Spoken English coaching centers have sprung across the country. Spoken English Centers are akin to fairness creams, trying to make money out a societal inferiority complex. The question arises whether one really needs to speak English without any hindrance. I believe if you are an achiever in your chosen field, working knowledge of English (both written and oral) would be sufficient. Also there is no need for you to spend hell lot of money and effort in learning to speak English the way Englishmen speak. Have a look if you are in any of these categories you don’t require to speak fluent English:-
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Politician – Lalooji does not speak very fluent English but he has transformed a sleeping giant like Indian Railways into a money spinner. Harvard guys wait for his appointment to know his management secrets.
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Sportsman – Sehwag and Inzamam also suffer from the same handicap, but that does not make any difference when they hit the ball for a six. Flip side is when a bowler curses them in English, it falls on deaf ears.
Those were specific examples. Let us assume that you are a software engineer, as long as you can write efficient programs, it does not matter whether or not you posses fluency of English language. A mathematics or science teacher has to explain to his wards in simple terms how a particular result is arrived at and his English knowledge need not rival an English teacher’s. Nobody would mind taking advice from a stock broker who speaks broken English but frequently recommends a stock which gives an annual return of 30-40%.Same is the case with a surgeon, pilot, solider, civil engineer, grocer, etc.
The only people who definitely require a good knowledge of spoken and written English are secretaries, copy writers, clerks, English professors/teachers, BPO employees, News Readers and English journalist.
Thus, most of the jobs in the world can be executed efficiently as long you have the core skills and excellent English knowledge is only a cherry on the cake. There is no need for you to feel inferior, if you can’t speak fluent English. Most of the work in the outside world can be done through pre-printed forms. Just chill, knowing good English won’t make you owner of a company but possessing the right business acumen can.
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Anyone with dark skin and particularly fromIndia , Pakistan , Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
some ten yrs ago i think,,,there was an article in british guardian newspaper praising Indian as the guardian of English language! if only they could change their accent and speak the way they speak, then we beat the British in speaking/writing their language!! hehehe.....
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you said it gopalkrishnan
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you may be right!
Speaking English without hindrance comes by practice and not by attending classes!
Spoken English is not THE THING but also a thing! You just cant ignore it!
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I am not against English but this clutter of English Speaking Institutes are a huge embarrasment. I have emphasised time and again that a working knowledge of english is required and which can be improved upon with time. I only told dont get discouraged if you cant speak flowery english like your colleauges. The above comments were more of a reaction to branding people who dont know to speak flowery english as medicore. As long as you know the trade well, the presentation part of it will fall into place
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AMB,
By using phrases like "colonial mindset", "since when did English become native language" , you give the impression of avoiding the issue. I haven't seen you give specific examples of how spoken English does not matter in a professional setting. Let us be specific. Say, we have a good software engineer who aspires to be project manager. Or an excellent lawyer practising in Nagpur who would like to practise in the Mumbai high court. Or an excellent Chartered Accountant who wants to expand his business. These are normal aspirations of everyday professionals who are not Dhirubhai Ambani / Sehwag. Are you saying their spoken English wouldn't matter in pursuing their goals?
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sorry i am not good at mind reading
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why do you think not knowing english is mediocrity?
Wrong interpretation of the comment posted.
My comment implies that any mediocrity anywhere is accepted because it is inevitable. To justify it is not correct and will inevitably raise many objections as u can see for urself.
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why do you think not knowing english is mediocrity?
Are you the judge on Sulekha to use strong words like unpardonable and objectionable. If it hurts your colonial mindset, that does not mean it should not be discussed
From when did English become native language of India
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That is different.
They don't know English because they are not native speakers. They are learning now and they are trying to be perfect.
Here u have posted a blog justifying mediocrity.
UNPARDONABLE.
OBJECTIONABLE.
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BE AVERAGE>>>THAT IS ALSO GOOD"...
please madam scribbling pad tell me why do you think not knowing pompous english means you are average. Are the Japense, Germans and Chinese average by your standards
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