The Role of Values in Indian Education: A Historical Perspective
The concept, nature, and aims of education in Indian philosophical traditions—Vedic, Buddhist, Jain, and Islamic—are deeply rooted in spiritual, moral, and societal development, each emphasizing liberation, character formation, and holistic growth.
Vedic Education
The Vedic system regarded education as a sacred pursuit aimed at self-realization and liberation (moksha) from the cycle of birth and death. The ultimate aim was spiritual enlightenment and knowledge of the Supreme Reality (Brahman),
Read MoreInstructional Methods for Language Acquisition
Product Versus Process
Product Focus
- Stages: Introduce topic, language input, controlled practice, writing.
- Pros (+): Time-efficient; more guidance leads to greater confidence and familiarity.
- Cons (-): Limited creativity; no collaboration; focus solely on the final product.
Process Focus
- Stages: Introduce topic, brainstorm vocabulary ideas, first draft, feedback correction, second draft editing, and presentation.
- Pros (+): Collaboration; clear stages; more holistic development (all skills).
- Cons (-): Time-
Critical Perspectives on Interculturality and Literary Reimagining
Critical Perspectives in Education and Cultural Studies
I. Interculturality, Power, and Education Policy
Dervin (2016): Interculturality in Education
Dervin explains that interculturality is a confusing but crucial concept in education. It is not a fixed idea, but rather something shaped by power dynamics, ideology, and context. Schools are key places to address this concept because they bring together diverse students. However, educational policies often misuse the term. Dervin calls for a critical
Read MoreActive Learning Theories: Freire’s Banking vs. Bartholomae
David Bartholomae: Active Reading and Meaning Construction
The Transformative Nature of Reading
In Ways of Reading, David Bartholomae challenges the traditional idea that reading and writing are passive processes. He argues that students should not simply repeat what authors or teachers say, but rather take an active role in constructing meaning. For him, reading is not about finding information, but about participating in a conversation with the author and developing one’s own interpretation. This
Read MoreMastering Textual Analysis and Concept Mapping Techniques
Essential Skills for Effective Communication
Developing strong communication skills involves several key textual competencies:
- Adequacy: Knowing how to choose the appropriate variety (dialect/standard) and register (general/specific, formal/familiar, objective/subjective) for each situation.
- Consistency: Knowing how to select relevant information and structure knowledge effectively.
- Cohesion: Learning to connect the different phrases that form a text (using pronominal forms, punctuation, conjunctions,
Literary Genres and Didactic Applications in Foreign Language Teaching
Unit 15: Tales, Stories, and Didactic Applications of Literary Texts
Reading or listening to literary texts is not just a pleasurable activity; it is also a communicative activity in which attitudes, values, and socio-cultural aspects are transmitted. Material such as stories, poems, and rhymes are valuable teaching aids that will help our students achieve communicative competence. Literary texts present language in context, provide authentic language, and are motivating.
In this unit, we will look
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