Cross-cultural communication specialists, ELT experts discuss Teaching Methodologies in Interdisciplinary Context
Aligarh : Cross-cultural communication specialists, ELT experts, linguists and faculty members explored the areas of study in interdisciplinary context such as English language teaching methodologies, constructive approaches to teaching, inclusivity, cross-cultural communication, AI generated teachings and methods, pedagogies related to methodologies, cultures, regions, and needs, knowledge systems, appropriate pedagogy and assessment, and addressing learning crisis, during the three-day international conference, organized by the Department of English, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
The conference entitled “appropriate teaching methodologies in interdisciplinary context: mapping the sociolinguistics diversity”, was sponsored by ICSSR, New Delhi.
During the valedictory session, Prof Imtiaz Hasnain, Chair- Professor, MANUU, Hyderabad, talked about “linguistic entrepreneurship, ethno-linguistics identity, and neo-liberal imagination”. Prof Hasnain also focused upon how the English language has been developed as a language of bread and butter, and hence there is more demand for English language teaching programs. The session was chaired by Prof Mohammad Asim Siddiqui, Department of English, AMU.
A round table discussion on the topic “methodological diversity in classroom: contexts and perspectives”, by Prof A.R. Kidwai, (Director, K.A. Nizami Centre for Quranic Studies, AMU and Former Professor, Department of English, AMU), along with Prof Imtiaz Hasnain, Prof M.E. Veda Sharan (EFLU, Hyderabad), and Prof Shobha Satyanath (Former Professor, Department of Linguistics, University of Delhi) brought to focus the methods, linguistic and cultural diversities, and the role of teachers in teaching in the multilingual discourse community.
The discussants spoke about the content subjects; how content has a kind of connectivity with methodology, scale of diversity at the level of teaching and teacher, language learning, and at the level of language culture.
Delivering a plenary lecture, on the topic “New World Englishes: what’s the fuss all about”, Prof Shobha Satyanath discussed the internal diversity of Englishes which is often overlooked by the dominant discourses.
Prof M.E. Veda Sharan, spoke on the topic “The Bitzer in the Classroom: imaginative ways out of hard times”, where he constructed the comparison between literature and language.
Professor Chris Anson, Department of English, North California State University, USA, spoke on “writing across the curriculum: strategies for language development and deep learning.”
In his Valedictory address, Prof Avinash Kumar Singh, Head, Department of Educational Policy, NIEPA, New Delhi, said that such conferences act as a driving force in the realm of interdisciplinary studies.
While talking about the “Socio-linguistic polarity in education of the disadvantaged: policy perspectives and practices”, he expressed the concern of learning disadvantages as in the case of remote tribal language areas, they cannot access the home language because it’s not the medium of instruction. In such cases, the dropout rate is very high, as suggested by the World Bank reports.
Discussing the idea of equity and justice, Prof Mirza Asmer Beg, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, explained the relevance of the idea of multiculturalism.
The conference had 61 offline and 120 online paper reading sessions, and more than 130 research papers were presented at the Conference on topics ranging from multiculturalism, sociolinguistic diversity, AI and English Language Teaching, sociology, and second language acquisition, among others.
A research paper entitled “Impact of Digital Technology on Inclusiveness and Linguistic Diversity”, by Anupama T., earned the best paper award, given by the Springer Publication House.
The best paper awards in the teacher category were bagged by Ms. Syyada Faheem, Assistant Professor, University Polytechnic, AMU and Dr. Md. Sajidul Islam, Associate Professor, Dept of English, AMU. The title of the paper was “English Language Teaching Methodologies for Engineering”.
Another award for the best paper in Research Scholars’ category was bagged by Aleena Khan, Research Scholar, School of English Language Education, EFLU, Hyderabad, and Prof M.E. Veda Sharan, Dean, School of English Language Education, EFLU, Hyderabad.
The best paper award in PG students’ category was given to Ms. Inshirah Agwan, M.A. ELT, Dept of English, AMU.
The conference also had a cultural evening, which was coordinated by Prof. Samina Khan and Prof. Ayesha Munira, while a Heritage Walk was organised on the second day for the delegates.
Prof Raashid Nehal, Conference Convenor proposed a vote of thanks, while Dr. Sajid ul Islam conducted the proceedings of the valedictory session.