http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/7371 2026-04-06T20:41:26Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/18422 The Impact of the Learning Environment of Resident English Camps in Achieving the Pledged Oral Competency of the Students: A Case of Selected Camps in Kandy, Nittambuwa, and Kurunegala. Molagoda, H.M.T.M.H. Resident English Camps have acquired a wide spread popularity at present owing to their controversial challenge that they are capable of originating an orally competent individual within their fleeting course period of one month or two months. Their assured quick progress of the language with the change of the environment has left individuals with a doubt about its veracity. Thus this study was focused on discovering the possible impact of the learning environment in the camp in facilitating students’ English language acquisition to reach the pledged apex of oral competency. In accumulating data for the study, 30 students, 4 instructors and 5 former students from three leading Resident English Camps located in three geographical areas, Kandy, Nittambuwa, and Kurunegala were utilized. The primary data collection sources such as interview method, questionnaire method and observation method and the secondary data collection sources including books, journals, the internet, abstracts, magazines, and newspapers were effectively utilized so as to accumulate data for the study. Through the data analysis, the researcher could discover that camp environment which is an antithesis to an ordinary classroom environment retains the capacity to enhance students’ learning process with its unconventional, yet properly-structured, nurturing environment. Here, students with the need to learn the language gain confidence so as to produce and practise the language being away from the increasingly sarcastic put down oriented the world. Evidently, the positive, motivational camp environment has acted as a facilitator in boosting the oral competency of the students. 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/18421 Effectiveness of Resident English Camps in Enhancing Oral Competency: A Case of Selected Camps in Kandy, Nittambuwa, and Kurunegala. Molagoda, H.M.T.M.H. Resident English camps have acquired wide spread popularity at present owing to their controversial challenge that they are capable of originating an orally competent individual within their short course period of a one month or two months. Thus, the study was focused on discovering whether the Resident English Camps are truly able to achieve their pledged apex. In this respect, the study of the methods and approaches used in the language learning and teaching process became the fundamental objective. In accumulating data for the study, 30 students and 4 instructors from three leading Resident English Camps located in three geographical areas, Kandy, Nittambuwa and Kurunegala were used. The primary data collection sources such as Interview method, Questionnaire method and Observation method and the secondary data collection sources including books, journals, internet, abstracts, and magazines were effectively utilized so as to accumulate data for the study. Through the data analysis, the researcher could discover that the Resident English Camps provide a greater contribution in enhancing the oral competence of its participants with the use of numerous, innovative task-based activities especially designed to increase oral production. Furthermore, they attempt to inculcate the knowledge of grammar to develop the accuracy of the discourse. The grammar inculcation followed by the constant and intensive oral practice that they receive at the camps has contributed to make them use the language confidently for communicative purposes. 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/18420 Designing an English for Specific Purposes (ESP) Curriculum for Surveying Sciences. Molagoda, H.M.T.M.H. English for Specific Purposes (ESP) is a distinct approach in English language teaching that caters to the equipment of language skills, grammatical properties, lexis, study skills, register and discourse based on the identification of actual needs in a target context. Though ESP curricula have been designed for diverse disciplines, a usable curriculum to address the authentic needs of Surveying Sciences undergraduates in Sri Lanka has not been available in both local and international contexts. Thus, the specific research focused on designing an ESP curriculum in exploring the research question as to how a standard ESP curriculum can be developed for Surveying Sciences. This pragmatic approach was used as opposed to general English curricula practised in Sri Lankan universities. Thus, the objectives of the study were to conduct a needs analysis, to decide language descriptions, learning theories, and course and syllabus design, to develop materials and to decide evaluation strategies. To accumulate data, the sample was primarily obtained from the Faculty of Geomatics, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka which is the fully-fledged faculty for Surveying Sciences in the country at present; semi-structured and unstructured interviews were conducted with 72 second year undergraduates, 15 lecturers and 10 graduates. Moreover questionnaires were administered to 85 first year undergraduates along with systematic participant observation. Secondary data collection sources such as books, researches and journals were too utilized in building a firm theoretical background related to the discipline. The retrieved data were analysed qualitatively. The target needs were identified to be the enhancement of communication competence of students and inculcation of Surveyingrelated terminologies, technical writing skills, and effective reading strategies via interesting task-based activities. A learner-centred course and an organizational syllabus based on structural and functional grammar were chosen based on the identified needs. Furthermore, authentic materials were selected to familiarize students with lexis, register, grammar and skills needed to ensure an effective performance in the target academic context. In terms of evaluation, both formative and summative assignments were used to demonstrate measurable outcomes of the designed ESP curriculum for Surveying Sciences. 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/18419 A Diachronic Study on the Expansion of the English Lexicon. Molagoda, H.M.T.M.H. English which is claimed to encapsulate a rich vocabulary has been nourishing its lexicon from antiquity to the modern times. This study aimed at conducting a diachronic study on the expansion of the English lexicon in emphasizing how the rags to riches story of English coincides with the enrichment of the English lexicon. To accumulate data for the study, the secondary data collection sources such as research articles, books, and journals were referred and semi-structured interviews were conducted with two senior lecturers in English. It was discovered via a qualitative analysis that the external history of England immensely contributed to widen the English lexicon. In expanding on the external history, the contribution of the first known inhabitants of England, Celtics was merely limited to the names of rivers and places. The Germanic tribes, Anglo Saxons that comprised Angles, Jutes, and Saxons arrived at England to assist Celts against Picts and Scots and the fusion of their dialects gave birth to Old English which was spoken from around the 5th century to the 11th century. The Christianizing of Britain during this period upon the arrival of St. Augustine in 597 BC added a host of Latin words related to religion, education, clothing and household etc. Then, the Age of Vikings contributed many Scandinavian words while the Norman occupation in the Middle English period which was characterized by the use of French contributed about 10,000 French words to the enrichment of English. Later, Shakespeare's works, King James Bible, and the mega events such as industrialization, colonization, and globalization gifted a great deal of new lexemes, borrowings, loan words, and idioms to enrich its vocabulary. In conclusion, English can be identified as a flexible language which absorbs the lexical items to suit the needs for its enrichment, development, and growth. 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z