australian English. And now, how can one forget, Indian English too! It is the Indian English where the rules are flouted quite casually, not only in writing but also in speaking. Speech is the primary means of communication, as it is more frequently used than writing. To add to it, speaking English has become a status symbol even among the not-so-educated ones. But the English spoken by Indians is so horrible that sometimes one wonders if one could call the utterance, English! Similarly, the habit of
writing wrongly, if not checked at an early stage, can become
incorrigible. |
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QUERY HOTLINE Q I am keen on specialising in operations research after doing BSc (Maths) (H). Could you please tell me about the institutions offering this course. Namita Sandhu A Besides the University of Delhi, (North & South Campus), which offers MSc in Operations Research, the Indian Statistical Institute, (Delhi centre) offers MStat (Master of Statistics) with specialisation in OR or Quality Control. Eligibility: BA/BSc with Maths and Statistics as subjects. Outside Delhi, you could look at the following: Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh (U.P). Eligibility: BSc with 55% marks in the subject concerned. Cochin University of Science & Technology, Cochin University, P.O. Kochi, Kerala. Eligibility: BSc (55% agg). University of Hyderabad, P.O. Central University, Hyderabad. Eligibility: BSc (60%) with relevant subjects. IIT-Mumbai, P.O. IIT Powai, Mumbai 400076. Course: MSc (Maths) with specialisation in Operations Research. Eligibility: BSc (Phys, Chem & Maths). Scholarship Q Could you please suggest some scholarship or financial aid programmes for pursuing postgraduate studies in engineering? Navjyot Gill A All GATE qualifiers (or IIT grads with 8 and above GPA) who wish to take up teaching as a career, can opt for AICTE’s Early Faculty Induction Programme (EFIP) which offers some distinct incentives to bright young graduates pursuing PG programmes in engineering & tech, architecture or pharmacy). Detailed information, prescribed forms and the list of participating Host and Receiver institutions is available on the AICTE website: www.aicte.ernet.in. The application deadline for the Scheme for 2004 is November-end.Or Contact EFIP Principal Coordinator of the respective field. Engg & Tech: Prof K Krisniah, IIT Madras (chaircce@iitm.ac.in (www.efip.iitm.ac.in) Farm equipment Q I wish to do a course in repair and maintenance of farm equipment. Could you please tell me where such courses are held? Jitender Bhalla A The Northern Region Farm Machinery Training & Testing Institute, Hisar 125001, conducts the following courses:
No tuition fee is charged for the above-mentioned courses. Also, lodging facility is provided free of cost. Take care of your interests Q When choosing a career, how important is it to go by one’s interest? Amar Palkiwala, Gurdaspur. A It makes a lot of sense to consider your interests carefully because they can help you find a rewarding career. There’s no doubting that if you choose a job you love, you’ll never have to work a day in your life! But you must also consider other factors when exploring educational and career options. Think about how your interests, abilities, experiences, personality, and values will influence your satisfaction and success. These factors are also important in career exploration — just as important as your interests. For example, certain fields like medicine or research require a lot more study and work than others. If you find that hard work and study don’t appeal to you, take this into account when making a career choice. MBA Q I joined the marketing department of a state-owned oil company straight after my graduation. Now that I have worked for 4 years would doing an MBA at this stage help? Preet Malik A With the deregulation of this sector, India is emerging as a major player in the Asian oil and natural gas market. Employing over seven lakh people directly and indirectly, the petroleum industry is perhaps the largest industry, contributing 16 per cent of our GDP. A postgraduate qualification would certainly add value to your experience and improve your employability. If you are keen on enhancing your prospects within this sector, you may look at the following courses: Indian Oil Institute of Petroleum Management (run by the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd), Gurgaon (Har) offers a 1-year MBA programme in Petroleum Management in collaboration with the International Centre for the Promotion of Enterprises, Ljujana, Slovenia. The course is open to middle-rank officials of PSUs, including oil sector companies. Although the special emphasis of this 32-week programme is on petroleum management, it also covers conventional areas like principles of general management, etc. The Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP) Dehra Dun, a constituent laboratory of the CSIR, is a premier organisation for Research & Technology development in the hydrocarbon sector. The IIP conducts specialised training programmes, for engineers (chemical and mechanical) and chemists in the Petroleum Refining, Petrochemicals, Power and Transport sectors. It offers a variety of moderately priced courses to scientific, technical and management personnel employed in petroleum refining & petroleum products user industry. Their programme for middle management personnel in sales & marketing may be worth looking at. University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, College of Hydrocarbon Mgt, Dehra Dun (Utt) also offers an MBA in Oil & Gas Mgt (FT, PT, Dist). — Pervin Malhotra, Director, CARING Please send in your query preferably on a postcard along with your name, complete address and academic qualifications to:
Editor, Query Hotline, The Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh-160020, or at careerguide@tribuneindia.com
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FORTNIGHTLY QUIZ-194 1. Who recently retired after remaining Prime Minister of Malaysia for 22 years? 2. Name the Indian American who was recently honoured by the US Government for his pioneering research in automative technology. 3. Name the Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu. 4. Name the President of Maldives who has achieved the distinction of becoming the longest-serving head of state in Asia. 5. Which year will be celebrated as International Taj Year to commemorate Agra being made the capital of the then Mughal ruler in 1504? 6. With which field is Dr Raja Ramanna associated? 7. Which island country in Asia is in the shape of a teardrop? 8. Which country's intelligence agency is known as MI-5? 9. Which state was recently given the JRD Tata Award for Population and Reproductive Health Programme? 10. What is the capital of Ivory Coast? 11. Which country won the maximum medals in the recently concluded Afro-Asian Games? 12. Who has won the Mr Universe title for 2003? 13. Which country is currently staging the Rugby World Cup? 14. Name the bowler who captured nine wickets for 16 runs in a match of the Asia(u-19) tournament in Lahore recently. 15. How many wickets were taken by Srinath in his one-day international career ? Name.............Class.......... School..........Address...... Winners of quiz 193 : The first prize by draw of lots goes to Yayati Sharma, IX-A, Sacred Heart School, Dosanj Road, Moga. Second: Sahil Chatrath, 9th-C, Little Flower Convent School, Civil Lines, Gurdaspur-143521. Third:DivyaMohan,X, Springfield Public School, Ambala City. Answers to quiz 193: Concorde; Rs 25 lakh and Rs 10 lakh; Mother Teresa; Adoor Gopalakrishnan;18; Yang Lewei; Nanak Singh; 1960 ; Paul Burrell; Jean Chretien; Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited; Khartoum; Sachin Tendulkar; 630/6; Pankaj Advani. Cash awards of Rs 400, 300 and 200 are given to the first, second and third prize winners, respectively. These are sent at the school address. — Tarun Sharma |
