Browsing by Author "Alfred, R."

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An Analysis of the Contribution of Information and Communication Technology towards the Improvement of the Writing Skills of Second Language Learners.
(The Third International Conference on Linguistics in Sri Lanka, ICLSL 2017. Department of Linguistics, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Alfred, R.
In the last few years, the focus on information and technology has been increasing dramatically. Information and communication technology has a profound effect on almost all the spheres and its influence and effects on education are noticeably decisive. Language teaching and learning through the internet is remarkable with the opportunities provided by the online resources, network services, and educational software. Moreover, the advances and increasing use of technology have paved way for the most significant changes in the genres of written communication in language use. Most of the undergraduates at University of Jaffna are often unable to produce language in written form and to comprehend the written instructions in their exam papers. Their lack of accuracy and fluency in language usage have resulted in numerous systematic and non-systematic errors which are to be found in their writing. This affects the academic progress of the enrolled learners and results in grave consequences like fossilization in their interlanguage where they are unable to move further in the process of learning their second language. Lack of access to internet and computer, technological devices, resources, network services and educational programmes for writing is the sole reason for such problems in countries like Sri Lanka. This paper, in its mixed method approach, tries to analyse how online tools and services are now increasingly becoming essential and how the students should be encouraged and motivated to use online discourses to develop their writing skills. The students are divided into two groups – control and experimental and through an intervention the conclusion will be drawn out. The research attempts to find out the ways to encourage students to express their learning difficulties freely and improve their skills through technology.
Analyzing the Applicability of Technology in Learner Autonomy in TESL Context in Sri Lanka
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Alfred, R.
Interest in learner autonomy has increased substantially in the last decade. The emphasis on student-centered pedagogy and on accommodating student diversity has paved the way for such autonomy. New directions and developments in technology has, to some extent, enabled this approach to learning. The dramatic increase in online resources, network services, and educational software provide new opportunities for self-directed learning. In the last few years, developments in mobile technology and the explosion in social media use have also accelerated the level of interest. A self-access setting can promote learner autonomy by offering learners choices in time, location, and pace of learning; the path through the material to be chosen; and topics of interest. Technology's role in fostering autonomy has been emphasised over the years, with a number of claims made in favour of technology-enhanced language learning. Such claims assume that technology, especially multimedia, supports different learning styles; that computers and the Internet provide a wealth of resources for independent learners; and that certain software packages can offer a complete curriculum for language learning. These claims need to be viewed in the context of learner needs. This paper, through a qualitative methodology attempts to explore the efficacy of online resources that could be applied to the self direction in the learning context. The paper further attempts to analyze the applicability of such techniques in promoting learner autonomy in the Sri Lankan context.