English, vernacular both important for civil services: British expert

By Ians English
English, vernacular both important

Kolkata, August 12: Amid the civil service aptitude test row, a British educationist Monday said students appearing in the examination can be tested both in English and in vernacular languages.

 

Andy Curtis, professor in the School of Graduate Education at Anaheim University in California and the president of the TESOL International Association, said that while testing applicants for knowledge, examinations in native languages were convenient for those who are not fluent in English or Hindi, but for gauging one's language abilities a test of English was important.

"If one is testing for content, then vernacular comes in, but if one is testing for language abilities, then a test of English comes in. For testing point of view, examinations in both languages can be a way," Curtis, who has roots in South America as well as in India, told reporters here when quizzed about the raging CSAT issue.

TESOL is an organisation dedicated to advancing professional expertise in English language teaching and learning for speakers of other languages worldwide.

Curtis was speaking at a discussion "English Medium Instruction: Boon or Curse" organised by the British Council in Kolkata.

IANS

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