Though there has been a slight improvement this year in English language with a performance of 93% at the SC examination, it is the percentage of pass which has picked up. The performance at quality level still leaves a lot to be desired. Today we are churning out quantity at the expense of quality. The quality label has become a rare commodity. Each year more than 50% of the candidates who sit for SC fail to score a credit in English language. This year only 1.1 percent scored a very good in English out of 17,000 candidates who sat for SC. The most they can do is to score a pass 7 or 8 in that subject. The quality label is definitely on the wane.

Today we are shocked to see the number of students in lower six with a bare pass in English at SC. Their knowledge in that subject is simply stunning. They just grope their way in the general paper. They are a real liability to the G.P teacher. Even those who have been able to snatch a credit in English still have a shaky knowledge of grammar, tenses along with an anaemic vocabulary. Their only plus point is that they are better qualified on paper and they stand a better chance on the labour market par rapport to those who have only a pass in English. But their expressions in English still leave a lot to be desired.

With a mere pass in English language many find themselves compelled to re-enter SC simply to better their score in English. A certificate which is devoid of a credit in English language loses some of its weight and can be a handicap to its holder by compromising its chances of getting a decent job on the market, especially in the Civil Services where usually a credit in English language is demanded. When merits are weighed up as criteria for choice of candidates for an interview, examination performance can be a determining factor.

Anaemic vocabulary

The downward trend in English language is attributable to three factors, namely grammar errors, usage of correct tenses and vocabulary spiced with orthography. With an anaemic vocabulary along with a sketchy knowledge of grammar and verbs, the student writes but gropingly. Any deficiency in any of them can prejudice the chance of the candidate to score a credit in English language. He should be equipped with a good knowledge of them before he moves into the examination hall if he wants to fare well in that subject.

The learning of any language demands a solid notion of its grammar if we want to write the language in question with ease, fluency and assurance. Grammar cannot be learnt by mere reading. Knowledge of grammar acquired in this way is always shaky and sketchy since no explanation is given why a sentence is framed in this way or that or why a particular word or tense is used in the sentence building, etc. Grammar has to be learnt and understood.

Reading will not tell us why ?Due? should not be used at the beginning of a sentence or why in a sentence like: ?Paul as well as Susan and Mary is coming to the party? the verb is singular when there are three persons in the sentence. Or again why in a sentence like: ?This is one of the worst accidents that have happened for some time? the verb takes a plural form when many would be tempted to consider the complement in the main clause to write down the verb in the subordinate clause.

A sentence which is grammatically incorrect gives not only a distorted picture of our thoughts and feelings, but also baffles our listeners or readers as to what we want to convey to them. Since our thoughts in the sentence is vague and woolly, misunderstanding and wrong interpretation are likely to crop up. Grammar gives our sentence the right and exact force. It is no exaggeration to say that an intimate knowledge of grammar makes one an exact writer or speaker. We can use it as a kind of tool to give the necessary edge to what we write and speak.

Using the exact tense in a sentence gives force and precision to our speech and writing. We convey the exact meaning and leave no shadow of doubt lurking in the mind of others regarding our feelings and intentions. A shaky knowledge of the correct usage of tenses is usually a handicap to the learner when he writes his English paper. Unable to use the exact tenses to express himself, he loses marks. It is material that the learner moves into the examination hall equipped with a solid notion of all the verbs. A verb is used to describe what we did, what we do, what we are doing and what we shall do. This is the rudimentary notion about the usage of tenses. But it involves more when it comes to deal with the past, present and future perfect, etc. What matters more is not the right conjugation of the verbs but their correct usage in speech and writing as well. It is pointless to know the conjugation of a verb and then we don?t know how to use it. It makes no difference if we don?t know it at all. Knowing a verb means how to use it correctly, otherwise there is no fun of knowing it. The sequence of tenses is very important and there should not be any doubt in the mind of the learner concerning its usage.

Do we realize the force, precision and dimension that we give to a sentence when we use ?shall? instead of ?will? and vice versa. In sentences like:? I shall come to see you on Sunday? and ? I will come to see you on Sunday? it is not six of one and half a dozen of the other. In the first sentence there is flexibility and no commitment. I may come or I may not come on Sunday depending on the circumstances. But in the second sentence there is inflexibility and commitment. My visit to your place on Sunday is beyond doubt. It is more than a certainty. Similarly the world of difference that underlines these two sentences---? I have lived at Curepipe for ten years? and ?I lived at Curepipe for ten years.? In the first sentence I am still a resident of Curepipe while in the second I am no longer at Curepipe though I lived in that place for ten years.

So an exact knowledge of tenses helps one to convey the exact meaning of one?s expressions.

Helping to trot out thoughts and feelings

The third sine qua non for a successful attempt in English language is without doubt the vocabulary. The student will move into the examination hall with a serious handicap if his reservoir of vocabulary is dry. Without a wide and varied vocabulary, there is no expression and comprehension. He will be utterly bogged down when he tackles items like composition, report, comprehension and summary. A shrinking vocabulary will prevent the candidate to understand and to make himself understood.

It is more than imperative for the learner to acquire a rich vocabulary. The comprehension and expression of any language rest mainly upon a wide and varied vocabulary. The wider our vocabulary is, the easier it is for us to understand the language and to express ourselves in it. It is material for the learner to build up his vocabulary. Every student must endeavour to express himself and to take in the variety of work that claims his attention.

Vocabulary build-up is a personal undertaking. The student has to make a deliberate effort to learn more and more everyday. Vocabulary can be built up through an intelligent reading along with a judicious use of the dictionary. Though it may be boring and time consuming to delve into the dictionary now and again, it is a necessary evil in the language learning process. It has to be done if we want to have a good word bank. Dictionary is light. Why should we remain in darkness when light is available?

The power to grasp written material and ability to express ourselves adequately depend largely on our stock of words. With an easy flow of words, we shape up our ideas quickly. The facility to take in and to express ourselves is greater.

Knowledge of grammatical errors and the correct usage of tenses help us to trot out our thoughts, feelings and intentions with force, clarity and assurance while a bumper vocabulary facilitates effective comprehension and expression. Learning English language has never been an uphill task, but it simply requires a dose of interest to learn it along with an intelligent approach to it. Because in the absence of interest and a lukewarm approach to the subject, the success in learning the language can evade you like a mirage in the desert.

Therefore these are the three essentials that you need to succeed in English language. Any deficiency in any of these may clog your machinery of comprehension and expression.

Raj PANEKEN