SLIIT International Conference on Advancements in Sciences and Humanities [SICASH] 2023
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://rda.sliit.lk/handle/123456789/3589
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Publication Open Access Exploring Subject-Verb Agreement Challenges in the Writing of ESL Learners: An Action Research Study in Sri Lanka(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Abeywickrama, D.D.; Amaraweera, SThis study is an action research that is conducted to improve the quality of the writings of students in an international school in the Kalutara district. The students make errors related to subject-verb agreement which is an essential component in mastering the English language. They are not mistakes, instead they are errors because the students are not in a state of understanding them on their own. Further, the students are unaware of the grammar rules. Errors occur due to lack of awareness of these specific grammar rules. However, English as a second language (ESL) learners struggle immensely in mastering subjectverb agreement. This study mainly centers around three error types such as the subject is a list of two or more nouns, the subject is an indefinite pronoun, and the subject agrees with the nearest noun in paired conjunctions. The sample consists of twenty-six students from a grade 08 class of an international school in the Western province of Sri Lanka. A pretest was used to collect data. The main objective of this research is to upgrade the writing skills of grade 8 students, in terms of grammatical accuracy. The use of scaffolding exercises enables the students to understand the grammatical rules clearly and makes them apply the rules correctly. Action research itself is a research design that assists to solve the problems related to the field of education. The problem was identified at first and the intervention was carried out accordingly. Finally, the results were obtained. The difference in mean values of the pre-test and the posttest proves the significant improvements in the writings of the students. Therefore, ESL learners require the necessary guidance and instructions through creative approaches to language learning which creates a learner-friendly environment to become competent writers of English.Publication Open Access A Needs Analysis in Second Language Teaching (English Language): A Study on Grade 10,11 Students in the Sri Jayawardenapura Educational Zone(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Boteju, T; Rathnasena, UThe purpose of this study is to investigate the needs of English language learners in grades 10 and 11 who attend schools in the Colombo area specifically within the Sri Jayewardenepura Educational Zone. Statistics demonstrate that a significant number of students failed the Ordinary Level English paper, despite evaluations and curriculum reforms undertaken by the government. A thorough needs analysis was required to determine the causes and provide a solution to this situation. The objectives of this study are to investigate the purpose of students learning English as a second language, to conduct a needs analysis to critically analyze the needs, necessities, and lacks in grade 10, 11 students in Colombo District, and to suggest and recommend ideas to incorporate needs analysis findings. For this mixed-method study, information is collected using questionnaires and interviews, and the quantitative data is represented through graphs and tables, while the qualitative data is shown through a theme-based analysis. Based on the outcomes of this study, it is anticipated that the current curriculum will undergo modifications and adjustments to align with the authentic needs and requirements of students, thereby ultimately achieving a high level of student proficiency.
