Chennai: From phonetics, basic grammar, and sentence construction to fluent communication, students in Classes I to VIII at Tambaram corporation schools will receive English training soon through visiting language experts.

There are 35 schools under Tambaram corporation, including Adi Dravidar schools. About six of them are English-medium. “The special classes will be held in addition to regular English classes in the schools,” corporation commissioner S Balachander said.

Twenty two special teachers have been enlisted to provide training at the schools, which are spread across five zones. They will visit these schools at least twice a week, and will be paid up to 15,000 a month. “English is a prominent global language. The lessons are aimed at making students feel more confident while communicating in the language,” Balachander said.

For the lower classes, the trainers will teach phonetics and then move on to words and sentence construction. For higher classes, the focus will be on reading without mistakes and communication. A timetable has been prepared, and the trainers have been asked to constantly interact with the students in English to help them shed their fear.

“Irrespective of the medium the children study in, they have a long way to go when it comes to communicating fluently in a language other than their mother tongue. Many of them still rote learn, which is why all the headmasters requested the corporation for the special teachers,” V Sureshkumar, principal, Adi Dravidar Welfare School, Kadapperi, Tambaram said.

Earlier this year, Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) also announced a similar initiative. “Special trainers were appointed in 417 schools, mainly high and higher secondary schools, to improve students’ fluency in English. Besides, newspaper reading sessions are also held in elementary classes to inculcate reading habit,” said D Viswanathan, chairman, standing committee (education), GCC.