Department of English

The Department of English at Al Shifa College of Arts and Science is a vibrant component of the institution, offering excellent support to the students and organizing events that help empower and upskill the larger community. The department, which offers undergraduate programs in Functional English and English Language and Literature, is involved in a number of initiatives placing students at the centre of the scheme of things. One such initiative, launched as part of World Environment Day 2021 in association with the Nature Club of the College, is the Invited Student Talk Series (ISTS). The department also initiated the Invited Scholar Talk Series on a similar note. The Centre for Development of English Language Skills (CDELS) under the Department of English runs extension, outreach, and professional training programs for the students, faculty, and the public.

The department took the initiative to organize the first Student Seminar at the National level in 2021, in collaboration with Farook College (Autonomous), Calicut, which engendered productive discussions in the genre of English Fiction Since 2000.

The Department is also collaborating with the English Department at Providence College for Women, Coonoor, The Nilgiris, on a number of areas related to English Language upskilling, including the Reading Club. In Publication activities, the department has brought out two books with ISBN and a book on poetry, where students and teachers contributed their academic and creative writing skills. In terms of publication activities, the department has released two books with ISBN numbers, along with a poetry book. These publications involved contributions from both students and teachers, showcasing their academic and creative writing skills.

Faculties

Add On Programmes/ Value Added Programme

The Department of English provides Add-on and Value-Added Courses to students pursuing B.A. Functional English and B.A. English Language and Literature, respectively, in alternating semesters. These courses are designed to equip students with updated knowledge and enhance their skills in their chosen fsssss. By offering these opportunities, the department aims to ensure that students stay abreast of the latest developments in the English language and literature domain, enabling them to remain competitive and well-prepared for their future careers.

Add- Courses

Presentation Skills

The Add-on course on ‘Presentation Skills’ is offered during the first semester to students pursuing B.A. Functional English and B.A. English Language and Literature. As future professionals in language and communication-related fields, it is crucial for these students to possess effective presentation abilities. This course equips them with the necessary skills to deliver compelling presentations in academic and professional settings. By honing their presentation skills, students can effectively communicate their ideas, research findings, and arguments with clarity and persuasiveness.

Accent Training

The course is offered to students in their third semester of B.A. Functional English. As aspiring language professionals, these students must cultivate strong communication skills and master various accents to effectively engage with diverse audiences. The course focuses on enhancing their pronunciation, intonation, and overall accent to ensure clarity and comprehension in spoken English. By emphasizing accent training, students will improve their ability to communicate clearly and develop confidence in their verbal interactions.

Public Speaking

The Department offers an Add-on course on “Public Speaking” specifically designed for students of B.A. Functional English in their fourth semester. This course equips students with essential skills required for confidently expressing ideas, engaging audiences, and delivering impactful presentations. Through this course, students develop effective speech structuring, persuasive techniques, appropriate body language utilization, and stage fright management. Public speaking skills hold immense significance in various professional settings, such as teaching, journalism, public relations, and leadership roles. Mastering public speaking enhances communication skills, boosts self-confidence, and enables students to become effective storytellers, making a lasting impact in their careers while effectively conveying messages to diverse audiences.

Diploma in Conversational English

The course on “Conversational English” is offered to undergraduate students to enhance their proficiency in spoken English and develop their communication skills. Through this course, students will learn to engage in everyday conversations, express their thoughts, and interact confidently in various social and professional contexts. By focusing on conversational English, students will improve their vocabulary, fluency, and accuracy, enabling them to effectively communicate with native and non-native English speakers. This course is valuable for students preparing for careers that require strong verbal communication, such as customer service, sales, hospitality, and international relations. Additionally, mastering conversational English fosters cultural understanding, promotes inclusivity, and opens doors to diverse opportunities in an increasingly globalized world.

Language Skills for Digital Content Writing

The course offered in the third semester to B. A. English students is highly relevant as it addresses the demands of the contemporary digital landscape. In an era where online content plays a crucial role, this course equips students with the necessary language skills for effective digital content creation. By focusing on web articles, blogs, social media posts, and online advertisements, students will develop the ability to adapt their writing style and tone to suit different digital platforms. They will learn techniques to engage and captivate online audiences, optimize content for search engines, and utilize persuasive language for effective communication. This course prepares B. A. English Language and Literature students for careers in digital marketing, content creation, social media management, and other roles that require strong digital writing skills, ensuring they remain competitive and valuable in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

Language for Visual Narratives

Offered to fifth-semester B.A. English Language and Literature students, the course holds immense relevance for their academic and professional growth. In today’s visual-centric world, where images, films, and digital media play a significant role, understanding the language and techniques used in visual storytelling is crucial. The aim of this course is to enhance the student’s ability to create narrations for visual media by enabling them to critically engage with various forms of visual narratives, including films, documentaries, graphic novels, and advertisements. By studying the language and techniques employed in visual narratives, the students gain valuable skills that prepare them for careers in media, film studies, digital content creation, and other fields requiring the analysis and creation of compelling visual narratives.

Value-Added Courses

Essential Writing Skills

Essential Writing Skills is a Value-Added Course offered in the second semester to students pursuing B.A. Functional English and B.A. English Language and Literature. This course aims to enhance student’s writing proficiency and equip them with essential skills for effective written communication. Through this course, students learn techniques for organizing their thoughts, structuring their writing, and developing coherent and cohesive essays. They also develop skills in critical analysis, argumentation, and research, enabling them to produce well-structured and well-supported written work. The course focuses on various types of writing, including academic essays, reports, and creative pieces, providing students with a solid foundation for their future academic and professional endeavors.

Grammar for Competitive Examination

This course is designed to provide the students with a comprehensive understanding of grammar rules and concepts necessary for competitive examinations. Through this course, students develop their grammatical accuracy, sentence formation skills, and the ability to identify and correct common errors. The course also focuses on enhancing their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities related to grammar usage. By mastering grammar for competitive examinations, students gain a competitive edge and improve their chances of success in various competitive exams, job interviews, and other language proficiency assessments. The course is offered in the fourth semester to students pursuing B.A. Functional English and B.A. English Language and Literature.

Outreach/ Extension

The Centre for Development of English Language Skills (CDELS), under the Department of English, actively extends its expertise in the English language to the neighboring community. In collaboration with the Perinthalmanna Municipality, CDELS organized a workshop titled ‘Pronunciation Matters!’ in January 2022, specifically designed for Anganwadi workers. The workshop focused on the basics of English pronunciation. Due to the positive response and demand from the participants, a follow-up session was held in July 2022, with plans for more sessions in the future. Additionally, CDELS partnered with Lingua Hub (Language Club) at Peace Public School, Vengara, to jointly organize an online training session called ‘Improve Your Speaking Skills’.

Another noteworthy extension activity led by the Department involved the donation of children’s books to the Poonthavanam Anganawadi, Centre No: 119. In celebration of International Children’s Day, fifty-four books were collected from the students and faculty members at Al Shifa College and presented to the Anganawadi. This collaborative effort was made possible through the coordination of the English and Thanimalayalam Clubs. Furthermore, the Centre organized a session titled “Speak Out” for the DPharm students at Al Shifa College of Pharmacy.

Capacity Building/ Skill Enhancement Initiatives

The Department of English has undertaken several initiatives to enhance the skills of students, preparing them for further academic pursuits and future employment. To cultivate their abilities, the department has introduced the Weekly Skill Hour, a dedicated time slot focusing on fundamental language skills, interpersonal skills, and competitive exam preparation. Additionally, students actively participate in organizing departmental events, which contributes to the development of their organizational skills. Association Hours, held every Wednesday, provide students with essential career readiness elements and encompass various activities for personality development. The activities conducted by the Entrepreneurship Development (ED) Club aim to foster students’ entrepreneurial capabilities, equipping them with the necessary skills to run their own businesses with limited capital.

The Visiting Professor Programme is a distinctive event organized by the Department of English, aimed at providing students with the opportunity to engage with renowned scholars and experts in the field. This initiative plays a vital role in broadening the students’ horizons and fostering a deeper understanding of their academic discipline. By inviting esteemed professors as visiting faculty, students are exposed to diverse perspectives, cutting-edge research, and valuable insights from experts with a wealth of knowledge and experience.

The English Club plays a significant role in organizing a diverse range of programs, including Talk Shop, Debates, Quizzes, Vocabulary Tests, and Peer Teaching Contests. These events contribute to the holistic development of the club members, nurturing various skills. Noteworthy examples include the session titled “Speak Out: Overcoming the Fear of Speech,” where Ms. Prasadita L Raveendran, Guest Faculty from Mangalore University, interacted with the students. The students are encouraged to engage in play and poem enactments, such as the enactment of Harold Pinter’s “The Room” in connection with World Theatre Day, dramatizing Bob Dylan’s poem “John Brown,” and bringing W. H. Auden’s poem “Refugee Blues” to life. Additionally, book review presentations are conducted at the department level. The department also conducted the program “UG Project – A Route Map” for students during the mid-semester as an initial step towards their UG Project work. Additionally, newly enrolled students receive annual sessions on various career scopes, helping them develop their career goals. These efforts aim to enhance the students’ capacity building. Furthermore, students were provided with the opportunity to attend mock interview sessions organized by the Career Training and Placement Cell, enhancing their performance in future job interviews.

Career Development Programmes

The Department of English actively organizes career orientation sessions and skill enhancement programs to provide students with insights into various career opportunities. In collaboration with the Career Training and Placement Cell (CTPC) at ACAS, the department conducted a webinar titled “Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Career Scopes in English Language and Literature and Functional English.” Another program, titled “Which Offers More Careers? English or Functional English,” focused on exploring career pathways for students majoring in English. The session, organized in partnership with the CTPC, highlighted diverse career options such as advertising copywriters, publishing specialists, literary scouts, literary agents, production editors, proofreaders, content/technical writers, marketing professionals, advertising account executives, public relations officers, broadcasting presenters, and more. Additionally, the Entrepreneur Development Club collaborates with the department to provide students with foundational lessons on running small businesses through the setup of stalls. Furthermore, students were prepared to attend a job fair organized by the Career Training and Placement Cell, ensuring they are equipped for future employment opportunities.

Student Initiatives

The Department of English places students at the core of its academic and co-curricular activities, providing them with hands-on experience and opportunities. In collaboration with the Nature Club at ACAS, the department initiated an Invited Student Talk Series as part of the World Environmental Day observance on June 5, 2021. This series featured 43 talks delivered by students from renowned institutions across India, focusing on the representation of environmental issues in books, movies, and songs. These presentations enriched the students’ understanding of these topics with reliable information.

In the academic year 2021-’22, the department launched the National Student Seminar, an event entirely driven by students. The seminar provided a platform for students to not only learn but also showcase their capabilities in organizing such an event. From conceptualization to execution, students took on various roles, contributing to their learning and growth in both academic and administrative spheres.

The Department of English organizes field visits and media visits, providing students with hands-on learning experiences. One such visit took students to Chitranjali Studio in Thiruvananthapuram, offering them the opportunity to learn through practical engagement. These visits enable students to apply their knowledge in a real-world context and gain valuable insights into the field of media production.

Furthermore, the department encourages students to enhance their research and writing skills. Students have demonstrated their research aptitude by presenting papers in seminars organized by colleges within and outside Kerala. Promising students are also given the opportunity to showcase their presentation and teaching skills through Peer Teaching programs, covering topics ranging from the curriculum to everyday conversation skills.

Publications

The Department of English, in collaboration with the Publication Wing at ACAS, has released a notable count of publications in recent years. In 2022, we launched an anthology titled “The Republic of Hope,” which features poems by school and college students centred around the theme of the ‘post-covid world.’ We also successfully published an ISBN book containing the conference proceedings of the National Student Seminar on English Fiction since 2000, which was organized by the college.

In the academic year 2023, the department released a book with an ISBN titled ‘Marginality and Resistance in Contemporary Writing.’ We also contributed chapters to the inaugural volume of “Interdisciplinary Insights: A Compilation of UG Projects” in 2023. The department also plays a crucial role in contributing articles to ‘afterwords’: An interdisciplinary annual e-journal for graduates and undergraduates. Currently, we are preparing for our next publication venture, a book exploring ‘The Body, the Text, the Machine.’

Collaborations

Number of Functional MoUs with institutions of National, International, Universities, industries, corporate houses

Sl. No	Institutions with which MoU is signed is Year of Signing MoU	Year of Signing MoU	Duration	Activities held (Year wise)
1	Vimala College (Autonomous) Trissur	2021	2 years	Add on Course on Accent Training (2021- ’22 & 2022’ ‘23) Invited Student Talk Series (2021- ’22 & 2022’ ‘23) National Student Seminar on English Fiction since 2000 (2021)
2	Farook College (Autonomous) Calicut	2021	3 Years	Add on Course on Grammar for Competitive Examination (2021- ’22) National Student Seminar on English Fiction since 2000 (2021)
3	Al Shifa College of Pharmacy	2022	2 Years	‘Speak out’- Training session to PharmD students
4	MES KeVeeYam College, Valanchery	2022	2 Years	Invited Student Talk Series Faculty Exchange Programme
5	Providence Women’s College, Coonoor, Oottyy	2023-25		Faculty Exchange, Student Exchange Skill Enhancement

Students’ Blog

Blogs serve as digital platforms where individuals can express their thoughts, ideas, and experiences in written form. They offer a dynamic space for creative expression and communication. For the Department of English, running a blog like ‘En-Voice’ provides a unique opportunity to enhance and develop creativity, writing, and writing skills for English students. Blogs encourage creativity by allowing students to explore diverse topics and themes. They can experiment with different writing styles, genres, and formats, fostering their imagination and originality

Whether it’s through personal reflections, critical analyses, or creative storytelling, students have the freedom to express themselves creatively on the blog. Maintaining a blog like ‘En-Voice’ promotes regular writing practice. Writing consistently is essential for improving writing skills, as it helps students refine their language, structure, and clarity of expression. Through blog posts, students can hone their writing abilities and develop a distinct voice and style.

Innovations