BES-124: Language Across the Curriculum

The course ‘BES-124 Language Across the Curriculum’ is one of the core courses studied in the first year of IGNOU B.Ed. programme. This is a two-credit course. The concept of Language Across the Curriculum emphasises the key role language plays in learning. It is based on the understanding that language and thinking are deeply connected and promotes learning. Learning takes place when new facts are assimilated through listening and talking, reading and writing about what is being learnt, and by relating this new learning to what has been learnt before or the previous knowledge. Speaking and writing involve thinking, what we write and speak is a manifestation of that thinking.Language helps in conceptualising and expressing our thought clearly. The task of the teacher is that of developing language abilities into subject specific thinking and communication in every subjects. Teachers need to build cognitive and communicative competencies in learners while teaching their specific subjects. Language Across the Curriculum, advocates an understanding and transaction of the curriculum based on the following premises:Language is more than communication skills.Language is also linked to the thinking process.Language is a tool for conceptualising, for thinking, for networking.Language supports mental activity and cognitive precision.Language for academic purposes helps to express thoughts more clearly (this is especially true for writing)Language helps to structure discourse and practice discourse functions.This Course attempts to sensitise the teachers to the linkages between language and learning and to motivate them to adopt such practices in teaching of their specific disciplines so that language becomes a tool for facilitating learning. This Course has two Blocks, namely, Understanding Language Across the Curriculum and Teaching and Assessing Language Across the Curriculum.