Anand Mahanand
EFL University, Hyderabad, India, anand@efluniversity.ac.in, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6069-097X
Volume 12, Number 6, 2020 I Full Text PDF
DOI: 10.21659/rupkatha.v12n6.10
Abstract
In this paper I would like to report a study I have undertaken to understand whether using parallel texts would be helpful in developing literary appreciation and writing skills of M.A students. I would like to report how I got the idea to use the parallel texts, the way I collected materials and taught them for literary appreciation and writing skills following a bilingual approach. I would also like to share the outcome of my study. A group of ten students participated in the study. The students not only developed in writing skills and literary appreciation but the use of a bilingual approach gave them a sense of pride and confidence that they could use the resources available in their first language in the class and for academic set up at the university level. They were able to write good academic essays with appropriate format and structure. It also prompted them to explore more on the resources they have in their first languages. The paper suggests that such a bilingual approach helps students from rural areas and non-English medium background and who initially experience handicap in their class to cope with their studies.
Keywords: parallel texts, bilingual approach, literary appreciation, academic writing skills, M.A. Students