Course-5 Understanding Disciplines and School Subjects pmd

Languages
You have already studied the importance of language in the school curriculum, under
course 4. Language is an evitable part of life as well as curriculum.
The language is always believed to play a central role in learning. No matter what the
subject area, students assimilate new concepts when they listen, talk, read and write about
what they are learning. Speaking and writing reflects the thinking process that is taking
place. Students learn in language, therefore if their language is weak, so is their learning.
Language occupies a key position in the School curriculum. More so at the primary
stage, because it is at this stage that the child is receiving formal instruction in language for
the first time. Before that, he/she was learning language in an informal way primarily in the
home. And since it is through language that the child learns all the other subjects at school,
this formal instruction in language leads to his/her learning in other curricular areas as
well. Further, apart from its importance as a medium of learning other subjects in schools,
language also helps the child in communication and self-expression. As children grow up,
they need to express their ideas, feeling and opinions. This self-expression is the basis of
the growth of the child’s self, his/her personality and individuality. Thus, language helps
the learners-
i.
in learning their school subjects,
ii.
in communicating with others, both at school and outside,
iii.
in their day-to-day life situations and
iv.
in the learning of concept in other areas. Proper language learning means learning of
the four basic language skills i.e. skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing.
language learning has been shown to greatly enhance student performance across the
curriculum. Language learning has been shown to improve a student’s cognitive
function, including, but not limited to enhancing problem solving skills, improved
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verbal and spatial abilities, improved memory function, enhancing creative thinking
capacity.
Hence, the importance and role of language in school curriculum can be summarised
as follows:
•
It develops the basic skills required in life. They are speaking, reading, writing.
•
It helps to develop concepts.
•
It is a means of thinking and hence promotes thinking.It is a component of
higher order thinking skills.
•
It is the most important tool in daily living
•
It is the basic means to  understand different subjects in the school curriculum
•
It is tool for making meaning
•
It is a filter for assessing students’ outcome