The Department of English was established in the year 1950. The department had the privilege of having some eminent faculty members including the late Prof. M.K. Shanmugam who headed the department as founder Principal of the college. His vision of academic growth and excellence of the student community are still being carried forward by the existing dedicated faculty members successfully.

The Department is nourished by seven dynamic faculty members who are actively engaged in Teaching and Learning process. The department involves in research, leading to publications in national and international journals of repute. The Department encourages the students to participate in different co-curricular, extra-curricular, intra-inter collegiate events to showcase their talents and enhance their integrity. The Literary Club of Sir Theagaraya College develops the interest of the students across various disciplines. The Literary club was established in 2009 and has progressed to the English vocabulary Club status in the year 2017 through a number of activities now as Communicative Club in 2020. Department of English attempts to offer an inexorable curriculum added with knowledge driven activities for both academic and professional excellence of the students. Education is inculcated using both conventional and contemporary teaching methods to prepare the students for an optimistic and aspiring future.

Keeping in mind the need for career development for students, English and Communication Skills were taught and trained. The Department has been constantly widening and changing the methodology of teaching to meet today’s challenges. Vision of the department is to encourage Higher education for students, creating opportunities for experiential learning, nurturing young skilled entrepreneurs. Mission of the department is to inculcate moral, ethical and professional standards among students towards social responsibility and self-development.

• The Department is well equipped with good Library.
• Apart from this, as a language department we extend our teaching practically through the English Lab provided separately.
• The English Lab consists of 30 individual computers for the students of all the discipline to learn, practice and develop their English Language skills.
• The systems are installed with Language Learning software which was purchased for the development of students to increase skill based learning.
• The English Lab is mainly used for Grammar teaching and learning process and Soft skill development.
• We also have LCD Projectors where students are engaged with PPT lectures, videos of the text prescribed, short films to motivate them in the involvement of their studies and career.

• The Department’s teaching is more of student-centered.
• Literary Club which is formed for the student participation inside the campus and outside challenges.
• Students participate in inter-collegiate English competitions held in and around colleges at Chennai.
• The Literary Club invites great speakers to motivate the students for developing themselves to face the challenges awaiting for them after graduation.
• The Club Involves students to conduct Seminars, Competitions, Role play, Skit programme and Paper Presentation.
• Students participate in many competitions like Oratorical, Essay Writing, Hand writing, Poetry Recitation, Vocabulary Building, Screening, Mono acting, Role Play, Spelling storm etc, where the students actively participate and receive prizes during the association meet.
• Classroom activity based learning promotes the understanding of the language and continuous practice makes the student develop the interest towards the language.

The faculty have Conducted :

• National Level E-Conference on CHALLENGES IN TEACHING ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE TODAY during Sep 2020
• E-QUIZ on Empower your English during June 2020.
• A Webinar on Assessing Contemporary Techniques in Imparting English Language and Literature during June 2020 and Attended Seminars, webinars, workshops on Innovative methods of English Language Teaching in the years 2019, 2020 and 2021.

INVITED LECTURES/ RESOURCE PERSONS

• New Literatures in English (Inaugural Address) National Seminar at E.R.K Arts and Science College, Erumiyampatti.
• English for Employment Thiruthangal Nadar College, Selaivoyal, Chennai.
• Technical English through Technology Saveetha College of Engineering, Thandalam, Chennai.
• Use Effective Skills for learning English D B Jain College, Thoraipakkam, Chennai
• Magical realism in Latin American Literature, Dept. of English, University of Madras, February, 2012.
• Impact of Magical realism in Indian Literature, Refresher Course conducted by Academic Staff College, University of Madras, on 31.08.2013.
• The Current trends in Literary Criticism, ICSA Centre, Chennai organized by Maelum Publications on 12.10.2014
• Raymond Carver: The Ordinary Becomes Art, Presidency College, Chennai. 2019-2020.
• A Peroration speech on Developing Communication Skills for a better Career in Muthukumaraswamy college for Arts and Science, Chennai on 16.10.2019
• A Lecture on Communication through the development of LSRW skills in Kasi Nadar School, old Washermen pet Chennai on 20.08.2019
• Soft skill Trainer at Schools in Ambattur, Thirumullaivoyal and Avadi , Higher Secondary Schools