What does it mean to learn when there are no ‘right’ answers to reproduce, and judgement—not correctness—shapes outcomes in real-world contexts? Anthrogogy in Use challenges inherited models of teaching that continue to treat adult learners as passive recipients of sequenced knowledge. Instead, it foregrounds learning as a process of choice, reasoning, and consequence—closer to how adults actually think, work, and decide.
Positioned within teacher education, language and literature courses, and assessment methodologies in the Indian context, this volume brings theory and practice into productive dialogue in four distinct sections: • Clear, critical introductions to anthrogogy and its implications for teaching and testing • 12 essays by experienced educators demonstrating how anthrogogic approaches can transform classrooms by prioritising argument, reflection, and lived engagement over compliance • A curated set of 20+ adaptable tasks which provide practical tools for designing meaningful learning experiences • A selection of 6 student essays which evidence the impact of anthrogogic teaching and testing methods at undergraduate and postgraduate levels—a unique offering signalling the volume’s commitment to anthrogogic principles
Designed for educators, researchers, teacher trainees and students, this book speaks directly to those who sense a gap between the classroom and real-world readiness, offering a framework to redesign and revitalise adult learning.
The Editors Shree Deepa is an Associate Professor at the Centre for English Language Studies, University of Hyderabad (UoH), India, with over thirty years of teaching and research experience across anthrogogy, inclusive education, language potentiality, and teacher education.
Geetha Durairajan retired as Professor from the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Hyderabad, India. She is the editor of Perceptions of Language Pedagogy (2019) by Dr N. S. Prabhu. Her recent research, publications, and projects focus on anthrogogy and language potentiality, while her earlier work explored multilingual education and language evaluation.
Foreword by Jacob Tharu Foreword by Saraswati V Acknowledgements
Part I Theoretical Postulations
1. Principles of Anthrogogic Language Education Shree Deepa 2. Principles of Anthrogogic Testing and Assessment: The Need for Humane Joyful Practices Geetha Durairajan
Part II Anthrogogic Applications
3. Mentor–Mentee in a Collaborative Anthrogogic Relationship to Develop a Supportive Professional Community Sweta Mukherjee 4. Decoding the Digital Classroom: A Study on In-Service Teachers’ Experiences with ICT Tools Shadab Khan 5. Reimagining Teacher Authority in an Anthrogogic Framework: Reflections from a Writing Programme Sayan Chaudhuri and Monishita Hajra Pande 6. Anthrogogicity and Learner Agency in Academic Writing Deepesh Chandrasekharan and Sajida Sultana 7. Identifying Anthrogogic Practices through Classroom Vignettes Shravasti Chakravarty 8. Looking Beyond the Compulsion of ‘Need to be told’: An Attempt at Anthrogogicity in the Undergraduate Literature Classroom Diganta Ghosh 9. Unveiling Anthrogogic Practices: Teaching Novels to English Literature Students Narji Baruah 10. Thought Seeds as an Instrument for Assessing the Intercultural Competence of Adult ESL Learners Pankaj Narke 11. Incorporating Thought Seeds as an Assessment Tool in Anthrogogic Contexts Tabitha Chekuri 12. Teaching Questioning in Anthrogogic Classrooms using the Samvaad Method A. Amaratheja 13. Modified Tasks for Writing: An Anthrogogic Revamping of Classroom Practices Sruti Narra 14. Observations and Experiences from an Anthrogogic Classroom: A Learner’s Perspective Meghna Anand and Nidhi D. M.
Part III A Compendium of Anthrogogic Tasks
15. Undergraduate Level Tasks A. Language Empowerment B. Teaching Literature 16. Postgraduate Level Tasks A. Language Empowerment B. Teacher Education
Part IV Ruminations on Anthrogogicity
17. A Course as a Course R. Aniruth Sreenivasan 18. Unconventional Wisdom: A Journey of Self-Discovery in the Classroom Pranav S. 19. Breaking Classroom Boundaries Samarth Majumdar 20. Lessons that Linger: My Journey Through an Unconventional Classroom Madavaram S. 21. More Than a Degree: A Journey of Reflection, Growth, and Purpose Syed Musharafuddin 22. Anthrogogy: Learning Beyond the Textbook Jeyalekshmi A. V.
Editors and Contributors