International radio stations like BBC, VOA and DW have been playing a crucial role in connecting our rural youth and youth women with the national, regional and global knowledge domain. The international radio stations have significantly contributed for promoting the English language through radio which is still continuing. We have learned that the Radio English language learning program is very popular and made the substantial impact in rural Bangladesh.
Following these good practices since 2012, Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) has been implementing English Language Learning through Community Radio in Bangladesh under the project American English Radio Project (AERP) with the support of the American Center, US Embassy, Dhaka.
English Language Learning through Community Radio program aims to increase access to a social, economic, cultural, environmental and political domain for rural youth and youth women in rural areas by developing English language skills. It also aims to enhance the capacity of rural youth and youth women for their opportunities and get access to the wider resources, overcome the barriers to the effective use of communicative English language among different stakeholders.
By increasing the motivation of the listeners, the project also aims to create the listener-friendly learning environment by making easy access to appropriate and available resources in line with online and offline. It also contributes to enhance and extend necessary learning and teaching practices among the teachers and listeners.
Apart from this, improving English language skills among the Community Radio broadcasters and practice in their daily lives and orient local English language teachers with modern
teaching methods is another purpose of the project that would facilitate radio programs as well as manage the classrooms in a smarter way.
As a result, English Language Learning through Community Radio has already contributed to reducing phobia on the English language especially among the youth and youth women and community radio broadcasters. The communicative English language exercise is an ongoing weekly program through virtual live meetings amid community radio broadcasters, BNNRC team and virtual expert from the USA.
Meanwhile, English Language Learning through Community Radio program has earned global reputation by UN World Summit for Information Society (WSIS) through its recognition of the WSIS Champion Award 2017.
Hope this Teachers’ Handbook will help the local English language teachers in Bangladesh for facilitating the English Language Learning through Community Radio programs.
We take this opportunity to thank The American Center, U.S. Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh for their continuous generous support and 17 community radio stations for successfully implementation of the English Language Learning through Community Radio program.
At the end we would like to thank Mr. Mark Manash Saha, Coordinator – the English Language Learning through Community Radio for coordinating the program on behalf of BNNRC.
