‘Naipunya Vikasam’ an initiative introduced by Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) fulfils the objective of ensuring the upliftment of students of Social Welfare and Tribal Welfare Residential Educational Institutions in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The course is meticulously designed with a motto to create future-ready students by introducing ‘Functional English’ to improve Communicative/Conversational English language skills. The transition from the conventional method of teaching English to ‘Teaching Functional English’ is needed for two basic reasons: i) English for communication and ii) English to learn other subjects like Mathematics, Science etc. Thus, it aims to address the need for a well-designed English curriculum should enhance the ‘communicative competencie s’ of students. It also focuses on psychosocial competence of students in order to enable them to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life.
Launched in July 2018, a total of 427 residential schools were identified falling under the ambit of Andhra Pradesh Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (APSWREIS), Andhra Pradesh Tribal Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (APTWREIS) and Andhra Pradesh Department ofTribal Welfare (APDTW). To focus on the LSRW (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing) skills, Schoolnet, the training partner for implementing the project, has adopted the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) to identify the needs of students and to guide the assessment of their proficiency in the English language.
Communication is qualitative and infinite, and learners must have enough time to internalise a function. The unit includes a blend of conversation practice with a classmate, interactive group work, role plays, grammar and pronunciation focus exercises, information-gap techniques, internet activities etc., delivered through the following methodologies:
Flipped Classroom – a method where the conventional classroom-based learning is inverted so that students are given the learning material to study before class; the classroom time is used to deepen understanding through discussion with peers and problem-solving activities.
Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) – is based on the idea that learning language successfully comes through having to communicate on a real-time basis.
Total Physical Response (TPR) – is a method of teaching language and vocabulary concepts by using physical movement and reacting to verbal input . The process mimics the way that infants learn their first language, and it reduces student inhibitions and lowers st ress.
To achieve this, ‘Naipunya Vikasam ‘ initiative follows the methodology of reflective practice, introspecting and improving.