An Overview of the New Education Policy and Language Teaching

Abstract

In the present time, language teaching has become an essential and significant subject. Specifically, in the New Education Policy, there is a commitment to strengthen language teaching by giving importance to mother tongues and regional languages. The impact of globalization has worked to diminish several languages. The frenzy of becoming global has led us to adopt the international language, English, quite easily. However, we have overlooked our mother tongues, regional languages, and the national language. Consequently, while global English-medium schools have flourished, local schools imparting education in regional languages have gradually closed down. Perhaps, for this reason, the current government had to adopt a new language teaching policy. It's also important to understand that language is not just a means of communication; it is also a powerful tool for shaping individuals socially. Through it, a person connects with society and becomes part of it. Language and language teaching thus constitute an ongoing process. Language plays a pivotal role in making an individual both 'individually social' and 'socially collective.' To provide someone with culture, to make them culturally aware, credit should unequivocally be given to language. Therefore, language holds a significant place in an individual's life, society, and nation. On one hand, it's a means for personality development and expression; on the other hand, it serves the purpose of uniting diverse linguistic communities.