(Left to Right) Authors of the newly released Alternative English Workbook with MLA & Advisor Kekhrie Yhome during the launch of the book held at Highland Institute, Kohima on February 15.
Morung Express News
Kohima | February 15
Marking a significant step in the academic landscape and with the purpose of transforming teaching, a workbook on Alternative English I & 2 for BA Second and Fourth Semester, Nagaland University authored by Rukulu Kezo, Tatongkala Lemtur and Opangmenla Jamir was formally launched at The Highland Institute, Kohima on January 15.
Addressing the launch, Kekhrie Yhome, MLA & Advisor, School Education & SCERT remarked that as a young and vulnerable society, Nagas have embraced every cultures and languages wherein in the economic and socio everyday communication systems, we also have our own Nagamese, which would be soon formalised into the language communicating system. Besides, he stated that English is definitely the official language of Nagaland.
With regard to the idea of education and other languages, he said, the other tongue is what is important. The department of School Education, he highlighted, is monitoring various schools offering Hindi. As part of this important democratic country, he underlined that, it is important that we understand Hindi because it is predominantly used and is the national official language. English being the official language of Nagaland, he added that it is also one of the associated official languages of India.
Further pointing out that we have entered the digital age, wherein we are able to access to what is happening all over the world, be remarked that, we need to refine and fine-tune and that, it is not just about learning the basics. In this regard, he also emphasised on mental literacy, emotional literacy, digital literacy and financial literacy while underscoring that literacies are important in our lives.
Dwelling more on the idea of Alternative English, he said that, Alternative English is supposed to be the other langauge or our mother tongue but since we don't have textbooks or teachers of Spanish or major language, we call the other language as alternative English.
We do not have the luxury of learning our own language because we don't have books in our own language, he commented. However, he said that, given our ability to blend in with the rest of the south Asian, English becomes very important for us.
While our ability to speak in our own language is also getting eroded, he remarked that the idea of Alternative is also a sad occasion because this is the other language- our language because of our inability to refine our own language.
Stating that we have a long way to go, he however stated that a lot of professionalism is coming into our younger society. They want to perfect things, do it the right way; they are motivated and infused with a sense of mission, which, he added, are all very welcoming.
Talking about the book, Dr Rukulu Kezo said this book is part of the series of initiatives of Cue Academy towards transforming education scenario in the state.
Giving a brief review of the book, Prof. Nigamanda Das, Head, Department of English, Nagaland University said that the workbook is also partly a textbook. He spoke about the challenges in the process with regard to change in nomenclature among other things and further exuded hope that a comprehensive workbook like this will positively help the scholars. He remarked that there has been a need for such an intensive workbook, and stated that it is not only for scholars but can be recommended as a handbook for English Teachers.
With NEP 2020 emphasizing on development of mother tongue, he also stated that this workbook can further impact language subjects. He encouraged the authors to also initiate similar workbooks on other papers as well so that scholars will get better opportunity in making them more efficient in this area.
Highlights of the event included opening prayer by Deo Huprem, Youth Director, CBCK, note of welcome by Er Thenuvecho Puro, Chairman, CUE Academy, introduction of the authors by Chubarenla Lkr, Head, Department of Political Science, Capital College of Higher Education, note of gratitude by Zhokhoto Puro, Managing Director, Cue Academy while Dr Medongunuo Ngone, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Kohima College was the host for the event.
Mention may be made here that Dr Rukulu Kezo has a Master's degree in English Literature from Nagaland University, M.Phil and PhD in English Language Education from English and Foreign.
Languages University, Hyderabad. She has authored two poetry collections and is founder and Chief Instructor at CUE ACADEMY, Centre for Person-Centred Education where she has been overseeing the production of Person-Centred Workbooks to help transform Undergraduate Teaching. She is also serving as an Assistant Professor at Capital College of Higher Education.
Tatongkala Lemture has been an educator for over a decade, and a Master's Degree and an M.Phil in English Literature. Opangmenla Jamir has over ten years of experience in teaching undérgraduate students. She has a Master's degree in English Literature and a B.Ed degree.
