Acclimatise soon or be a loser

Updated on: Monday, August 31, 2009

Two years ago when Srinivas, a bright student from Srikakulam, got admitted into a good engineering college in Visakhapatnam, his relatives and friends had thought that he would make it big in the college. But today, he finds himself nowhere. He lost out in the race, competing with his friends. Depressed and saddened, he now lives in the shadow of his past. Now the question is what had gone wrong and how did it happen?

Two factors contribute to his present state. Srinivas, though a very bright student and despite scoring well in both Intermediate examination and EAMCET - he hailed from a Telugu medium background (first factor) and immediately after joining the engineering college he developed a feeling that all hard work is over (second factor).

K. Raghu of Raghu Engineering College, Vizianagaram, says that there is no place of complacency in engineering study. “One has to be on the toes from day one,” he says.

Now that the web counselling has come to its close and the classes are scheduled to begin from September 7, here are a few tips for engineering aspirants, especially for those who come from rural and Telugu medium background.
English medium

The world changes from the first day, as you step into an engineering college. Mr. Raghu says that students from Telugu medium background do face certain amount of problem with the medium of teaching, which is English.

“Though engineering study revolves round derivations, formulas and technical jargons, English plays a major role and the ones from Telugu medium have to cope up with it. Understanding the concepts in the classrooms may be a problem. In other professional courses like pharmacy and medicine it is even more difficult. But one has to overcome the shortfalls by consulting lecturers and classmates in the free time. Come out of the shell and fearlessly clarify your queries or you would be caught lagging behind.”

With the introduction of semester and credit systems, the four-year engineering study has become tightly packed and there is very little time to lose.

He advises: “If one has not utilised the last three months of holidays by joining some spoken English or communication skills institute, it is high time that one joins such institute. It is not too late -- students can take up weekend classes in spoken English.”
Lab classes

In most of the engineering colleges, English lab classes form part of the first year curriculum. Though it is open to all first year students, the ones who are weak in language should make use of the sessions to full extent.

Shed inhibitions, mingle with friends, participate in seminars and workshops, ask questions in the classrooms and indulge in English speaking and reading. Cooperation from the peers also plays an important role. “Students who are weak in English language should be encouraged rather than criticised. It has been seen that studious students, irrespective of the language background, overcome the urban-rural or English-Telugu divide quickly,” says Raghu.
Update yourself

Complacency has ruined many students like Srinivas. Joining a good engineering college is just the beginning. “One has read every subject on a daily basis. There is no place for postponement. Regular attendance and attentive behaviour in the classroom fall under good traits. One should focus on the basic subjects. Since the schedule is very tight, one should not lag behind, as this could create a huge problem. If one follows such a schedule then within three months one can set into the groove, irrespective of the medium that he or she comes from,” says Raghu.

Charting a successful tenure in engineering colleges is all about setting into the grove or acclimatisation, as early as possible. The urban-rural or English-Telugu medium divide could play a spoilsport but one has to overcome it at the earliest or end up as a loser.

Acclimatise soon or be a loser

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