The 7th National Conference Zealous Language Teaching
The 7th National Conference Zealous Language Teaching organized by the Department of English and Foreign Languages. We are happy to say that it turned out to be a professional rendezvous which provided English teachers a platform to generate and construct new knowledge. The attraction of the conference included several plenary sessions and presence of about 80 delegates from different parts of the country. The conference began with the inaugural ceremony. Dr. K. Anbazhagan, HoD, Department of English and Foreign Languages welcomed the gathering. In his welcome address he explained the purpose and aim of the conference. It was followed by the official inauguration of the conference by lighting the kuthuvilakku by the Chief Guest and other dignitaries.Dr. T.P. Ganesan, respected Pro. Vice Chancellor, SRM University delivered the presidential address. In his inspiring and evocative speech, he highlighted the significance of co-curricular activities among the faculty members. He insisted upon the fact that only a perfect confluence of literature and technology, which strengthen the heart and head respectively, will help our education system to attain the Nehruvian dream of man- making education.
After the presidential address, Mr. R. Natarajan, Faculty in Japanese language, introduced the chief guest of the day, Ms. Indubala Asohk, Global Head, Foreign Languages initiatives, TCS. In her inaugural address, Ms. Indubala Ashok not only delivered her speech but also raised some crucial issues that we, English teachers, have to discuss. She presented in a lucid manner, the merits and demerits of social media and how it is possible to make it constructive, which is the need of the hour. She concluded her speech by wishing the conference a grand success for the conference. After the inaugural speech Dr. Muthamizhchelvan, Director, E&T released the conference proceedings. The inaugural session concluded with the vote-of-thanks given by the coordinator of the Conference, Mrs.Suganthi Medasani. The inaugural session was followed by two plenary sessions led by Dr.Rizio Raj, Educationist and Writer, Department of Collegiate Education, Govt. of Kerala and Dr. Shreesh Choudhary, Prof. IITM.
In the first plenary session, Dr.Rizio Raj gave a talk on Epistemologies and Creative Process in Academics. In her splendid literary speech, she explained how language and literature make a teacher zealous. It's imperative to remove the water -tight compartmentalization in teaching and replace it with the integration of different concepts. By using the Bhakti Movement literature as a touchstone she insisted upon the need of associate consciousness in learning, i.e., interlinking of language, life and literature, which will in turn make language teaching organic. In the second plenary session of the day Dr.Shreesh Choudhary, on the topic Keeping Pace with Changes in Spoken Language, gave a prismatic picture of changes in the structure and meaning of language over the period. He concluded the talk by advising us to preserve the tradition and the individual talent with equal importance. Dr.Muneswaran, Director, OFD presented mementos to the speakers as a token of our love and affection.
Post- lunch session began with a plenary talk by Dr.Dhanavel, HoD, Department of English, Anna University, giving tips to make the classroom more imaginative and creative. The day concluded with paper presentations in two parallel sessions pertaining to the areas of language and literature. The second day began with a wonderful presentation by our French Faculty Gwenelle Raisoir and Aurelien Le Popon. It was highly inspiring and a trifling provocative and made us introspective about the significance of transcending cultural barriers by learning and acquiring different languages. As the title sounds it was indeed a cultural shock to us about the socio-cultural imperfections faced by European as well as Indian society.