Training programmes aimed at increasing proficiency in spoken English and etiquette training based on the Common European Framework proficiency levels
Language skills to enable more seamless interaction and knowledge-sharing with international players across platforms
Kolkata, 1 July 2022: British Council, the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, and the Cricket Association of Bengal are partnering to train the state’s budding cricketers.
The training will be focussed on developing effective verbal communication skills and etiquette. The initiative was launched at the B.C. Roy Clubhouse at Eden Gardens, in the presence of Nick Low, British Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata, by Avishek Dalmiya, President of The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and Dr Debanjan Chakrabarti, Director East and Northeast India, British Council.
Young Indian cricketers are increasingly getting exposure to international players and coaches and getting to interact with them during practice sessions and team meeting, owing to the growing number of cricket leagues in India and across the world. Improved English proficiency will aid communication and enable the young cricketers to grasp discussions around technique and strategy faster.
Under the proposal, British Council will deliver two training programmes for different proficiency levels in spoken English that will enable learners to speak confidently in a wide range of situations and even enhance impromptu conversations and extempore speeches.
Programme #1: A 36-hour training at A2-C1 levels of the Common European Framework proficiency levels will aim to increase proficiency in Spoken English language and etiquette training.
Programme #2: An additional 22.5-hour training at A2-B1 levels of the Common European Framework proficiency levels will be provided to participants at Intermediate (B1) level and below.
From a technical standpoint, British Council – global experts in English language training – will focus on pronunciation, sentence construction, grammar, fluency of speech, connectors, transactional and interactive language for skilling the players. The date of commencement and time for the training programme will be decided based on the schedules of players.
The courses will empower the players with communications skills to navigate through the various touch points with media and public-at-large. Also, this will allow players to explore and benefit more from their ever-growing exposure at the national and international level.
Nick Low, British Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata, said, “The UK/India 2030 Roadmap announced by our Prime Ministers last year is transforming the relationship between our two great countries. My job is to ensure the benefits of this new era are felt here in West Bengal and across East and Northeast India. I’m delighted that the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and British Council are bringing two defining characteristics of Bengal – education and sport – together in an exciting initiative to teach young cricketers’ life-changing English language skills. We look forward to working with our friends at CAB to help Bengal’s rich vein of cricket talent become the global icons of tomorrow.”
Avishek Dalmiya, President of The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), said, “We are looking forward to our collaboration with British Council as we want to empower our young players both on and off the field. Considering their growing exposure to the media through IPL and other platforms, we want to enable our players with better communications skills that will allow them to stand with more confidence and awareness. By skilling them in the English language we hope to allow them a chance to not just be able to express themselves better but also make most of international opportunities that may come their way.
“This is an excellent initiative. This will help the players grow in confidence and progress themselves better, which is often a stumbling block for them. This is the first of a series of classes that will be held with British Council’s help and it will give the players an opportunity to grow mentally and diffuse any complex they may have when they go to play overseas. It will also help build their personality,” said The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) Hony. Secretary Snehasish Ganguly.
Naresh Ojha, Vice-President, The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), said, “This is the first of a series of programmes for budding cricketers. The next would be on ethics training to fulfil the need to educate and sensitise young players and debutants about game ethics and the need to inculcate discipline and integrity among players.”
Dr Debanjan Chakrabarti, Director East and Northeast India, British Council, said, “We are excited to be associating with the Cricket Association of Bengal, to empower young cricketers on their journey to international success. Stronger communication skills and improved English language proficiency will help the players overcome the language barrier, opening more doors to new opportunities. Launching the initiative today – on the eve of the birth anniversary of the great educationist Late BC Roy – and at this venue – the BC Roy Clubhouse – is only befitting the vision of the architect of modern Bengal.
We are very grateful to the additional support from Indo-British Scholars’ Association, a UK universities alumni body of Kolkata.”
CAB treasurer Debasish Ganguly and other committee members were also present at the launch.