Journal of Tilottama

Pedagogical Content Knowledge and the Nepali English Language Teacher Training

Arun Kumar Kshetree — 2023-12-31

The paper attempts to explore the crucial role of Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) within the realm of English language teacher training in Nepal. PCK serves as a vital bridge between teachers’ Content Knowledge (CK) and Pedagogical Knowledge (PK), facilitating effective teaching practices and enhancing student learning outcomes. The study examines the interconnectedness of PK, CK, and PCK, with the aim of improving the quality of teacher preparation programs and ultimately, the English language education system in Nepal. Through an extensive literature review, the research establishes a theoretical foundation, examining the conceptual framework of PCK and its significance in teacher education. It identifies existing gaps and challenges in current Nepalese English language teacher training practices, emphasizing the need for the seamless integration of PK, CK, and PCK in classroom instruction. The paper concludes that the contents of the teacher education and training programs differed from what the experts thought should be given. The broader areas of subject matter become narrower in the TPD program in Nepal. However, the nature of the programs is also responsible for the type of content being tried to be imparted to the English teachers. The research identified various factors influencing the successful implementation of PCK in teacher training. These included limited emphasis on PCK in the curriculum, time and resource constraints, and a lack of alignment between teacher education institutions and school practices. The findings underscored the importance of curriculum reforms and the provision of ongoing professional development opportunities to strengthen PCK integration.

The Critical in Critical Pedagogy: The Interface between Challenges and Opportunities

Badri Narayan Panthi — 2023-12-31

The paper aims at examining the fundamental premises of critical pedagogy as advocated by key theorists among others Paulo Freire, Henry Giroux and bell hooks. In doing so, it examines the major pitfalls and opportunities of critical pedagogy in the classroom context. The paper also examines the current scenario of higher education with the neoliberal hegemony. Finally, the paper examines the present state of quality education in Nepal. The paper concludes that implementation of critical pedagogy principles in the classroom can foster a learning environment that prioritizes student agency and empowerment. By encouraging students to question dominant narratives and perspectives, the teacher in this study created opportunities for students to express their own perspectives and develop their own critical thinking skills. The teacher also fostered a strong sense of community in the classroom, with students and the teacher collaborating and supporting each other in their learning.

Challenges in English Listening Comprehension: A Study of Public Schools in Rupandehi

Bhim Lal Bhandari — 2023-12-31

One of the four fundamental and inseparable language skills that most language learners strive to acquire to communicate successfully in a variety of circumstances is listening. However, listening skills are neglected in school education. This study aimed at examining problems faced by students in listening comprehension in English classes. I selected 60 students as respondents using a random sampling procedure from six public schools studying English in Rupandehi. Three sets of closed-ended questionnaires with 25 items on students’ problems with listening comprehension were administered to elicit the data from them. To carry out the study, I employed a survey research design as a research method. The study indicated that the content of the listening text (e.g., unfamiliar vocabulary and too long and complex listening text) was the major problem with listening faced by the students. The second problem related to the listener included a lack of concentration with long listening texts and the existence of noise in the place. The third listening problem was associated with the speaker and the physical setting, which was concerned with the speaker’s speed of speech and different accents. The results indicated that the majority of respondents sometimes suffered from problems related to the content of the listening text, the listener and speaker, and the physical setting. The findings of this study can enhance teachers’ and students’ knowledge of the issues with listening comprehension.

Civil Society, Governance and Justice: A Critique in Global Context

Hem Lal Paudyal — 2023-12-31

The paper attempts to examine civil society, governance, justice in the current globalized context. In doing so, it makes a critical survey of the key works starting from Plato to the theorists in the present. Based on the qualitative and interpretive inquiry, this paper scrutinizes the secondary sources and discusses the interfaces between /among these works. Civil society, as a concept and reality, has traversed a complex trajectory across historical phases, shaping and being shaped by political, social, and cultural forces. This research paper explores the evolution of civil society on a global scale, tracing its origins from ancient philosophical foundations to its multifaceted roles in contemporary society. The study delves into key historical periods and the ideologies that have shaped civil society’s development, analyzing how its functions, scope, and impact have evolved over time. By examining the interplay between civil society and various socio-political contexts, this paper offers insights into the dynamic relationship between citizen participation, governance, and societal progress. The paper finally concludes that creating an egalitarian society through civil society organizations is a noble goal, but it is one that has not been fully realized in practice. it is important to be realistic about the challenges involved. It will take a sustained effort from civil society organizations (CSO), governments, and individuals to create a more just and equitable world.

Information Search for Bank Loan: A Study of Nepalese Entrepreneur

Prabin Gyawali — 2023-12-31

The paper attempts to investigate how consumers search information for bank loans and endeavors to provide insight into the different sources of information that entrepreneurs mostly used to grab detailed information regarding loan services. Based on data collection through structured questionnaires using correlation and regression analysis, results reveal that entrepreneurs mostly use bank sources as a source of information. Though Nepalese Entrepreneurs are aware of sources of information due to the non-availability of the required information as well as the trustworthiness of the obtained information they believe bank sources as trusted and reliable sources rather than other sources. The sample comprising of 130 employees in the Information Technology (IT) industry which were selected by non-probability sampling. It is concluded that Interest rate was found to be the most important criterion followed by the duration of the loan, monthly installment, payment flexibility, and processing fee by Nepalese entrepreneurs to decide the choice of bank.

Good Governance and Economic Growth in Nepal: A Critical Appraisal

Pramshu Nepal — 2023-12-31

The paper seeks to examine the connections between good governance and economic growth in the context of Nepal. In doing so, it attempts to examine Nepal’s existing level of good governance and how it affects economic growth, identify the dificulties Nepal has in promoting good governance, and make recommendations for enhancing good governance and fostering economic growth in Nepal. This paper concludes that Nepal has long grappled with challenges of corruption and weak institutions, which have hampered its ability to thrive economically. One of the biggest challenges to good governance in Nepal is corruption. Corruption can take many forms, including bribery, nepotism, and embezzlement. It can distort the market and discourage investment, leading to slower economic growth. Another challenge to good governance in Nepal is political instability. Despite these obstacles, the paper further concludes that Nepal has improved recently in terms of lowering poverty and increasing access to services, as well as by taking steps to promote the expansion of the private sector. In addition, the paper suggests some measures to cope with corruption and take initiatives for the good governance. By investigating the interplay between good governance and economic growth in the context of Nepal, this study aims to contribute to the existing knowledge base and inform evidence-based policy decisions.

Multilingualism in Nepal: Challenges and Opportunities

Rajendra Paudel — 2023-12-31

This paper attempts to examine the challenges and opportunities of multilingualism in Nepal, focusing on interpretive and qualitative perspectives with a particular focus on the role of language policy and planning in promoting linguistic diversity and ensuring language rights. Nepal is a linguistically diverse country with over 123 languages spoken as mother tongues. Despite this linguistic richness, Nepali society faces significant challenges in terms of language use and communication. The findings reveal that multilingualism in Nepal is a complex phenomenon that requires careful attention to linguistic diversity, cultural sensitivity, and social equity. The study offers recommendations and implications for future research on multilingualism, language policy, and planning, and contributes to the understanding of the significance of linguistic diversity in promoting social and cultural integration. It emphasizes the importance of multilingualism in Nepal and calls for more inclusive and participatory approaches to language policy and planning.

Politics of Memory and Trauma in Parashu Pardhan’s Sitas - 23 and Padmabati Singh’s The Silence of Violence

Tilak Bhusal — 2023-12-31

The paper attempts to analyze the cultural politics of memory and trauma in Parashu Pardhan’s “Sitas - 23” and Padmabati Singh’s “The Silence of Violence.” In doing so, the paper, as an interpretive inquiry, utilizes as its analytical tools, insights from the theorists such as Dominick Lacapra, Cathy Caruth, Avishai Margalit, Geoffrey Hartman on psychological trauma and the politics of memory and trauma. As a qualitative inquiry, the paper is based, largely on, secondary sources such as books, journal articles and online sources. The purpose of this study, rather than discover new things, is to offer new interpretations on the topic which has been often ignored in the existing state of art. These storis recount the experiences of trauma and the narrativization against the Nepalese Maoists during the “People’s War.” The point of departure, taken in this paper, is that the memory of the stories is contaminated by the cultural ideologies during the Maoist Insurgency (sometimes termed as People’s War). Memories of the characters represented in the stories, thus, takes an ethical turn and becomes a part of the larger ideological politics. Their narrativization of the ideology-contaminated traumatic memory uses the language of demonization.

Customer Satisfaction of Service Quality: Assessing Mobile Banking Practices

Ujjwal Adhikari — 2023-12-31

This study aims to examine the impact of mobile banking service quality on customer satisfaction. The research seeks to determine whether improvements in service quality lead to higher levels of customer satisfaction. Data for this study were collected through a descriptive research approach, using a structured questionnaire with close-ended questions. The survey was conducted among mobile banking users in Kapilvastu, Nepal. The statistical analysis involved employing the Chi-square test to identify associations between variables and the Mann-Whitney U test to explore the relationship of independent variables with satisfaction categories (i.e., satisfied and unsatisfied). Notably, each relationship between the variables was found to be statistically significant. The findings of this paper demonstrate that in the context of Nepal, customers indeed experience increased satisfaction with mobile banking services. In addition to creating new value for both users and providers, the digital transformation in the banking sector also raises important questions about how practices are transformed in response to these advancements. This study sheds light on the satisfaction levels of customers using mobile banking services in the Nepalese context, highlighting the positive impact of these services on customer satisfaction.