History of the English Department
English language is used in broad sense of communication and commonly studied subject on the universal level. Keep in mind the importance of English language, in Afghan universities English language is used as a compulsory subject. Moreover, in 1992 professors and culture-loving personalities of Nangarhar University felt the need to establish English Language and Literature Department in Languages and Literature Faculty for mastering the modern sciences of language acquired by the modern civil societies of the world.
This department was established in 2003. At this year, 42 students were introduced to study in ELD. In 2007, 32 of them successfully completed their studies and received their B.A Degree. Fortunately, Nangarhar University hired five well-qualified graduated students as permanent instructors to start their professional career from the first batch of ELD. English Department for four consecutive years implemented the syllabus and lecture system prescribed by the Ministry of Higher Education.
Later on, San Diego State University of United State of America through financial support of Strengthening Higher Education Program (SHEP) and World Bank, under a proper contract, prepared a well-designed curriculum for students studying B.A. in English Department. Curriculum specialists of San Diego State University have fully taken care of all the necessities that are important for a standard curriculum, such as, mission and vision, work plan, goals, achievements, monitoring and evaluation. This department implemented the curriculum for four years from 1-Dec-2006 to 30-April-2010. Fortunately, the same curriculum is still implemented by the professional faculties of the department. English Department, besides having a standard curriculum, provided facilities of library and computer laboratory for students to use them for their effective learning process. Under the above mentioned contract, four Senior Lecturers of English Department attended Curriculum Design Trainings twice during the summer vacations in the United States of America.
Furthermore, with the financial support of US Embassy and Asia Foundation in 2011, 10 students (6 male/ 4 female), in 2012, 6 students (5 male/ 1 female) and 2013, 4 students (2 male/2 female) participated in one month Intensive English Teacher Training Course, through AUSEP (Afghan University Students Exchange Program) India. The training courses were conducted in the State of Chandigarh “The Capital of Punjab and Haryana” under the professional guidance of RIE “Regional Institute of English NI”, EFL University, Hyderabad, and American Fellows in India. All training courses brought master changes in the intellectual powers of students, and students were further inspired to struggle more in order to be the participants of this effective program in the upcoming time.
In addition to 4 classes of English Department, its lecturers hold the responsibility of teaching English in all of the faculties of Nangarhar University. Their support and contribution of teaching classes in other faculties is highly appreciated through various faculty deans especially the chancellor of Nangarhar University by providing them appreciation letters. Each student of this department meets bylaw of Ministry of Higher Education. Besides, taking classes, students are compelled to compile a monograph regarding a specific topic assigned by the head of department after completion of B.A. Degree Course. Later on, they are needed to present a monograph presentation in order to defend their accumulated research in front of jury members.
B.A. in English language department is a four –year (eight semesters) duration. The continuation of each semester is 16 weeks. The examination is held at the end of each semester which covers three weeks from the same semester. Since 2012, we have implemented a new program through which we enroll more than twenty students every year from the TTCs “Teaching Training Colleges”
In addition, in-service program is introduced in 2014 in ELD. ELD offers the same facilities for in-service students which are provided for the pre-service students. Thus, this department has graduated a very large number of students who are currently involved in working with various national and international organizations; a large number of them are currently working as English Lecturers in national and private universities across the country. Their contribution to country’s peace, education, reconstruction and development is considered as high values; wherever they have worked, they have shined as stars; English department is proud of them all.