Title of the paper: Rethinking our priorities in English language teaching

Name of the key speaker: Professor Dr. Z. N. Patil

Affiliation: The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, India

Abstract
Language teaching methodology has been changing over a period of time. The teacher-centered approach is gradually giving way to learner-centered approach. However, even today in many classrooms, the teacher remains a donor of knowledge and corrector of learner errors. Students are required to memorize irrelevant and trivial details such as definitions of nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, etc.

The goal of English language teaching in such classrooms is to develop meta-linguistic and literary competence in the learner. Accuracy is prioritized over confidence building, fluency, appropriateness and general communicative competence. Examinations test memory rather than understanding and use of the English language in real life situations. Consequently, students develop fear complex, which in several cases leads to suicides. Therefore, there is an urgent need to rethink the objectives of teaching English as a second and foreign language. The present paper attempts to explain how it is imperative to place confidence building and appropriateness before accuracy, and narrates the author’s personalized views on this issue.

Keywords: priorities, confidence, appropriateness, accuracy, fluency

Z.N. Patil is the Senior Advisor to the Asian EFL Journal