Projects
Senahasa's English Development Programme
Senahasa completed building work at UMV and SGV following
the devastation of the Tsunami, and decided that we could make the
most of these new facilities by introducing an English Development
Programme. The programme employs TEFL-qualified native English-
speakers to help both local teachers and students achieve greater
fluency and confidence in their use of English, thus providing students
with the opportunity to pursue further education and a wider range
of employment prospects.
The programme has Ministry of Education approval as one of the first
of its kind in Sri Lankan state schools. Since its inception in
August 2006 the programme has expanded to include two more schools.
Learner-centred approaches are applied at all grade- levels; for
the youngest students, acquisition of basic literacy skills and
natural sentence-structures facilitates the introduction of English
textbook-use in Grade 3, while emphasis in the upper grades is on
preparing students for O- and A-level examinations and improving
communication skills. English is introduced in the classroom through
drama, I.T. and other cross-curricular content, and further consolidated
through much-needed after school programmes.
With a view to the sustainability of these improvements in English-language
teaching, Senahasa teachers work with their local counterparts,
both during and after class time, introducing ideas for more effective
lessons and resource development. In order to achieve an even greater
impact, the plan is to conduct classes and training workshops for
local teachers designed to improve competence in English and to
familiarise them with learner-centered teaching methods.
Last year, we piloted the recruitment of two English-speaking gap-year
volunteers from Colombo schools (post A’ Level). They provided
assistance with group activities, extra tuition and co-curricular
events, while creating a significant 'cultural' exchange between
urban and rural Sri Lankans. Senahasa now has funding from HSBC
in Sri Lanka to extend this programme in support of the work of
our TEFL-qualified native English-speakers.
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John Cruft welcomed to UMV with a traditional breakfast
of Kiribath
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John Cruft working with Grade 3 children
at SGV |
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