HETC | UDG | Activities to improve English skills

English team

Ms. Rushira Kulasingham and Dr. Asantha Attanayake– Deputy Coordinator English Skills

Dr. Asantha Attanayake/Ms. Nishanthi Perera: Arts

Ms. Shiranthi Rajendram/Ms. Sulochana Neranjani: Education

Ms. Shanthi Segarajasingham: Law

Ms.S.R. Manoratne/Ms. S.B. Ranasinghe: Management & Finance

Prof. Sunethra Atukorale/Prof. Sulochana Wijesundera: Medicine

Prof. R.D. Wijesekera: Science

Mr. E.A. Kumarasiri/Ms. S.L. Hewapathirana: Sri Palee

Although English skills of the graduates of some faculties such as the Faculty of Medicine are satisfactory, it is not so in some other faculties like Faculty of Arts of the University of Colombo. Therefore, like in ICT, the resource needs were different in different faculties. Like in ICT skills, with respect to improving English skills more emphasis was placed on the Faculties of Arts, Law and Education. Under the English skills improvement, new web-based interactive teaching learning materials were developed and uploaded to the server for the access of the students. It was done through a consultancy.

In Charge of the ELTU (English Language Teaching Unit), was appointed as the University level Coordinator for improving English skills. ELTU of the University of Colombo runs under the Faculty of Arts, however is responsible for teaching of English to the undergraduates of all faculties. Mini auditorium of the ELTU and the class rooms used for teaching English were improved through civil works through the UDG project. Approximately 150 story books with a number of copies of some books were bought to the mini library of the Self Access Centre (SAC) of the ELTU and they are being used in teaching English to undergraduates. A few train the trainer programs were conducted for the ELTU staff with foreign and local resource persons as trainers. Topics covered a variety of aspects pertaining to English language teaching. These included teaching methods, assessment practices, teaching of the skills etc. A handbook was produced by the ELTU, on benchmarks for English language teaching in the Sri Lankan university system. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the alignment of the 4 main aspects pertaining to English language teaching/learning with the related Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs): lesson material, teaching, testing and their connection to the real world abilities. In the Faculty of Law a Language laboratory was newly established with 53 computers with UDG funding. In the other faculties, materials were either developed or purchased for use by the students for improving English skills.

Mini auditorium renovated under HETC/UDG at ELTU is very useful to conduct interactive sessions

Cameras and camera accessories were procured for the audio-visual unit of the Faculty of Medicine to be able to improve the quality of teaching/learning materials produced for English or any other discipline. This Unit provides services to any faculty in the University for teaching learning material development. Procurement of new camera equipments enhanced and improved the quality of the services provided by the AVU.

Cameras and camera accessories were procured for the audio-visual unit of the Faculty of Medicine to be able to improve the quality of teaching/learning materials produced for English or any other discipline. This Unit provides services to any faculty in the University for teaching learning material development

Virtual learning center or the CAL lab of the Faculty of Medicine is housing the language laboratory. Procurement of 63 computers to the CAL lab has upgraded the Language Laboratory of the Faculty of Medicine. Few workshops were conducted to improve skills related to Communication and scientific writing. The content language integrated course book, which was prepared with IRQUE funding was revised with the support of the ELTU staff of the University of Colombo. This course book is part of the course material for the new entrants provided for their intensive course in English. Equipment needed for the preparation of teaching learning materials were also procured. These include 2 computers and a colour printer.

The language laboratory is a new addition to the Faculty of Law which is equipped with 53 computers

In theSriPalee campus a new language laboratory was established and equipped with 15 computers and networking.   Learning materials were purchased to be used by students. The lab is used by all students of the campus. It has and will be contributed to develop English skills of the students at Sri Palee.

Some planned workshops related to improving English skills of undergraduates at the Faculty level were not approved; hence those were not conducted in 2014.

Two rounds of UTEL examination was held for all seven faculties/campus. In the first round total of 1826 students registered to face this examination, however only 1194 sat for the test. 712 students were qualified to sit for part 2 of UTEL.