We conduct TECS studies in educational institutions to assess the English Communications Skills of students and teachers. Here are some findings of a recent study done in two schools and one management college in Bombay. The TECS study comprises both a written and an oral component.

                                    TECS scores in Mumbai – March 2009

Oral              School A %   School B %   School B %      Mgmnt Coll.

                                                                     Teachers

Overall                    38                 35                    29                50

Pronunciation      31               28                   21                  48

Pitch                      75               66                   75                    79

Timing                   66               60                   57                    34

Loudness              69               68                   69                    73

Written

30 questions         49               33                    55                   61

No. of Students/

Teachers tested   910              291                   30                 161

The scores are low for the school students including teachers, and even the collegians don’t do too much better. Interestingly, the lowest oral score for everyone is in pronunciation. If we can improve pronunciation, we can revolutionize the quality of English that is spoken.