Article 1 - Importance of Soft skills development in 21st century Curriculum | Học Viện Phụ Nữ Việt Nam

International Journal of Education and Allied Sciences
July-Dec. 2010, Volume 2, No. 2, pp. 39-44
ISSN-0975-8380, Online ISSN-2231-4733
© AACS. All rights reserved.
Importance of Soft skills development in 21st century Curriculum
Dr(Mrs) Garima Sharma* & Mrs. Preeti Sharma** A R T I C L E I N F O ABSTRACT Article history Received
In the 21st century's global economy, the new challenges are there 18/09/10
and the engineering profession have to face it, confirming the need to restructure
engineering curricula, teaching and learning practices, and processes, including Accepted 28/10/10
assessment. Engineering graduates possessing merely technical knowledge, is
no longer a guarantee for a successful career. As a professional, the aim of the Available online
student is to succeed in the career path they have chosen for themselves. They 30/04/11
want to be the best at what they do and move forward. However, sometimes
students might wonder why they are not getting the "breaks" they need.
Key words: Agriculture,
Basically they have the hard skills; the technical knowledge and skills that will soft skill, School Climate
ensure that they do their job to the highest level of quality. And while all
countries are facing this dilemma, India is also struggling the most. It has been Curriculum
argued that most Indian engineering educational institutions are struggling with
the systemic problem of centralization coupled with an archaic examination
system that is detrimental to student learning. INTRODUCTION
• Basic principles of second language
"If you keep doing what you have
acquisition & how to promote the
always done, you are going to get what you
development of academic English; always got".
The term curriculum is derived from the
All teachers understand how to work
Latin word currere meaning "racecourse" ,
effectively with ELLs (English Language
includes contents, learning activities,
Learners) in their own classes, including:
teaching methodology, supporting material,
• Culture plays an essential role in the
methods of assessment and facilities. When classroom;
we refer to "curriculum innovation", we are •
referring to the ways in which many factors
Strategies to scaffold content instruction
may contribute to transformations in
to make it more comprehensible;
Deptt of Communication Skills, Mangalayatan University, Aligarh(UP)
Research Scholar in English Language Teaching (AMU), Aligarh.
Importance of Soft skills development in 21st century Curriculum classroom activity.
OBJECTIVES OF COMMUNICATION
Aspects of Curriculum Development
Major part of our active life is spent in Aims/Goal, Objectives and
communicating with others. People need to Competence
communicate as they move from situation to
situation, in family, organization and other
The term "aim" and "goal" are used
social groups for getting their work done and
interchangeably (Richard 2001; 112; Zais
for relationships. The main objectives of
1976) as the purpose and basic principle of communication are as follows:
curriculum development. Objective is more
specific level of purposes. It is defined as "the 1) Exchange of information
most immediate specific outcomes of 2) Advice and counseling
classroom interaction" (Zais 1976: 306). 3) Persuasion
Content relates to what teacher will teach. 4) Suggestion
Miller & Seller (1985: 185) have used 5) Education 6) Motivation
"content" interchangeably with subject 7) Raising morale
matter, knowledge, concepts and Idea. In 8) Warning
language teaching context, content relates to 9) Global business environment
subject matter and linguistics matter 10) Technological advancement
(Krahnke 1987: 3). Curriculum design
11) Need for better human & Public
consists of subject-centered, learner-centered relations
and problem-centered. In today's dynamic 12) Gaining feedback
and corporate world, certainly, with the
growing importance of English in As we know that the market is
communication and travel, there is an
recovering from its deep recession and
increasing importance attached to a good
demand for fresh recruits with Engineering
knowledge of English in the employment
MBA or is picking up in the IT/ITES sectors,
the HR manager at MNC and other Indian
market at the national and international
companies are equally busy in hiring soft
level in this economic world. English
skills trainers to train the fresh batch of
language has important utility values in
recruits. Since most of companies have
today's economic construction, culture, and
realized that no matter which ever
education fields. English language is
professional ground a candidate may come
necessary in each area of life. If there is a
from, the need to fill the soft skills gap has
barrier to English language in this economic
become very essential to meet company
world, it may hamper the communication.
expectation when it comes to interacting or
We are living in an age of dramatic and
delivering value to their customers. Unlike in
unprecedented linguistic revolution, the
the west where the students should pick up making of a global language .
the soft skills like business communication, (40)
Dr(Mrs) Garima Sharma* & Mrs. Preeti Sharma**
leadership, behavioral, teamwork, and
to be given importance in undergraduate
corporate ethics independent of their
classes. Grooming is also necessary for
professional choice, In India the
both. As communication skill is a part of soft
academicians have not paid attention to this
skills, English faculty is the right person to
yet.. As more Universities are being
be the soft skills trainer after undergoing
privatized and many Institutions are going professional training.
for foreign collaboration to pick up the latest WHAT ARE SOFT SKILLS?
curriculum and teaching methodologies,
hopefully they will make it mandatory for
The hard truth about soft skills is that
every student to absorb these soft skills
these get little respect, but can make or break
before they graduate as well rounded the career of the students.
professional ready to be absorbed in the
Industry. The soft skills curriculum should
As the name suggests soft skills is not a
visible skill like the domain subject content
include 1 semester worth of course work
encompassing all types of soft skills like
but it helps in improving the personality of
the person. We can make a distinction
communication, behavioral, body language,
phone ethics, teamwork, conflict resolution,
between hard skills and soft skills. Hard
skills refer to technical and academic skills
leadership, and business communications.
The MBA institutions can go one step
while soft skills refer to wide-ranging
personal and interpersonal skills. Hard skills
forward and include International culture
and customer behavior specific to countries
can be easily defined, measured and
observed, while it is difficult to measure soft
with strong ties to India regarding business
like Japan, South Korea, China, and
skills as these are intangible. It includes :
Germany. For the benefit of the Industry, it • Communication skills,
would be better to standardize the training
content across the country so that basic • Interpersonal skills,
needs of the employers would be fulfilled • Group dynamics,
independent of where the students come from. • Team work, A NEW PERSPECTIVE • Body language,
Globalization has brought a lot of • Etiquettes,
importance to the functional English. It • Selling skills,
becomes easier for a student with good
communication skills and well groomed • Presentation skills,
personality to get a good job in this • Confidence building etc.
competitive era. Companies are looking for
candidates who are smart and can present
Thinking skills and Problem solving
themselves well. So soft skills training has skills. Entrepreneur skill (41)
Importance of Soft skills development in 21st century Curriculum
The soft skills must be acquired by each
also the reasons for students to lag
and every individual in the institutions of behind.
higher learning without which, the student • Ignorance of grammar and
is regarded as incompetent in the above skill.
overconfidence. So English language
The soft skills can be regarded as the
teaching should be transformed into soft
additional generic skills and a bonus to the skills training.
student. If these skills are acquired by the
students together with the soft skills. If soft
Soft skills should cater to the needs of
skill is inculcated in the curriculum along
fine tuning the personality of the students.
with grammar, pronunciation and
These courses are beyond the reach of
vocabulary exercises, it will surely boost the
common lower middle class students. The
confidence level of students in the selection
government can help these large financially
processes of the job interview and fetch them
down trodden students by implementing soft
a good job. Job market has changed due to
skills in English language curriculum.
repurcaration of globalization. These days
Even multi-national companies look
jobs are not just administrative ones. In
addition to subject knowledge, one is
forward for candidates who can speak good
English. They give importance to oral
expected to have pleasing as well as smart
personality to get an edge over others in this
communication skills and accent. Just content
is insufficient to get an edge over others in
competitive era. An English faculty's role is
not just improving the language skills of
this competitive age. multi-national
companies expect their prospective
his/her students, but also fine tuning their
soft skills. With the corporate exposure,
employees to be young, smart, and confident
candidates. As there is more importance to
faculty will be in a better position to prepare
the students in the lines of corporate
language part of English learning than
literature these days, the lovers of literature expectations.
may feel sidelined. Traditional learners of
In addition to communication skills, soft
English language will miss the great works
skills, helps to succeed in interviews and
of Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Milton,
group discussions and help the students in
Shelly… if changes are brought out in the
getting the job of their choice. Students'
curriculum along the lines of the above
inability to communicate well in English has
suggestions. But changes are a part of the many reasons behind it:
system. Any system for that matter undergoes change with the new
• The lack of strong basic foundation of
developments and when the existing ones
English language continues to haunt the
become outdated. One has to move on with
students in their college life too.
the changing times. The people who like to
• The fear of failure before others, stage
read the great works of literature will
fear, nervousness, lack of content etc are
continue to read it even without the (42)
Dr(Mrs) Garima Sharma* & Mrs. Preeti Sharma**
supporting curriculum. Reading great books
the syllabus, so that students don't need
will remain hobby or special interest for
outside support? The curriculum designers
people who are really interested in literature.
need to take a feedback and suggestions from
It need not be imposed on the curriculum.
the students and the faculty members on
Those who want to continue in academics
what changes are required. The English
and want to take up study of literature will
faculty's role is no more mere teaching the
pursue it. It is not necessary to generalize the
works of literary stalwarts, or grammar. He/
English language curriculum for the sake of
she has to contribute to the improvement of literature lovers . vocabulary, communication skills,
presentation skills and confidence building ROLE OF ENGLISH FACULTY
of the students. The ultimate purpose of any
An English faculty's role is not just
course is to prepare the students for a good
improving the language skills of his/her
placement. The students should feel
students, but also fine tuning their soft
confident of themselves with the content and
skills. They should encourage the learners to
the ability to communicate the knowledge as
take responsibility of their learning, take
and when required. As the domain subjects
risks and to discover knowledge as students
take care to improve the content part of a
need it. The teachers have to understand that
course, the English language classes should
unnecessary intervention in the learning
cater to the demands of personality
process is harmful. The functional usage of
development or soft skills. In most
language has to be given importance by the
undergraduate colleges, students don't take
teachers. The teachers have to provide
language sessions seriously as they find that
enough opportunities for the learners to
the syllabus is not that useful for them. So
develop strategies to become effective
the attendance is very low or even if they
speakers, writers and listeners of English.
attend too, they are not attentive. So the
The time has arrived to brainstorm on what
English syllabus needs to be customized
to teach in English language classrooms in
according to the changing needs.
order to hone their skills. The textbooks CONCLUSION
which are filled with prose and poetry are
not catering to the changing demands of the
The time has arrived to reflect on and
student community. The students are not
customize the existing English language
supposed to appreciate the works of
curriculum. The designing of curriculum
literature to improve their communication
should be contextual and need based. The
skills. In the present context, where good
existing curriculum needs to be updated
verbal and written communication is in
constantly to the changing requirements of
demand, our text books don't give the
the students. In the changing scenario after
necessary input required by them. What can
globalisation, soft skills has become more
be done by the universities while designing
important than the study of literature.
English class room should be converted into (43)
Importance of Soft skills development in 21st century Curriculum
language lab where students are encouraged REFERENCES
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Moore, Daniel J & Voltmer, David
etiquettes, body language, group dynamics,
R(2003)Curriculum for an English
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Renaissance, IEEE Transactions on
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Education Vol-46, November,no-4.
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Klaus, Peggy(2008) The Hard Truth
move ahead in their chosen path with about Soft Skills. confidence. (44)