For many students, English is introduced as a school subject with a textbook, grammar exercises, written tests and a fixed syllabus. Yet a language is not only a body of rules to remember. It is a tool people use to understand others, express ideas, ask questions, read information and take part in everyday life.
From knowing English to using English
A student may know the definition of a tense and still hesitate when asked a simple question in English. The gap appears when classroom learning gives more attention to knowledge about the language than repeated opportunities to use it. Language acquisition requires meaningful exposure, practice and interaction over time.
This does not mean grammar or examinations are unimportant. Grammar can help learners make their communication clearer, while assessment can show progress. The larger goal, however, is functional proficiency: students should gradually become comfortable listening, speaking, reading and writing.
What the Indian curriculum says
India’s National Education Policy 2020 calls for language teaching to use innovative and experiential methods, including storytelling, theatre, music, technology and connections with real-life experiences. The National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023 also places communication, oracy and literacy at the centre of language education. Read the NEP 2020 document and consult the National Curriculum Framework 2023.
What can schools do?
- Give students regular opportunities to speak in pairs and groups.
- Use short listening activities every day.
- Connect reading with students’ interests and real-world information.
- Let students write messages, descriptions, reports and reflections for genuine purposes.
- Teach grammar through examples and communication, not only isolated rules.
The Ministry of Education’s curriculum guidance also recognises meaningful language use and multilingualism. English can therefore be strengthened without weakening students’ home and regional languages. Explore more education coverage on NewsNationOnline.
The bigger objective
The most useful measure of English learning is not simply whether a learner can reproduce a paragraph in an examination. It is whether the learner can understand a message, communicate an idea, read with confidence and write for a real audience. Moving from “studying English” toward “using English” can make classroom learning more connected to life beyond school.
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