The Department of English is actively engaged in developing the language skills and
enhancing critical thinking of students through the analysis of literatures from across the
world. The department conducts group discussions, debates and panel discussions to
introduce students to new ideas and to refine their opinions. The teaching practices in the
department enables students to view education, and its final play in the social arena as
inextricably tied up with issues of humanity, equality, and just practices.
The growth of rapid globalization and the recognition of social and cultural pluralities has
substantially enhanced the significance of clear and effective communication. The
department imparts excellent communication-skills to comprehensively improve student’s
engagement with the English language. The department offers Ability Enhancement
Compulsory Course (AECC), which has been designed to cultivate communication skills
through reading, writing and speaking. The reading section enables students to read
analytically so the they can understand the nuances of news articles, literary works, and
academic books. The course also focuses on the speaking skills of students and aims to
improve the communication abilities of students by inspiring them to engage in dialogues, to
hold interviews and to present public speeches. The reading and speaking skills combined
together enables the students to improve their writing skills. The effective communication
skills which are imparted in this course are an essential component for success in any sphere
of life, be it leadership responsibilities, teamwork, interviews, presentations, or inter-personal
relations.
Along with AECC, the department also floats a series of four rigorous and enriching papers
for General Elective for students in the first and second year. In the first semester, we offer
Academic Writing and Composition that introduces students to the conventions of Academic
Writing at the very onset of their academic journey. It helps students to differentiate between
creative, journalistic and academic prose. The students are introduced to various stages of
academic writing such as creating a thesis statement, collating sources, collecting data and
constructing an argument. The critical skills of thinking, synthesizing, analyzing, and
evaluating taught in this paper reflect on all areas of student performance and, even, lead to
an elevated quality of academic output in all other subjects.
In the second semester, the department offers Individual and Society which introduces
students to multiple hierarchies and discriminations that have become the characteristics of
the modern world. The course uses short stories, poems and essays to reveal the fissures
caused by gender violence, class disparity and racial discrimination. The aim of the course is
to nurture an empathetic understanding among students about the disparities and
discriminations that create our fractured world.
In the third semester, the department offers Language, Literature and Culture which
introduces students to language from cultural, linguistic and literary perspectives. On the one
hand, the course offers a deep dive into the minute aspects of language through an
explanation of morphology, phonology, syntax and semantics. On the other hand, the course
offers a stimulating ride through Indian literature from its beginnings in ancient epics such as
the Mahabharata to its contemporary manifestations in novels, satire and folk songs. It gives
students a taste of the best of Indian literature in the hope that it will ignite a life-long love for
literature.
In the fourth semester, the department offers Cinematic Adaptations of Literary Texts which
introduces students to the process through which a literary text is transformed into a
cinematic experience. The course delves into the technical aspects of cinematic adaptations
while introducing students to Shakespeare’s Othello and, its multiple reincarnations on
screen.
In the English classroom, students are encouraged to raise profound questions, engage in
enriching discussions and give powerful presentations. Overall, the department has created an
ambience for intellectual pursuit and creative growth that helps in enhancing the personality
of our students.
Department of English PPT