PLEASURE READING IN THE TARGET LANGUAGE IMPARTS COMPREHENSIBLE INPUT AUGMENTING UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS' CRITICAL THINKING AND COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE

Abstract

In this rapidly growing world, the significance of English language to be taken as “LinguaFranca” has been irrefutable as well as inevitable. Like several other progressing nations, Pakistan has
also been facing challenges in educational field regarding the selection of a national curriculum, its
implementation and integration. In Pakistan, English language is being taught as a compulsory subject up
to school, college and university levels. But there are serious problems of communication faced by the
teachers along with students in teaching-learning ESL. They are not confident enough and encounter
mental blockage while communicating in the target language. It raises questions on the appropriateness of
the curriculum of English language teaching generally and different methods of teaching in particular. In
order to study and address this issue, the researcher has gone through a number of theories of SLA and
found Stephen Krashen (1980) the most suitable for the current research. So, in this perspective the
researcher has conducted a collective case study of 5 English language teachers at University- level in
Punjab, Pakistan in the light of Krashens’ SLA Theory. These teachers are teaching English language in
the public, private and elite class Institutions. They are reportedly imparting their knowledge through GTM,
DM or the fusion of these two methods. These are the prevalent approaches of teaching English language
in the selected Institutions. The researcher has applied triangulation technique comprising oral interview,
direct and participatory observations and qualitative questionnaire. After conducting an initial brief oral
interview of twenty five English language Instructors in the public and private sectors, the researcher
selected 5 Instructors who showed their interest and willingness to be part of this project. After collecting
the data through the triangulation technique, it is analyzed by the researcher in the light of Krashens’ SLA
Theory to draw final conclusion and give recommendations. It is revealed as an outcome of this research
that English language teaching system as witnessed in case of four out of five Instructors by the researcher
is tilted towards the traditional approach of learning second language. The emphasis is largely on learning
rather than acquisition of second language. It is not providing the comprehensible input i.e., meaningful
communication by sticking to the TL (target language) amongst learners such as proposed by Stephen
Krashen. On the other hand, the natural approach of teaching English language as witnessed in case of T2
by the researcher is the most appropriate in achieving the CC (communicative competence) in the TL. Thus
in view of the findings of this research, it is the need of the hour to switch the current system of teaching
English language in Punjab, Pakistan from learning onto acquisition for the purpose of augmenting
undergraduate pupils’ critical thinking and communicative competence. Furthermore, the researcher
pointed out salient features regarding comprehensible input including the classroom environment,
teachers’ re-defined role, audio/ visual tools and appropriate curriculum as suggested by Krashen.