Assessment of Writing Skills in English Language among Students of the Walled City Schools at the Elementary Level

Researches in learning of English as second language has seen many innovations in terms of development of the five skills of language learning, namely, Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing and Thinking. It is only after sufficient development of the first three, that proficiency in the last two skills of language learning can be achieved. If not in sequence, then at least simultaneously. In a revolutionary step, with regard to English language, the Government of Delhi in April 2000 introduced English as a second language from Class I in all of its schools. To implement its decision effectively, the government delved into the task of developing English textbooks and training its teachers on language content and pedagogy accordingly. The present study seeks to understand and assess the performance of VIII standard government school students in English language, post this decision. For this purpose, focus of the study was on assessment of writing skills among students of Class VIII studying in three government schools of the walled city area of Delhi. A Language proficiency test was developed and administered among the students to understand the proficiency attained in English.