Learning English the fun way

English teachers in government schools face the biggest challenge in getting children to use English in the classroom and the teachers get frustrated when students speak in their native language in the classroom.

Princess of Wales College, Moratuwa, is among the few schools in the country to introduce the novel initiative - English Task Chamber to get these students motivated to learn and speak in English in the classroom from the very beginning.

The college recently opened an English Task Chamber – an activity room which is aimed at motivating children in primary classes to speak and learn English in the classroom.

In these Task Chambers, the children are encouraged to speak in English confidently with more focus on activities to promote their vocabulary, listening and pronunciation skills.

Above all, this Task Chamber also focuses on teaching etiquette as parents do not always have time to teach them in the hustle and bustle of daily life.

The students need not confine themselves to textbooks, they have a free environment in the Task Chamber to interact with their colleagues.

There are some challenging activities for children in this room such as drama with friends and the recital of English poems.

This Task Chamber is a brainchild of the English teacher of the College, Dhammika Ovitigala. She says it is very important for English educators to keep lessons for primary students engaging and motivating and ensure that language learning does not become another layer of stress for them. Ovitigala, who has experience in implementing many of such novel initiatives at Ananda College, Colombo, where she was teaching before being transferred to Princess of Wales College, said she wants to promote the English language among the students while inculcating good habits and manners. She said that this activity room provides the students with meaningful and authentic learning materials related to their everyday life and they are exposed to English through a variety of learning activities.

“I understood that the college is in need of an English activity room to promote the English language among the students and Principal Malini Samarakoon, teachers and the parents extended their fullest support towards this effort,” she said.

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Principal  Malani Samarakoon

Moratuwa Princess of Wales College Principal Malani Samarakoon said that they are focusing on developing English language skills among the primary students.

“A rich English language learning environment for primary students can be created through this kind of Task Chamber.”

She said that activities planned at the Task Chamber are aimed at motivating the children to develop their English language skills, for primary students often find it difficult to speak spontaneously and this novel initiative will help promote their skills in this language.

Primary students showed their talents at the opening of the Task Chambers by Piliyandala Educational Zone Director of English, Hemanthi Ranaweera.

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English teacher  Dhammika Ovitigala

English teacher Dhammika Ovitigala who pioneered the concept of an English Task Chamber in the college said this activity room helps make language learning an interesting and enjoyable experience for children.

“The students in the primary section were provided space for reading, writing, listening and speaking and the Task Chamber also provides opportunities for the teachers to try out new language teaching and learning activities.”

She added that students show enthusiasm in participating in the various activities of the Task Chambers. “It is a novel experience for them,” she said.