Chandigarh Administration’s 2020 report highlights a troubling dropout rate of over 10% of students aged between 14 to 18 in Burail. Furthermore, ASER’s 2023 report highlights that nearly 25% of students aged between 14-18 struggle to read text fluently. This issue is particularly prevalent among students from low-income families who face various challenges in obtaining a quality education (Sarojadevi & Subramanian, 2018). The present study aims to examine the instructional strategies in English language classrooms and their impact on the development of reading skills among students studying in Burail school. This school presents a special case with many students who are first generation learners dealing with challenging home environments due to parental substance abuse, domestic issues, diverse backgrounds, languages and other socio-economic difficulties.
The study adopts a case study approach, using a detailed qualitative analysis through interviews with teachers and students, observations in the classroom, reviews of educational materials and students' work. The study aims to gain a comprehensive understanding of how students' reading skills are being shaped within their complex personal and social environments, along with the pedagogical approaches used in the language classroom. The case study identifies the needs of learners and accordingly seeks to identify effective teaching methods that can enhance their reading skills. The findings in this study offer insights into teaching strategies that could support and empower students facing similar challenges, thereby improving their academic and linguistic competencies for educational and personal development.

Authors:
Liao Feng Jiao, Panjab University, India
Kuldeep Kaur, Panjab University, India

About the Presenter(s)
Liao Feng Jiao is a Research Scholar in Department of Education, Panjab University. Her research interests stems from her own childhood experience. She advocates for the integration of social-emotional competence into everyday teaching practice.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/liaofengjiao

Connect on ResearchGate
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Liao-Jiao

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