The Department of English at Chevalier T. Thomas Elizabeth College for Women (CTTE) organised the Dr Elizabeth Thomas Annual Memorial Elocution Competition on 30 August 2024, from 12.30 p.m. to 1.30 p.m., in offline mode. Eight first-year undergraduate students from across the college participated in the event, which was held in honour of the college’s late founder, Dr Elizabeth Thomas — a visionary committed to women’s education and societal service.
The competition’s chosen theme, “Dr Elizabeth Thomas: Empowered to Empower”, invited participants to reflect on the founder’s legacy and its continuing relevance in the context of women’s empowerment through education. The contest was adjudicated by Dr T. Ramya, Head of the Department of Physics at the college. Participants delivered prepared speeches which were evaluated on clarity of expression, thematic relevance, voice modulation, content structure and engagement with the audience.
In recognition of excellence, a cash prize of Rs. 500 was awarded to the first-place winner, Ms Faiza Fathima of I BCA “A”. As part of the event’s protocol, the winner will also deliver the speech on the Founder’s death anniversary on 5 September, thus reinforcing a continuing tradition of commemorating the founder’s memory through student-led discourse.
The undertaking achieved its intended outcomes: it sustained and revitalised the memory and legacy of Dr Elizabeth Thomas, inspired the students by presenting her life and contributions as a model of service and leadership, and empowered the young participants by instilling the values and vision of the college in them.
The ELLitA Club of the Postgraduate Department of English, organised the inter-departmental competition “Dub It Right” on 4 February 2025, from 2.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m., conducted in offline mode with a participative and experiential learning methodology. Twenty students from various departments registered via Google Form and took part under the supervision of the judge, Ms Bharathi Balakrishnan (Alumna and Project Head, GB Bandwagon, Golden Butterflies).
The primary objectives of the event included: fostering global competencies among students; improving language-proficiency skills; engaging students in creative self-expression; inculcating and enhancing translation skills; and fostering a sense of cultural appreciation.
The event began with participants listening to selected Tamil movie dialogues, thereby exposing them to tonal nuance, emotional context and cultural specificity. Thereafter, students were invited to enact the scenes in English, adapting the original while expressing characters creatively through voice, gesture, body language and collaborative performance. This format exemplifies experiential learning—a pedagogy of “learning by doing” that emphasises active engagement, reflection and application.
Throughout the competition, the participants displayed confidence, creativity and responsiveness. By translating and performing dialogues, they integrated listening, speaking, translation and non-verbal communication skills in a dynamic environment. The activity thus supported improvements in public speaking, critical thinking and cultural awareness.
Outcomes of the event included: enhanced confidence in public speaking and stage performance; improved non-verbal communication via gestures and body language; sharpened critical-thinking and problem-solving ability through interpreting and translating dialogue; heightened attention to detail in adapting scripts and roles; opportunities for creative expression of characterisation and scene design; and development of improvisation and role-playing skills.
The winners were:
The Postgraduate and Research Department of English organised an inter-collegiate literary fest, ELLitA Fiesta Literaria ’25 – Creative Interpretation, on 29 January 2025 from 10.00 a.m. to 2.30 p.m., conducted in offline mode and following a methodology of participative and experiential learning. The event aimed to foster global competencies among students, to build a closer relationship between learning and skilled work, and to instil an innovative and creative approach aligned with emerging national and global trends.
Forty participants from various city colleges took part under the guidance of the Resource Person, Mrs Hanifa Gosh. Teams creatively interpreted different literary periods, presenting their chosen epoch’s salient features and literary works via coordinated performances comprising dance, drama, mime and song. The use of costumes, props and interdisciplinary performance modes was notable and contributed to both entertainment and scholarly engagement.
The atmosphere throughout the event was vibrant with enthusiasm. Audiences comprising students and faculty members observed each team’s presentation with interest, gaining insight into literary ages and their socio-cultural contexts. The judges offered commendation for the imaginative presentation style and the meticulous preparation evident in the props and costuming. The competitive results were declared as follows: First Place awarded to CI02 – Women’s Christian College; Second Place to CI03 – Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed College; Third Place to CI01 – Bakthavatsalam Memorial College for Women.
In outcome, the students were enabled to witness and appreciate representations of different literary ages in a dynamic and creative mode, thereby enhancing their knowledge of significant literary epochs, forms and styles. ELLitA Fiesta Literaria ’25 thereby fulfilled its objectives: it fostered global-competency awareness, bridged the gap between academic learning and performance-oriented activity, and encouraged innovative and creative engagement with literature. The event also strengthened inter-collegiate exchange and reinforced the Department’s commitment to interactive and empowering literary education.
The Postgraduate and Research Department of English organised the annual inter-collegiate quiz competition, “ENGQUIZITEVE 2025”, on 1 March 2025 at ADEPT, from 9.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. The event was conducted through intranet mode employing a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format.
The title ENGQUIZITEVE is an inventive portmanteau combining “Eng”, denoting the discipline of English, with “inquisitive”, encapsulating the intellectual curiosity that the quiz seeks to foster. The suffix “Eve” symbolises womanhood, reflecting the institution’s identity as a women’s college and its commitment to celebrating women’s achievements in all spheres of life.
The competition was held for the Smt. Yamuna Menon Rolling Trophy, instituted by the late Dr Hema Balram, Former Principal, in loving memory of her mother. The trophy stands as a symbol of academic excellence and enduring intellectual pursuit.
A total of eight participants (four teams) registered through the invite link and took part in the quiz. The event was coordinated by Mrs Abigail Rebecca Dennis and Ms Rosanne J, Assistant Professors, Department of English. Ms Dharshini K (III B.A. English) and Ms Grace Sarah J (I M.A. English) served as Student Coordinators, while Ms Sirisha rendered technical assistance.
The event commenced with a brief introduction outlining the concept and objectives of ENGQUIZITEVE 2025, which aims to evoke inquisitiveness among students, stimulate critical thinking, and encourage the pursuit of knowledge beyond the classroom. The quiz comprised multiple rounds designed to assess participants’ linguistic proficiency, literary knowledge, and general awareness pertinent to English Studies.
Throughout the competition, participants exhibited remarkable enthusiasm, composure, and intellectual engagement. The atmosphere was vibrant with academic camaraderie and healthy competition. The event concluded with the declaration of results and a short felicitation ceremony recognising the winners and appreciating all participants for their spirited performance.
ENGQUIZITEVE 2025 proved to be a resounding success, fulfilling its purpose of nurturing inquisitiveness, promoting scholarly interaction among colleges, and celebrating women’s intellectual accomplishments in the discipline of English.
The Postgraduate Department of English organised a recurring language enhancement activity titled “Game Party: Word Quest” for Part II English students of I and II UG. Conducted every last week of the month in the Seminar Hall and NT3, the event adopted a game-based learning approach to make English language acquisition interactive, enjoyable, and participatory. The sessions were coordinated by Dr. M. R. Wajida Begum and Ms. Rachel S, who designed a range of linguistic challenges aimed at reinforcing vocabulary, grammar, and communication skills through games.
The activity was grounded in participative and collaborative learning methodology, encouraging students to learn by doing. Each monthly session featured innovative games such as word relays, vocabulary puzzles, grammar races, storytelling rounds, and spelling bees. The competitive yet supportive atmosphere enabled students to grasp new linguistic concepts more effectively. The time-bound nature of the games heightened focus, motivation, and spontaneous use of language, thereby strengthening real-time thinking and fluency.
Through gamification, Word Quest transformed conventional classroom learning into a lively, student-centred experience. Participants were observed actively engaging in tasks that required quick comprehension, articulate expression, and teamwork. The inclusion of contextual and story-based games helped students internalise vocabulary and grammar rules naturally, without the anxiety often associated with formal language learning.
The initiative also fostered the development of LSRW (Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing) skills. Listening and speaking were enhanced through oral response games, reading comprehension was improved through word-based puzzles, and writing skills were refined through collaborative story-building exercises.
The programme successfully met its objectives by making English learning both effective and enjoyable. Students demonstrated improved linguistic competence, critical thinking, and collaborative spirit. The sustained, month-end format of the activity ensured consistent practice and gradual skill progression.
The PG Department of English organised an Intranet Literary Quiz – ELLitA 2025 on 7 February 2025, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the ADEPT Lab, adopting the Participative Learning methodology. The event was designed to integrate literary knowledge with digital literacy, providing students with an engaging platform to test and extend their understanding of English literature within a technologically enhanced learning environment.
Information regarding the quiz was communicated to all B.A. English classes both in person and via WhatsApp. Registrations were collected from interested participants, and the questions, along with their corresponding answer keys, were uploaded into the intranet system using Clarity SNET Software, with technical assistance from Ms. Sirisha, the Programmer. The primary aim of the quiz was to assess and enrich students’ knowledge of English literature, language, literary theory, and criticism while promoting active participation through the college’s internal digital platform.
A total of 26 students from all three years of the B.A. English Programme took part in the competition with great enthusiasm. The intranet-based format offered an interactive and stimulating experience, combining academic rigour with the application of technology in learning. The top achievers were as follows:
Rofeena Fathima A, III B.A. – First Prize
Saleena Salma R, III B.A. – Second Prize
Andrea Mithra Rajan R, I B.A. – Third Prize
The quiz successfully fostered participative and experiential learning by motivating students to engage critically with literary studies while simultaneously enhancing their technological competence. It also encouraged a spirit of healthy academic competition and contributed to the development of confidence in using digital platforms for scholarly assessment.
The ELLitA Club of the Postgraduate Department of English organised an inter-departmental competition, “Read it Right”, on 5 February 2025. Conducted offline and employing participative and experiential learning methodologies, the competition brought together 39 students from various departments to showcase their proficiency in news reading and journalistic articulation. The event was adjudicated by Ms Roveena Bruce R E, MSW, Communicative English Trainer, Aide et Action.
Each participant was assigned a news article and required to present it in a professional news-reading format. The competition assessed fluency, pronunciation, intonation, confidence, and the ability to engage an audience effectively. Participants demonstrated clarity of expression, appropriate tone, and expressive body language, making their presentations both engaging and impactful.
The event successfully provided a platform for students to enhance their communication skills, appreciate journalistic standards, and develop a professional approach to news reading. The winners of the competition were Sree Sudharshini T (II B.C.A. ‘B’), first place; Alesha Fathima Samiulla (III B.Com CS) and Sayeeda Afshaan S.A (III B.Com CS), second place; and Harini S (II B.C.A. ‘A’), third place.
The Postgraduate Department of English organised the Solo Spectrum Competition on 4 February 2025 for I UG and II UG Foundation English students. Conducted offline, the competition aimed to provide a platform for students to showcase their acting skills, creativity, and stage presence through solo performances. Fourteen students participated, each demonstrating commendable talent in voice modulation, facial expressions, and emotional depth, thereby captivating the audience.
The event was adjudicated by Ms Jovita Rexy and coordinated by Mrs K. Rajeswari. The competition successfully met its objective of promoting effective communication and artistic excellence while offering a valuable experiential learning opportunity. Participants were encouraged to explore character portrayal through emotive and engaging monologues, fostering individual creativity and enhancing performance skills.
The event also allowed students to observe their peers, thereby learning new techniques and gaining insight into their own strengths and areas for improvement in acting and communication. The winners of the competition were A. Anees Fathima (I B.Sc. Physics), first place; M. Mahalakshmi (I B.Sc. Physics), second place; and S. Kavya (I B.Sc. Physics), third place.
