Decolonizing English Studies in India: Examining the Learning Environments and Resources

Abstract

Decolonization indicates the necessity to liberate colonized nations such as India from the submissive psychology and attitude forced on them by the created colonial ideology as a result of the colonial powers' long-term dominance. Even after gaining independence, these countries continued to teach English using colonial material and methodology. In a diversified nation like India, imposing stereotypical and homogeneous practices and materials proved to be a barrier to learning English, and the student population viewed it with disdain. As a result, there is a strong desire in India to liberate ELT by adapting teaching techniques and materials to the socio-cultural setting and classroom scenario in India. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of reviewing ELT techniques and materials as an effort to decolonize English studies as well as language instruction in order to improve learners' communicative competence in order to meet the demands of the communication and information technology age.