English is the most widely spoken and taught language in the world. With more than 1.5 billion speakers, this language has assumed the role of a dominant international language. Though Chinese and Spanish have more native speakers yet English occupies the status of a trade and diplomatic language and thus is rightly termed as the lingua franca of the globe. It is taught and acts a medium of teaching and learning of many other subjects in our country. It has occupied the position of an umbrella subject as under it many courses have been framed in our colleges. In Jammu and Kashmir it is taught under different titles like General English, English Literature, Functional English, Communication English, Business Communication, and Ability Enhancement Course. With the implementation of NEP 2020, this language has been given more space with the inclusion of English as a Major Course, Minor Course, Multidisciplinary Course, Ability Enhancement Course, and Skill Development Course. This paper has attempted to shed some light and critically examine the challenges and problems which are faced by the students of this language. The paper further delves deep into the issues like infrastructural inadequacy, syllabus designing, the concept and pattern of internal assessment tests, role of vernacular languages, teaching methodology etc. The paper is based on a field study wherein the researcher has collected data from the students of all the government colleges of District Doda through a questionnaire which includes both descriptive and multiple choice questions.
Head, Department of English, Govt. Degree College, Doda, University of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir
