LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 15:4 April 2015
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
         N. Nadaraja Pillai, Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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M. S. Thirumalai
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Tamil Language Textbooks at the Undergraduate Level
Some Suggestions for Change in Focus

M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.

Abstract

Until the end of the higher secondary classes, in Tamil textbooks, there is greater focus on moral instruction, and information and samples relating to traditional literature. The paper suggests that, at the Bachelor�s level, we move over from this content, which focuses on teaching traditional Tamil poetry and culture information, to a greater focus on mastering Tamil writing/prose for practical purposes. Modern Tamil for Communication Purpose could be the focus of Tamil language classes at the Bachelor�s level since most students seek employment at the end of their study at the Bachelor�s level. Their competence in Modern Tamil for Communication Purpose needs to be strengthened. The paper discusses the place of Literary Tamil in college language classes, and argues for a variety of textbooks to train students to master communication in various fields.

Key words: Modern Tamil for Communication Purpose, literary Tamil, textbook writing, code shifting and code mixing, pronunciation problems, use of grantha letters.

How about Changing the Focus of Learning/Teaching Tamil?

1. Do we want to continue even at the Bachelor�s degree level the emphasis noticed in Tamil textbooks, right from the elementary classes to the end of the higher secondary system (Plus 1 and Plus 2)? Until the end of the higher secondary classes, there is greater focus on moral instruction, and information and samples relating to traditional literature. May I suggest that, at the Bachelor�s level, we move over from this content, which focuses on teaching traditional Tamil poetry and culture information, to a greater focus on mastering Tamil writing/prose for practical purposes?

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Faculty
University of Phoenix, AZ, USA
msthirumalai3@gmail.com
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