In a country where English is often viewed as the passport to professional and academic advancement, the State of Andhra Pradesh has carved a remarkable path in transforming how English is taught and learned. A new sound fills English classrooms in Andhra Pradesh. It is not the monotone of grammar rules or passive note-taking. It is conversation. It is collaboration. It is confidence.
At the heart of this transformation is the Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) approach—a learner-centric pedagogy that emphasises real-life communication, interaction, and fluency over rote memorisation.
From quiet classrooms and chalkboard lectures to animated group discussions and student-led presentations, the journey of English language teaching in Andhra Pradesh has been nothing short of revolutionary. Across hundreds of government degree and polytechnic colleges in Andhra Pradesh, English classes are no longer quiet corners of the timetable. They are lively spaces where students speak, listen, think, and share — in English.
It equips learners with communicative competence—helping them speak, listen, read, and write in authentic situations. Rather than drilling grammar and translating sentences, students engage in activities like role plays, debates, storytelling, and peer interviews—making language both purposeful and engaging.
A simple, powerful CLT tool
Among the many strategies embraced under CLT, Think-Pair-Share (TPS) stands out for its simplicity and impact. Students are first given time to think about a question, then discuss it with a partner, and finally share their thoughts with the class. This method encourages individual reflection, collaborative learning, and confident public speaking—particularly effective in classrooms with students from rural or Telugu-medium backgrounds.
Thanks to targeted retraining, TPS has become a routine classroom practice in many government colleges and polytechnics in Andhra Pradesh, with encouraging results in student participation and spoken fluency.
Seeding Systemic Change
The turning point in this educational transformation came in 2007–08, with the launch of the Andhra Pradesh English Lecturers Retraining Programme, also known as the AP-ELF Programme. Spearheaded by the Department of Collegiate Education in collaboration with the U.S. State Department’s English Language Fellow (ELF) Program, the initiative trained English lecturers from degree colleges across all districts of the State. This retraining followed a cascading model:
- One lecturer per district was selected and trained at a central venue.
- These lecturers then trained 20 peers in zonal workshops.
- Follow-up training was conducted in the home zones, reinforcing concepts and practices.
- Lecturers eventually graduated into roles as Master Trainers, conducting further workshops and mentoring.
Practical elements were at the core of the training—demonstration lessons, peer feedback, student-centered planning, and an emphasis on low-resource techniques like TPS and group tasks. The programme also produced custom handbooks and activity kits to help lecturers integrate CLT practices in large, diverse classrooms.After the success in degree colleges, the Department extended CLT training to the technical education sector. Polytechnic lecturers received similar retraining. Consequently, the faculty thus trained developed workbooks following CLT method for diploma students. These workbooks focused on 21st century skills such as creativity, critical thinking and problem solving in addition to communication skills, workplace communication, and task-based learning, preparing students for job interviews, presentations, and collaborative tasks—critical components of employability.
At the heart of Andhra Pradesh’s transformation in English language education stands Dr K Lakshminarayana, IAS (Retd.), the then Commissioner of Collegiate and Technical Education. Widely regarded as the architect of the CLT movement in the State, his leadership gave direction, scale, and sustainability to what began as a bold experiment in teacher training. Dr Lakshminarayana believed that true student success depends not only on academic degrees but on the ability to communicate effectively in real-world contexts. With this conviction, he reimagined the role of English lecturers—not as grammar enforcers, but as facilitators and mentors of communication. He emphasized that students should not remain passive recipients of language, but become active, confident users of English. Under his stewardship, Andhra Pradesh launched the pioneering English Lecturers Retraining Programme, which laid the foundation for CLT integration in higher and technical education. His strategic initiatives—ranging from curriculum innovation, partnerships with international ELT bodies, use of educational media like MANA TV, and creation of a state-wide cadre of Master Trainers—brought a systemic and scalable shift to classroom practices.
The results were tangible. Student engagement in English classrooms improved dramatically, and campus placement rates soared from a modest 5–6% to nearly 30% in several government colleges and polytechnics. These gains directly reflected the practical, communicative focus brought in through CLT.
In 2008, his trailblazing efforts received global recognition when he was awarded the TESOL Global Advocacy Leadership Award at the TESOL International Convention in New York. This rare honour not only celebrated his contribution but also placed Andhra Pradesh on the international map of English language education reform. Dr Lakshminarayana’s legacy endures in the classrooms he transformed, the teachers he empowered, and the students who today speak with confidence—because he believed English should be taught not as a subject, but as a lifelong skill for opportunity and inclusion.
The AP-ELF initiative and its extensions have left a lasting mark on Andhra Pradesh’s educational ecosystem: - English is no longer seen as an elite subject but as a practical skill for all students.
- Lecturers have evolved from textbook-based instruction to interactive, student-driven classrooms.
- Thousands of students, especially in rural institutions, now speak English with greater ease and confidence.
The success of Andhra Pradesh serves as a model for other states aiming to overhaul English teaching. It demonstrates that with the right training, tools, and vision, meaningful educational reform is not only possible—it is sustainable.
The journey of Communicative Language Teaching in Andhra Pradesh is a testament to visionary leadership, empowered educators, and student-centered innovation. By integrating global best practices with local needs, the state has laid a strong foundation for inclusive, effective, and future-ready English education. Andhra Pradesh’s success in implementing Communicative Language Teaching proves one thing clearly: with the right leadership, teacher training, and belief in students’ potential, language education can change lives. As India continues to prepare its youth for a globalized world, Andhra Pradesh stands tall—a pioneer showing the way forward, one communicative classroom at a time.
(Dr T Sreenivasa Reddy, Lecturer in English
tseena@gmail.com)
