Workshop on quality and authenticity of web resource

On 19th November 2019, we had one workshops which was organised by Profes. Dilip Barad sir. He organised a workshop on how to find Quality and Authenticity of web Resources at Department of English. Through this workshop we get important information about the quality and Authenticity of Web Resources.  Thank you Barad sir for organising this workshop.

These five parameters helps us in cheking authenticity and quality of web resources.

• Wikipedia

 Wikipedia gives information of Author and also gives references. In this website we find  plot, Themes, style, Background, Publication History, Editions, Footnotes, these information available on this site. And briefly gives information. 

• Sparknotes

 This site help us to get chepter vise summary. And language also easy to understand. It helps us in better understanding on Sparknotes site full text, characters, main ideas, quotes are available.

 • GradeSaver

 GradeSaver site provide summary and also provides quiz. And language is easy to understand. In this site character list, glossary, themes, analysis, symbols, metaphors, and smilies, Irony these types of information are available on this website. 

Thinking activity : the Da vinci code

Da Vinci Code

About Author: Dân Brown

Daniel Gerhard Brown (born June 22, 1964) is an American author best known for his thriller novels, including the Robert Langdon novels Angels & Demons (2000), The Da Vinci Code (2003), The Lost Symbol (2009), Inferno (2013) and Origin (2017). His novels are treasure hunts that usually take place over a period of 24 hours. They feature recurring themes of cryptography, art, and conspiracy theories. His books have been translated into 57 languages and, as of 2012, have sold over 200 million copies. Three of them, Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code, and Inferno, have been adapted into films.

The Robert Langdon novels are deeply engaged with Christian themes and historical fact and have generated controversy as a result. Brown states on his website that his books are not anti-Christian, though he is on a "constant spiritual journey" himself. He claims that his book The Da Vinci Code is simply "an entertaining story that promotes spiritual discussion and debate" and suggests that the book may be used "as a positive catalyst for introspection and exploration of our faith."

Post viewing Task :

★ Brown states on his website that his books are not anti-Christian, though he is on a 'constant spiritual journey' himself, and says that his book The Da Vinci Code is simply "an entertaining story that promotes spiritual discussion and debate" and suggests that the book may be used "as a positive catalyst for introspection and exploration of our faith."

-) Yes, of course, I agree with Brown's views on ‘Da Vinci Code' that novel is simply an entertaining story that promotes spiritual discussion and debate" We can do another reading book that Robert Langdon is in search of his own truth and at the end on the path of quest he is alone and at the end, he finds truth which symbolically presented that where is the Sarcophagus. So, Robert Langdon is representative of many individuals, who are in search of the truth of their own self. Thus, the book can be used as a positive catalyst for introspection and exploration of our faith as Brown said.

★ “Although it is obvious that much of what Brown presented in his novel as absolutely true and accurate is neither of those, some of that material is, of course, essential to the intrigue, and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman has retained the novel's core, the Grail-related material: the sacred feminine, Mary Magdalene's marriage, the Priory of Sion, certain aspects of Leonardo's art, and so on” How far do you agree with this observation of Norris J. Lacy?

-) Lacy’s observation is reasonable. What film is trying to show as fact those are just composed theories. But it held the viewer's attention as it is unfolding in a very interesting way and till the end suspense get created by one another situation. One can say that it beautifully tricked those who don’t have enough historical sense and proofs to prove Brown’s narration wrong or in other words those who don’t know what is Theology Fiction at all. Also, there are many things in the novel is not accurate and fact like there is no realism and reliable proofs about the existence of Priory of and novel have not shown real Opes Die. Similarly, there is no such proof about Mary Magdalene.

★  (If)You have studied ‘Genesis’ (The Bible), ‘The Paradise Lost’ (John Milton) and ‘The Da Vinci Code’ (Dan Brown). Which of the narrative/s seem/s to be truthful? Whose narrative is convincing to the contemporary young mind?

-) In modern time many people are becoming rational and raise their question against religious. People are searching for the logical answer and argument upon religion. From my perspective 'The Paradise Lost' is truthful because of the character of Eve is against the condition of God and she breaks down God's structure or arrangement. Then Milton gave the voice of Eve and Satan than Adam and God. Their voice has put forward to in recent time.

★ What harm has been done to humanity by the biblical narration or that of Milton’s in The Paradise Lose? What sort of damage does narrative like ‘The Vinci Code’ do to humanity?

 -) The Paradise Lost, the character of Eve and Adam punished by God. The garden of Eden Eve tempted and she tasted the fruit of proficiency. Though this world and system were arranged by God then why God is putting the tree of knowledge in the garden of Eden? Then Eve and Adam both break the rules and punished by God. In biblical reference who was against God then God became angry and avenged. Fall of Man is the damage for humanity.

★ What difference do you see in the portrayal of 'Ophelia' (Kate Winslet) in Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet, 'Elizabeth' (Helena Bonham Carter) in Kenneth Branagh's Mary Shelley's Frankenstein or 'Hester Prynne' (Demi Moore) in Roland Joffé's The Scarlet Letter' or David Yates's 'Hermione Granger' (Emma Watson) in last four Harry Potter films - and 'Sophie Neuve' (Audrey Tautau) in Ron Howard's The Da Vinci Code? How would justify your answer?

-) Apart from Sophie Neuve, other female characters have powerless they don't raise her voice or any argue of them. Sophie's character is portrayed as more powerful and intelligent and in a decent manner than other women characters. Ophelia was powerless who used by his father and Hamlet. Elizabeth in Frankenstein has no power. Monster kills her though he has enmity with Frankenstein. Hester Pryne is a powerful character but can't do anything in a patriarchal society. But, the portrayal of Sophie Neuve is strongly connected with the theme of women sacredness and director faithfully made not any changes in this theme. In the movie part, the seen of driving Sophie is more potent than Robert and her aura is very influential.

★ Does novel/film lead us into critical (deconstructive) thinking about your religion? Can we think of such conspiracy theory about Hindu religious symbols/myths?

-) Yes, this kind of novel and film lead us into critical thinking. We can find the loose stone about religious theory, there is no proof about the relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene as they are husband and wife.  I couldn't find any specific conspiracy theory about Hinduism but there are myths and belief in Hinduism which can deconstruct with a logical argument. Hindus are blindly following the rituals behind their illogical statement. 

★ When we do a traditional reading of the novel ‘The Da Vinci Code’, Robert Langdon, Professor of Religious Symbology, Harvard University emerges as the protagonist and Sir Leigh Teabing, a British Historian as the antagonist. Who will claim the position of the protagonist if we do an atheist reading of the novel?

-) If we will do an atheist reading of this novel the position of antagonist and protagonist will change. Robert Langdon who find the ultimate truth of Sarcophagus but didn’t reveal to the world and became secret keeper. While to reveal this truth to the world and destroy the blind faith of people from Christianity was the prime aim of Leigh Teabing.

Thinking activity : atanu bhattacharya

English Language Teaching 2 by Prof. Atanu Bhattacharya

English is a widely spoken language today. It has often been referred to as ‘global language’, the lingua franca of the modern era and currently the language most often taught as a second language around the world. English in India is used not only for communicating with the outside world but also for inter-state and intrastate communication. Because of the great ethnic and linguistic diversity found within our nation, English acts as an indispensable ‘link’ language.

1. ELT - Historical Perspective

Any kind subject history is the beginning of aspect. In literature, history is necessary for very closely related to the subject. Also, the subject is deeply rooted in history. So history is basic information about the topic.

First World War 1880
World  War 1st to 1940
World war 2nd until 1970 
the seventies and early eighties

As above during that period, in the English language teaching change and creation the methods and approaches like main features of English language teaching. Direct method; phonetics, compromise method, reading approach, linguistic approach to language teaching, intensive language teaching, audiolingual method / audiovisual, language linguistics and psycholinguistics, etc.

During first w.w an emphasis on the teaching of foreign languages in schools and universities on their own terms and not as something that imitates teaching of classical languages an effort to avoid comparison with the classics and an attempt to reform the language teaching methods. A few experiments with language teaching in Britain, for example, with Harold Palmer- advocated the oral method. World War II until 1970 major developments in language teaching a major influence of linguistics and psychology.

2. Literature for Language Teaching: Poem and Fiction

literature as a tool for language learning. In literature there are various literary forms like Epic, Drama, Novel, Short stories etc. used in language teaching, poetry is one of systematic appearance and most beautiful form of art to teach and learn the second language. The use of literature in the ELT classroom is enjoying a revival for a number of reasons. Having formed part of traditional language teaching approaches, literature became less popular when language teaching and learning started to focus on the practical use of language. 

Why use literature in ELT classroom?
Literary texts offer a rich source of linguistic input and can help learners to practise the four skills - speaking, listening, reading and writing - in addition to exemplifying grammatical structures and presenting new vocabulary. Also, literature through we know the cultural differences or use technologies in audio text or visual, movies and enhance the richness of sensory input through literature. Literature can help learners to develop their understanding of other cultures, awareness of ‘difference' and to develop tolerance and understanding. 

3. Testing and Evaluation: Validity, Reliability & Washback

Testing, Evaluation and Assessment:-
Testing: it is dealt with a specific and particular object. Testing is like give a test, check and score-based.
- teaching ability 
- International test

Evaluation: most general term. General idea about the particular idea
-give feedback
- generalized objectives

Proficiency Test 
Achievement Test 
Diagnostic Test 
Placement Test 
Computer Based Test

Backwash: it means the motion of receding waves. Example like Waves of Sea. This test based on both perspective negative and positive. The backwash test is also known as the Washback. In the education system in the yearly and semester-based examination, is the influence that a test has on the way students are taught. The backwash effect is the learning outcome of an exam or test and an examination for the result. Sometime washback test in a way is positive or negative.

Thinking activity : the sense of Ending

The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

About Writer: Julian Barnes
   

          Julian Patrick Barnes (born 19 January 1946) is an English writer. Barnes won the Man Booker Prize for his book The Sense of an Ending (2011), and three of his earlier books had been shortlisted for the Booker Prize: Flaubert's Parrot (1984), England, England (1998), and Arthur & George (2005).

The Sense of an Ending

The novel is divided into two parts

The first part biggins in the 1960s. It begins with four intellectually arrogant school friends.
we are told about two friends out of four. The first one is Tony the narrator and the second one is a Adrain the most preciously intelligent of the four.
When they were in the last year of the school, a boy who killed himself after getting a girl pregnant.
The four friends discuss the death philosophically, they wanted to know what exactly happened.

Then Adrain joins Cambridge University. Whereas Tony takes admission in Bristol university. Tony had a girlfriend called Veronica. He spends an awkward weekend at Veronica's house. Then their relationship fails in some acrimony.



=) Damage’ recurs as a motif in the novel. Whom do you think is ‘damaged’ and who is the ‘damager’?

a.                Damage : the letter written by Tony to Adrain and Veronica

b.               It damages Veronica’s relation with Adrain

c.                Perhaps, leads Adrain to meet Sarah Ford > their affair

d.               Sarah’s pregnancy > which may have lead to Adrain Finn’s suicide!

e.                The child, names Adrain is born with metal retardness > damage caused by suicide of Adrain to Sarah while she is pregnant > or her middle-aged pregnancy

f.                 The letter damages several lives > Veronica, Adrain, Sarah and young Adrain

DELL Software Review

What is Language Lab?

A language laboratory is a dedicated space for Foreign Language Learning where students access audio or audio-visual materials. They allow a teacher to listen to and manage student audio, which is delivered to individual students through headsets or in isolated 'sound booths'.

*What is DELL:
Digital English Language Lab

* Language Lab Software in Computer:

As per my point of view to work using phone is easy than to work using computer. Sometimes computer works slowly which makes work boring. And while working on computer we have to remember some passwords&username to open this software.

It was very lengthy subject to study in every part we opened. There was an introductory page, basic information, lesson and an exercise at the end. In exercise there is three options that are:

Verify
Show Answer
Retry

*Positives as well as Negatives of this Software in computer:

- It is time consuming.

- One has to work only in lab to use this software.

- It requires Patience to work on it.

- One can easily learn Grammar , enhance  vocabulary and exercise at the end makes it interesting.

* DELL Software in NAMO E-Tab:

As above I've said to work on phone is easy rather to work on computer. My observations about DELL software in NAMO E-Tab are as under.

- It is not as much time consuming as in computer.

- It works faster in comparison of computer so here it is not boring.

- We can access it at anytime at anywhere, without sticking on chair for hours.

- The only disadvantage of this software in NAMO E-Tab according to me is that  it not gives us space for speaking skills as like in computer. Here we only have to listen , we can't record and analyse it as we can in Computer.

Thinking activity on one night @ the call center

We all know about Chetan Bhagat. He is well known writer. He is famous for his best novels. He is an Indian author and columnist, known for his Indian-English novels about young middle class Indians.

His famous works:-

•   One Night @ the Call Center

•   The 3 Mistakes of my Life

•   2 States

•   Revolution 2020

•   What Young India Wants

•   Half Girlfriend

•   Making India Awesome

•   One Indian Girl

•  The Girl in Room-105

 • Thinking activity on his famous novel ONE NIGHT @ the CALL CENTER

One Night @ the Call Center is a novel written by Chetan Bhagat and first published in 2005. The novel revolves around a group of six call center employees working at the Connexions call center in Gurgaon, Haryana, India.

• Popular Literature and One night at the call center

Chetan Bhagat’s novel belong to popular literature because his most off novels are related to young generation and his novel best selling at the present time. We can see his novel based movie  like 2 State, Kapiyo Chhe, Hello, Half girlfriend, these all are interesting and popular in now a days also.This  is reason of his popularity. He writes novel in the very simple language for that we no need of dictionary. His novel plot and theme based on young generation. For that young generation likes his works. His novel name also interact young generation people.

Self-help book and one night @ the call center

There are lot of books for self-help and it is most of need of any person at sometimes. If anyone say I had need still any self-help books so may be he/she make us fool because as we are human beings we all have some of desire and goals of life and it sometimes our desire can not fulfill at that time we have need to motive our self, One Night @ Call Center novel also consider as self help book because this kind of characteristics we can find out in the novel. And use mysteries voice it is also feature of self help book and Priyanka, Shayam, Varoon, Esha, Radhika, Military uncle there are novel characters life turning point it is also consider self help books features. Thenovel has one of the theme is its anti- American sentiments which are intertwined with Nationalism. In the novel to give setting picture of call center this call center  working for solving problems of American people, but at the call centre workers are Indian even boss changing the name of an agent like Shayam introduced himself and other side to show weakness of America people.

Impressionistic Criticism in One night @ the call center
As Critical reader to read this One Night @Call Center so we can know Chetan Bhagat represents of young generation and  Indian society or it is also reflection of call center agents conditions as well as private institutions how private sector use their agents. It is effect because in the novel show young generation problem and their need for that most off people and young generation want to read his novel.

Thinking activity : chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, born September 15, 1977, Enugu, Nigeria, Nigerian author whose work drew extensively on the Biafran war in Nigeria during the late 1960s. 

In 2008 Adichie received a MaCAurthur Foundation fellowship. The following year she released The Thing Around Your Neck, a critically acclaimed collection of short stories. Americanah (2013) centres on the romantic and existential truggles of a young Nigerian woman studying in the United States.

Notable Works :-

1)  Purple Hibiscus (2003)

2)  Half of a Yellow Sun (2006)

3)  Americanah (2013)

4)  The Thing Around Your Neck (2009)

5)  We should All be Feminists (2014)

1) Talk on importance of story / Literature :-

=> In this video she talks identity. she talks about that how identity is connected with our culture, Colour of skin. through this identity markers everybody judges our character. she also refers Chinua Achebe and camara Laye. skin colour also has a part of literature. thorough the literature peoples knew the another story. in single story everybody focus on one Purseption. 

2) We should All be Feminist :-

=> In this second video she talked on female character and feminism. she focused on reality of the world so that she remains into our mind. she shared as a black skin woman which types of problem and issues facing by her? through the gender there were taken differences into caring and growing. she shared her school experience where she rejected as a monitor into the class.

3) Talk on importance of youth in post-truth Era :-

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=> In this last video she addresses the students at Harward, Cambridge University. where she gives some motivation and asked about writing. she says if our writing was not praising or recommended then also stuck with your ideas. if we are real and we have confidence on our writing then we should write and expose it to the world. so, at last i like to conclude that she was a very influential writer of Nigeria and she has a power in her speech to speak truth of whatever happens with her.