About

Genesis of English Communication and Soft Skills Online Program

The Program

The English Communication and Soft Skills Online Program (ECSSOP) is for all the permanent faculty members and instructors of the DGS approved Pre-sea MTIs.

The program is in two stages.

Stage one consists of the Proficiency Test, which helps identify the participants' English language proficiency. The test evaluates the four language skills of the participants and follows the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) guidelines for language proficiency. Proficiency Test has four components each carrying equal weightage. Listening and Reading will be auto-evaluated, and the language experts will evaluate Speaking and Writing. Based on the scores secured, the participants will be assigned the levels given below:

Grade A - 91% and above – No training required
Grade B - 71-90% - Advanced Level
Grade C - 51-70% - Intermediate Level
Grade D - 50% and less – Basic Level

Stage two consists of the course which has three levels. Further to the proficiency test, the participants are enrolled into Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Levels of the course depending on their performance in the test.

Each level is of eight weeks which helps improve overall English, focusing on all four English language skills, i.e., listening, speaking, reading and writing (LSRW).

After completing the Intermediate Level, the instructors will receive an e-certificate with proficiency statements mentioning their listening, speaking, reading, and writing proficiency.

Faculty members, after completing the Advanced Level, will receive an e-certificate with proficiency statements mentioning their listening, speaking, reading, and writing proficiency.

The Course Levels

ECSSOP is available at the Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Levels. Each level has 40 modules spanning eight weeks. There are 32 sessions on LSRW, 4 interactive sessions and 4 tests as part of continual assessment. Different themes for each week allow the participants to learn vocabulary from different walks of life. The participants can learn the self-learning modules at their own pace according to their convenience without affecting their regular teaching load. However, they have to complete the course within the stipulated time. The modules contain several interactive self-learning activities and tasks to learn the language in a fun manner. The user-friendly interface allows the participants to navigate through the modules swiftly. Participants can visit the spoken and written responses uploaded by their peers and learn from each other. The four interactive sessions with the Course Trainers are for doubt solving and receiving feedback. And the fortnightly tests will help the participants understand their progress.

Grammar and Vocabulary

The theme-wise arrangement of the courses will help participants improve grammar and vocabulary with plenty of interactive exercises for practice. All aspects of grammar including tenses, voice, prepositions, types of sentences, conditionals etc. are integrated with the LSRW modules of each week. The video lessons will provide rich vocabulary from day-to-day life situations in the personal and professional domain. The fortnightly interactive sessions will allow the participants to receive personal guidance and feedback from the instructors.

Writing Skills

The ECSSOP course will improve all four language skills, i.e., Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. During eight weeks of each level of the course , eight video/audio/presentation based lessons on developing writing skills are packed with enough writing experience. These lessons contain various writing exercises, tasks and assignments related to formal and informal situations. Participants can submit the writing assignments as directed in the lessons and receive feedback during interactive sessions. Upon completion of their tasks, exercises, or assignments, the platform will allow participants to view the exercises, tasks and assignments submitted by their peers. This will enable peer learning where participants can learn from each other.

Speaking Skills

The course will give enough opportunities to the participants to practice speaking skills in all the levels. There are activities where the participants will require to speak and record their voices on the portal which will be available to the peers also to listen to and learn from each other. There will be sample responses provided to self assess the tasks and assignments. There are group presentations and discussions planned during the interactive modules.

Listening and Reading skills

These are receptive skills; hence, the system will evaluate the tasks and tests. Participants will know the correct answers immediately. However, if they have any doubts or queries, they can discuss them with the language trainer during the interactive sessions.

Technical Requirements

1.Desktop/Laptop with 4 GB RAM, i3 Processor
2.Operating System – Windows 10 and Above
3.Webcam with a Microphone
4.Good Internet Connectivity with a minimum of 5 Mbps
5.Chrome Browser only
6.Updated Anti-virus Software
7.Mobile Phone with Adobe Scan App
8.Latest AnyDesk Remote Desktop Application

Certification

Upon completion of the Program, the participants will receive an e-certificate.

1.For completion of the Program, Candidates will be required to either pass the Proficiency Test with a Grade A or successfully complete up to the Advanced Level of the Course.
2.For completion of the Program, Candidates will be required to either pass the Proficiency Test with a Grade B or successfully complete up to the Intermediate Level of the Course. Further, if the candidate wishes to take the Advanced Level course, he/she may choose to do so without the obligation of successful completion of the Advanced Level to receive his/her Intermediate Level Certificate. If he/she successfully completes the Advanced Level course, he/she will be entitled to receive the Advanced Level Certificate.

Directorate General of Shipping

The Directorate General of Shipping, India, deals with implementation of shipping policy and legislation so as to ensure the safety of life and ships at sea, prevention of marine pollution, promotion of maritime education and training in co-ordination with the International Maritime Organization, regulation of employment and welfare of seamen, development of coastal shipping, augmentation of shipping tonnage, examination and certification of Merchant Navy Officers, Supervision and Control of the allied offices under its administrative jurisdiction.

Maritime Training Trust (MTT)

The Maritime Training Trust (MTT) is a charitable trust registered with the Charity Commissioner, Mumbai. The Trust consists of five Trustees (Director General of Shipping and Additional Director General of Shipping as ex-officio Tnistees, two Trustees as nominees of Indian National Shipowners’ Association (INSA) and one Trustee nominated by the DG(S) in consultation with Indian Shipowners).

Tolani Maritime Institute (TMI)

India has a long standing tradition of producing high quality officers that serve the world's merchant marine fleet. To a large extent this was made possible by the Indian government's visionary initiative of establishing a few excellent maritime training institutes immediately after independence. In recent years India's position of leadership has been significantly weakened by an inability to keep pace with the growth in demand in terms of numbers as well as technological sophistication. Inadequate allocation of resources for maritime training from the government and lack of a suitable environment to facilitate private investment led to this decline. However, by the mid 1990's the government had made the necessary changes to enable private initiatives in maritime training.

The Tolani Group, which has a long tradition of establishing and managing institutions of higher learning, was preparing during 1995-1997 to found a new campus-based institute that would mature into a university. As the Tolani Group's primary business is ship owning and ship management, it was acutely aware of the need for India to produce increasing numbers of well educated marine officers. Hence it was decided in late 1997 that the group's new educational initiative should take the form of a modern, purpose built maritime institute. The first degree program students were accepted in August 1998 and accommodated in temporary facilities until the new 100 acre campus was made operational in late 2000.

From Principal's Desk

Principal, Tolani Maritime Institute, Pune

The “English Communication and Soft Skills Online Program” is an initiative taken by Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) and Tolani Maritime Institute (TMI) is felicitous to contribute to this cause. This program is developed to enhance the communication and soft skills of the faculty members and instructors across the DGS approved Maritime Training Institutes (MTIs) in order to cater to the needs of the shipping industry eventually. We are confident that the program will help the participants to polish their communication and soft skills and give them a practical learning experience to be the role models of the students.

“Language is learned through right exposure.” TMI believes in this motto and ensures to apply this in educating the future mariners. Hence this program will enhance the communication and soft skills of the faculty and instructors of MTIs by giving them the right exposure to the language used in professional environment. The program is designed in such a manner that the linguistic competence of the participants will build up in a natural language learning framework through the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. TMI has followed technical and logical approach in developing the skills through structured learning by focusing on plans and outcomes.

My content development and technical teams have worked relentlessly in giving a shape to this program and I congratulate them for coming up with such an innovative online program unique in its approach of developing language skills.