Educators and parents in Andhra Pradesh now have a great opportunity to help students improve their English language proficiency. The Department of School Education has recently launched the ‘Mentor a Student’ initiative, specifically designed to empower students and boost their performance in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination.
Principal Secretary of School Education Praveen Prakash is encouraging teachers, parents, and department officials to be part of this state-level initiative. With this program, teachers will become mentors to students in Classes VI to IX. The focus will be on refining students’ listening and speaking skills in English, and building their confidence in using the language effectively. Praveen Prakash himself has set an example by personally mentoring a Class VI student, Santosh.
The department has also instructed to include a separate period for the TOEFL within the daily schedule. Furthermore, a different exam (English Paper-II) will be conducted in the formative and summative tests. The classes will be confined to listening and speaking skills since the components of vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension are already part of the regular English course.
This five-year partnership with the US-based Educational Testing Service (ETS) is aimed at providing comprehensive training in English-speaking skills to students in state-run schools. The ETS will evaluate and certify students’ English language proficiency through its TOEFL Young Students Series assessments.
The ‘Mentor a Student’ initiative is an excellent example of how the Department of School Education in Andhra Pradesh is creating a supportive and encouraging learning environment, as well as meeting the need for better language proficiency. Teachers, parents, and officials are encouraged to actively contribute to the success of this project.
