General English Language Skills-3 T-3

Syllabus topics (RTMNU)

• 1.1 Good Listening and Barrier to Listening [Listening to pre-recorded audios/ YouTube Videos on Interviews/ Conversations/ Motivational Speech]
• 1.2 Types of Reading Skills and Common Reading Problems
• 1.3 Situational Conversation [Making Requests, Seeking Permissions and Information]
• 1.4 Paragraph Writing (100 words): Narrative, Descriptive, Expository and Comparative paragraphs (2025-26 change; replaces Essay Writing)

1.1 Good Listening and Barriers to Listening

Hearing is only receiving sound with the ears. Listening is hearing + paying attention + understanding + responding. Good listening is an active skill.

Qualities of a good listener

• Gives full attention and keeps eye contact.
• Does not interrupt the speaker.
• Keeps an open mind; does not judge too early.
• Asks questions to make the meaning clear.
• Gives feedback: nods, says "I see", or repeats the main point (paraphrasing).
• Notes the speaker's tone and body language, not only the words.

Barriers to listening

Practice: listen to recorded interviews, conversations or motivational speeches. Write the speaker's main idea and three supporting points.

1.2 Types of Reading Skills and Common Reading Problems

Types of reading

• Skimming: reading quickly to get the general idea (gist). Example: looking over a newspaper page.
• Scanning: searching quickly for one particular fact, such as a date, name or number. Example: finding your roll number in a result list.
• Intensive reading: slow, careful reading for full understanding. Example: studying a textbook chapter for an exam.
• Extensive reading: reading long texts for pleasure and general knowledge. Example: novels, magazines.
• Critical reading: reading to judge and evaluate the writer's ideas.

Common reading problems and remedies

• Vocalisation (reading aloud or moving lips) – read silently.
• Finger-pointing – move the eyes, not the finger.
• Regression (going back again and again) – read in phrases and keep moving.
• Word-by-word reading – read groups of words together.
• Poor vocabulary – guess meaning from context; keep a word notebook.
• Lack of concentration – read in a quiet place, set a purpose before reading.

1.3 Situational Conversation: Making Requests, Seeking Permissions and Information

Polite English uses modal verbs (can, could, may, would) and "please".

Sample dialogue (in a college office)

Student: Good morning, sir. May I come in?

Clerk: Yes, please come in.

Student: Could you tell me the last date for the exam form?

Clerk: It is the 15th of this month.

Student: Would you mind checking whether my scholarship form has been received?

Clerk: Sure. Yes, it has been received.

Student: Thank you very much, sir.

1.4 Paragraph Writing (100 words): Narrative, Descriptive, Expository and Comparative

(2025-26 change: this topic replaces Short Essay Writing.) A paragraph is a group of sentences about one main idea.

Parts of a paragraph

1. Topic sentence – states the main idea (usually the first sentence).
2. Supporting sentences – details, examples, reasons.
3. Concluding sentence – sums up the idea.

Types

• Narrative: tells a story or event in time order; usually past tense; uses words like first, then, later, finally.
• Descriptive: paints a picture of a person, place or thing using sense details (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste).
• Expository: explains or gives information (how or why); factual, no personal feelings.
• Comparative: shows similarities and differences between two things; uses like, similarly, whereas, on the other hand.

Model comparative paragraph: Village Life and City Life

Village life and city life are very different. A village is calm, green and free from pollution, whereas a city is noisy and crowded. People in a village know one another and help each other. On the other hand, city people are often busy and live separate lives. However, cities offer better hospitals, colleges and jobs, while villages lack these facilities. Both have their own merits. Village life gives peace and good health, and city life gives opportunities and comfort. The best life may be one that joins the peace of the village with the facilities of the city.

Likely exam questions

1. (Long, SAQ (about 50 words, 5 marks)) What are the barriers to listening? Explain any four.
2. (Long, SAQ (about 50 words, 5 marks)) Write a comparative paragraph (about 100 words) on 'Online Learning and Classroom Learning'.
3. (Short, VSAQ (1 mark)) What is the difference between skimming and scanning?
4. (Short, VSAQ (1 mark)) Write one polite sentence to seek permission to leave the class early.
5. (Short, VSAQ (1 mark)) What is a topic sentence?

Syllabus topics (RTMNU)

• 2.1 India’s Message to the World – Swami Vivekanand
• 2.2 The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination – J.K. Rowling
• 2.3 The Death of the Hero – Jai Nimbalkar
• 2.4 After Twenty Years – O’ Henry
• (Applied Tenses and activities) Ref: Oxford Practice Grammar with Answers, 2nd Edition, 1999, OUP

2.1 India's Message to the World – Swami Vivekananda

Author: Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902), born Narendranath Datta in Calcutta, was the chief disciple of Sri Ramakrishna. He became world-famous after his speech at the Parliament of the World's Religions, Chicago, in 1893. He founded the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897. His birthday, 12 January, is celebrated as National Youth Day.

Summary (in our own words)

In this essay Vivekananda explains what India can give to the world. Other nations have become great through political power, trade, wealth and war. India's strength is different. Its gift to the world is spirituality – the knowledge of the soul and of God. He says India has never conquered other countries by the sword; it has spread its ideas quietly and gently, like soft dew that falls unseen and helps flowers grow. The West is strong in science and material progress, but it is restless. India can give it peace and spiritual wisdom. He asks Indians to be proud of their heritage, to become strong and fearless, and to share their spiritual message with all humanity. At the same time India should learn practical and scientific knowledge from the West.

Themes and key points

• Spirituality is India's national ideal and its message to the world.
• Religious tolerance and acceptance of all faiths.
• Exchange between East (spirit) and West (science/material progress).
• Self-confidence, strength and service for Indian youth.
• Unity of mankind.

2.2 The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination – J.K. Rowling

Author: J.K. Rowling (born 1965), British author of the seven Harry Potter novels (1997–2007). This is her Commencement (graduation) speech at Harvard University on 5 June 2008.

Summary

Rowling speaks about two things: failure and imagination. About seven years after her own graduation she had failed "on an epic scale": her short marriage had broken, she was a jobless single mother and was very poor. But failure helped her. It removed everything that was not important. She stopped pretending to be something she was not and put all her energy into the one work that mattered to her – writing. She learnt that she had a strong will, and she discovered who her true friends were. Failure taught her that life is not a list of achievements and degrees.

Next she talks about imagination. In her early twenties she worked in the research department of Amnesty International in London. There she read letters and reports from victims of torture and cruel governments. This taught her that imagination is not only the power to invent stories; it is the power to feel what others feel (empathy). She asks the Harvard graduates to use their power, education and influence to help those who have no voice. She ends with a line from the Roman writer Seneca: what matters is not how long a life is, but how good it is.

Themes

• Failure is a teacher; "rock bottom" can be a strong foundation.
• Imagination = empathy.
• Responsibility of the privileged towards the weak.
• Value of friendship and inner strength.

2.3 The Death of the Hero – Jai Nimbalkar

Author: Jai Nimbalkar is an Indian writer whose story is prescribed in Building Bridges II. Read the full story in the textbook carefully; we could not confirm its plot details from a reliable source, so we do not give a summary here.

How to study this story

• Note the main character (the "hero") – who he is, what makes people see him as a hero, and what changes.
• Ask what "death" means in the title: is it a real death, or the end of a person's heroic image in the eyes of others?
• Note the setting (place, time) and the narrator (first person or third person).
• Find the turning point and the ending.
• Write the theme in one line (for example: real versus false heroism, sacrifice, how society treats its heroes, loss of innocence).

Use this plan to write a 50-word SAQ answer: 1 line on the author, 2–3 lines on the story, 1–2 lines on the theme.

2.4 After Twenty Years – O. Henry

Author: O. Henry (William Sydney Porter, 1862–1910), American short-story writer, famous for twist (surprise) endings. This story appeared in The Four Million (1906).

Summary

On a cold, windy night in New York, a policeman on his beat sees a man standing in a dark doorway. The man explains that twenty years ago he and his best friend, Jimmy Wells, had dinner at "Big Joe" Brady's restaurant on this spot. He was going West to make his fortune, and they promised to meet here exactly twenty years later. The man, Bob, has become rich, with a diamond scarf-pin and watch. The policeman leaves. Later, a tall man comes and calls himself Jimmy. Under the bright light of a drug store, Bob sees that this man's nose is different. The man says Bob is under arrest – he is "Silky" Bob, wanted by the Chicago police. He gives Bob a note from the real Jimmy Wells. Jimmy was the first policeman. He recognised Bob as the wanted criminal, but he could not arrest his old friend himself, so he sent a plain-clothes officer.

Characters

• Jimmy Wells: honest, loyal policeman; keeps his promise but puts duty above friendship.
• Bob (Silky Bob): proud, boastful, rich criminal; still loyal to the memory of his friend.

Themes and devices

• Friendship versus duty; time changes people.
• Twist ending; irony; suspense; the setting (dark, empty street) creates mystery.

Applied Grammar: Tenses

• Use since with a point of time and for with a period: since 2020, for two years.
• Do not use the present perfect with a past time word: I saw him yesterday (not "have seen").

Likely exam questions

1. (Long, SAQ (about 50 words, 5 marks)) What, according to Swami Vivekananda, is India's message to the world?
2. (Long, SAQ (about 50 words, 5 marks)) Describe the twist at the end of 'After Twenty Years'.
3. (Short, VSAQ (1 mark)) Where and when did J.K. Rowling deliver 'The Fringe Benefits of Failure' speech?
4. (Short, VSAQ (1 mark)) Change into present perfect tense: She writes a letter.
5. (Short, VSAQ (1 mark)) What, according to Rowling, is the real power of imagination?

Syllabus topics (RTMNU)

• 3.1 Light Breaks Where No Sun Shines by Dylan Thomas
• 3.2 Curious Mishaps by Vikram Seth
• 3.3 Ballad of the Landlord by Langston Hughes
• 3.4 Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka
• (Poetic Devices: Symbol, Metaphor, Imagery, Free Verse)
• (Life Skills: Optimism and Hope, Mindfulness and Presence of Mind, Social Justice and Equality, Assertiveness)

3.1 Light Breaks Where No Sun Shines – Dylan Thomas

Poet: Dylan Thomas (1914–1953), Welsh poet, known for rich sound, bold images and difficult symbolism. Famous works: "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night", Under Milk Wood. This poem was published in his first book, 18 Poems (1934).

Central idea

The poem is about the hidden life force inside the human body. "Light" stands for life, energy and awareness. It "breaks" (dawns) inside the body, where the real sun cannot reach. The poet links the small world of the human body with the large world of nature and the universe: blood is like the sea, thoughts are like weather, the growth of the body is like the growth of plants. Birth, growth, love and death are shown as one natural process. Even in darkness and decay, new life and light appear.

Themes

• Life force and creation.
• Unity of the human body and the universe (microcosm and macrocosm).
• The cycle of birth, growth and death.

Devices

• Symbol: light = life/consciousness; sun = the outer world.
• Metaphor and imagery: body described in images of sea, dawn, weather and plants.
• Regular stanzas and strong sound patterns; the poem is known as a difficult, "metaphysical" poem.

3.2 Curious Mishaps – Vikram Seth

Poet: Vikram Seth (born 1952, Calcutta), Indian poet and novelist, author of The Golden Gate (1986, a novel in verse) and A Suitable Boy (1993). His poems are clear, witty and written in regular metre and rhyme.

Central idea

The poem is light and humorous. It shows small, ordinary accidents that break the calm of daily life. The speaker is quietly clipping his nails outside when a small incident in nature (a curious squirrel is caught by a bird of prey) shocks him, and while he watches, something else goes wrong at home. Small events lead to other small mishaps.

Themes and devices

• Ordinary daily life; the unexpected; curiosity and its danger.
• Gentle humour and irony.
• Simple language, regular rhyme and rhythm.

3.3 Ballad of the Landlord – Langston Hughes

Poet: Langston Hughes (1901–1967), African-American poet of the Harlem Renaissance. He wrote about the life and struggles of Black Americans, often using the rhythms of jazz and blues. The poem was first published in 1940.

Summary

A Black tenant speaks to his white landlord. He complains that the roof has been leaking for weeks and the stairs are broken. The landlord asks for his ten dollars rent, but the tenant refuses to pay until repairs are done. When the landlord threatens to throw his furniture out, the tenant threatens to hit him. The landlord calls the police. The tenant is arrested and sent to jail. The last lines are like newspaper headlines: the tenant is shown as a dangerous man, and nobody asks about the landlord's neglect.

Themes and devices

• Racial injustice and social inequality; the law protects the powerful.
• Ballad form: short four-line stanzas, simple rhyme, a story told in dialogue.
• Irony: the victim is treated as the criminal.
• Shift in voice: tenant → landlord → police → newspaper.

3.4 Telephone Conversation – Wole Soyinka

Poet: Wole Soyinka (born 1934), Nigerian playwright and poet, the first African to win the Nobel Prize for Literature (1986). The poem was published in the early 1960s.

Summary

An African man is looking for a room to rent in London. On the phone, the price and the area seem fine. He tells the landlady honestly that he is African. There is a long silence. Then she asks how dark he is – light or very dark. He is shocked and angry, but he answers with sharp humour. He describes his face as "West African sepia" and says the palms of his hands and soles of his feet are quite light. Finally he asks if she would like to see for herself. The poem shows the foolishness of judging people by skin colour.

Themes and devices

• Racism and prejudice.
• Satire and irony: the educated African looks wiser than the landlady.
• Free verse (no fixed rhyme); conversational dialogue.
• Colour imagery: red booth, red bus, red pillar-box show his anger.

Poetic Devices: Symbol, Metaphor, Imagery, Free Verse

• Symbol: an object that stands for an idea. Dove = peace; light = life.
• Metaphor: a direct comparison without "like/as". "Life is a journey."
• Imagery: words that appeal to the senses. "The cold, dark, rainy street."
• Free verse: poetry without regular rhyme or metre, e.g. "Telephone Conversation".

Life Skills from the poems

• Optimism and Hope: expecting good results and finding light in darkness (Dylan Thomas).
• Mindfulness and Presence of Mind: being fully aware of the present moment and reacting calmly (Vikram Seth's daily scenes).
• Social Justice and Equality: equal rights and dignity for all (Hughes, Soyinka).
• Assertiveness: expressing your rights and views firmly but politely, without being aggressive (the speaker in Soyinka's poem).

Likely exam questions

1. (Long, SAQ (about 50 words, 5 marks)) How does 'Telephone Conversation' expose racial prejudice?
2. (Long, SAQ (about 50 words, 5 marks)) Why is the tenant arrested in 'Ballad of the Landlord'? What does this show?
3. (Short, VSAQ (1 mark)) What is free verse?
4. (Short, VSAQ (1 mark)) What does 'light' stand for in 'Light Breaks Where No Sun Shines'?
5. (Short, VSAQ (1 mark)) Define assertiveness.

Syllabus topics (RTMNU)

• 4.1 Attitude
• 4.2 Adaptability
• 4.3 Goal Setting
• 4.4 Stress Management

4.1 Attitude

Attitude is the way we think and feel about people, things and situations. It shows in our behaviour. It can be positive or negative.

Components (ABC model)

• A – Affective: feelings (I like / dislike it).
• B – Behavioural: actions (what I do about it).
• C – Cognitive: beliefs and thoughts (what I think about it).

How to build a positive attitude

• Think of solutions, not problems.
• Keep good company and read good books.
• Be grateful; count your blessings.
• Accept mistakes and learn from them.
• Use positive self-talk: "I can do it."

Example: Two students fail in one subject. One says, "The paper was unfair, I cannot pass." The other says, "I will find my weak areas and practise more." The second student has a positive attitude and is more likely to succeed next time.

Attitude at the workplace

• Punctuality and respect for others.
• Willingness to help team members.
• Accepting criticism calmly.
• Taking initiative without waiting for orders.

4.2 Adaptability

Adaptability is the ability to adjust to new conditions, people, places, technology or work. In a fast-changing world it is a key skill for jobs.

Features of an adaptable person

• Open to new ideas and change.
• Willing to learn new skills (e.g. a new computer software).
• Stays calm in uncertain situations.
• Works well with different kinds of people.
• Solves problems creatively.

How to improve adaptability

1. Step out of your comfort zone; try new tasks.
2. Keep learning – courses, reading, online videos.
3. Listen to feedback and change your methods.
4. Look at change as an opportunity.
5. Be patient with yourself and with others.

Example: During the COVID-19 lockdown, students and teachers quickly moved from classrooms to online classes. Those who adapted fast continued learning.

4.3 Goal Setting

Goal setting is deciding what you want to achieve and planning how and when to achieve it. A goal gives direction and motivation.

Types of goals

• Short-term: days to months (finish the syllabus this month).
• Long-term: years (become a teacher or a civil servant).
• Personal, academic, career, financial and health goals.

SMART goals

Steps

1. Write the goal clearly.
2. Break it into small steps.
3. Set deadlines.
4. Review progress every week.
5. Reward yourself for each step completed.

Sample goal plan (student)

Goal: Score 70% in the Semester II English exam within four months. Steps: read one lesson or poem a day; write two SAQ answers every evening; revise grammar on Sundays; solve one old question paper each week in the last month. Check: compare weekly test marks.

4.4 Stress Management

Stress is the body's and mind's reaction to pressure or a difficult situation. A little stress (eustress) can push us to work well. Too much stress (distress) harms health and work.

Causes of stress

• Exams, workload, deadlines.
• Family problems, money worries.
• Poor time management, unhealthy lifestyle.
• Fear of failure, comparing yourself with others.

Signs of stress

• Physical: headache, poor sleep, tiredness.
• Mental: worry, poor concentration, forgetfulness.
• Emotional/behavioural: anger, irritation, avoiding people.

Ways to manage stress

• Plan your time; make a to-do list and set priorities.
• Exercise, yoga, meditation and deep breathing.
• Eat healthy food and sleep 7–8 hours.
• Talk to friends, family or a counsellor.
• Take short breaks; enjoy a hobby.
• Think positively; accept what you cannot change.

Do's and don'ts before exams

• Do: start revision early, sleep well the night before, reach the centre on time.
• Don't: study all night, compare preparation with friends at the exam gate, or depend on tea and junk food.

Likely exam questions

1. (Long, SAQ (about 50 words, 5 marks)) What are SMART goals? Explain with an example.
2. (Long, SAQ (about 50 words, 5 marks)) What is stress? Suggest some ways to manage it.
3. (Short, VSAQ (1 mark)) Define adaptability.
4. (Short, VSAQ (1 mark)) What is meant by a positive attitude?
5. (Short, VSAQ (1 mark)) What is eustress?