Journal of English Language Teaching

Colonial and Post-Colonial Praxis of Teaching and Learning English in India

Saima Khan

Department of English, Aligarh Muslim University

Keywords: English in India, English as a second language, language debate, language teaching and learning

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Abstract

English, once consisting of a few dialects spoken by the inhabitants of a small island, later emerged as a widespread language snowballing throughout the globe and has now attained the status of ‘link language’, ‘global language’ or the means of international communication and is increasingly becoming ubiquitous. The present article aims at highlighting this trajectory in the growth of English in India. The article discusses the factors responsible for such an expansion and acceptance of English language in the Indian context along with a brief account of the obstacles it faced during its spread. Furthermore, the article provides an account of the existing situation of the integration of English language teaching in the curriculum and of using English as the medium of instruction.

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