In countries where English is a second language, there has been a movement over the last 60
years from supporting indigenous languages over foreign language – English - to the present one
where, with globalization and market demands, English is beginning to be seen as an indigenous
language in itself. The teaching of English from Grade 1 about five years ago points to this
change in India. The consequences of such a shift for language acquisition at the primary level is
a matter of concern, however, when English is not the first or second language of the people, but
is the medium of education, and when the average classroom teacher at the primary level is
inadequately prepared for the task. The gaps in the teacher's preparation and the coping
strategies she employs are discussed in this paper in order to identify teacher resistances to new
books and methodologies. Resistances can be seen to serve as areas for growth according to the
constructivist perspective of a Bakhtinian dialogue and a collective articulation of a ZPD,
described by Vygotsky, for syllabus design. The syllabus, when it emerges in this way, can be
taken to be valid in terms of relevance and to serve as appropriate comprehensible input
necessary as the first step for development and change for in-service primary school teachers
teaching new texts set in new curricula. Classrooms in three schools in India were visited from
which a syllabus outline for an in-service primary school teachers evolved. Teacher practice and
resistances are analysed against larger questions, such as: What does such teacher orientation
imply for linguistic development of a second language on the whole and for the cognitive
development of the child? Would semi-lingualism be encouraged or would we have basic
foundations for effective bilingualism?