Towards Need based Teacher Development Programme

English Language has been taught as a second language in a multilingual situation in India where a three language formula is in practice as language policy of the country. The other two languages are the regional language and Hindi the assumed national language. English language teaching begins at different levels in the different states of India. In states like Andhra Pradesh it begins from class1. To develop proficient users of this language has been the ultimate objective of teaching it at the school and collegiate levels. To develop the same, the need of the hour as it has been is the development of a cadre of facilitators of language learning whose abilities need to be of a high order and are equipped with a set of core and soft skills and with craft knowledge required for an effective transaction of the prescribed content and thus realize the desired curricular objectives. Besides, the teacher of English in the changing scenario has to be a willing co participant in the language learning process. In this background this paper attempts to identify those skills required of the practicing teacher and the need for having an alternative need based curriculum at the teacher training programme levels with special reference to in service teacher training programmes.