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Report on All India Seminar 2010

The Regional Institute of English, South India, Bengaluru a premier Institute in the cause of English Language Education in South India, organized an All India Seminar on the theme ‘Literature in English Language Teaching’ for 1 – 3 March, 2010 in its premises.

The Seminar was inaugurated by Dr. Rajendra Chenni, Professor in English, Kuvempu University, Shimoga on 1st March, 2010. Prof. Chenni in his inaugural address emphasized the need for synthesis of language and literature in the light of emergence of many literatures. Prof. G. Rajagopal, Dean, School of English Language Education, EFL-U, Hyderabad in his presidential address expressed the need for a focus on English studies with special reference to English language teaching and the need to look at the same in the light of the changing scenario and the emphasis required on communication skills.

Dr. N. S. Prabhu, Former Senior Fellow, Department of English Language and Literature, National University of Singapore, in his key note address underlined the importance of reading and literature in particular. ‘If a person reads literature for entertainment, language acquisition takes place,’ observed Dr. N. S. Prabhu. Earlier welcoming the gathering, Sri. K. Krishne Gowda KAS, Director, RIESI, Bengaluru outlined the objectives of RIESI and the seminar in particular.

The seminar had plenary sessions of Dr. G. Rajagopal, Dr. Tarakeshwar, Dr. K. M. Sherrif, Dr. N. Manu Chakravarthy, Dr. K. N. Anandan,  Dr. P. Bhakaran Nair, Dr. P. S. Misra, Dr. Cherian Alexander, Dr. C. P. Sivadasan, Dr. Upendra Reddy, and others from different universities and colleges of education and departments. The seminar also had highly exciting sessions which included Ms. Harini Gopalswamy Srinivasan, Children’s Writer, Ms. Usha. K. R, Writer of Fiction in English and the well known Novelist Ms. Shashi Deshpande. Besides this, there were nearly 30 practising teachers presenting papers in parallel sessions on the theme and the related issues.

Cultural programme was arranged on the 1st and 2nd of March, from 6.00 p.m. onwards. There were a few performances by the participants of the ongoing 60-day teacher development programme and the highlight being ‘Karagattam’. This was followed by the flute recital by Mr. Prakash Hegde Kallaremane. On day 2 ‘Vidushi’ Dimple enthralled the audience by her scintillating ‘Bharatanatyam’ performance.

Dr. P. S. Misra, Director, ELTI, Assam in his valedictory address on 3rd March, lauded the achievements of RIESI and felt that the purpose of the Seminar has been achieved and he also called for the need to take up short term theme specific research programmes in the context of changes taking place in the field of ELT. Dr. K. N. Anandan¸Consultant, SSA, Kerala, in his presidential remarks insisted on the need for being humanistic and in the approach towards learners of language and in particular English and to realize the social purpose for which language is meant.

The Valedictory function ended with the vote of thanks proposed by the Dr. S. Venkateswaran, Seminar Coordinator and Professor, RIESI, Bengaluru.

DIRECTOR