Browsing by Author "Bandara, H."

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Analyzing English Language Learning Needs among Airline Apprentices in Sri Lanka
(Proceedings of the Undergraduate Research Symposium (HUG 2019), Department of English Language Teaching, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya. Sri Lanka, 2019) Bandara, H.; Nawarathna, H.; Jayawardena, K.
English for Specific Purposes (ESP) has gained enormous popularity in the field of second language teaching during the past few years. Needs analysis is considered a major requirement in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses for syllabus design and materials development. The purpose of this study was to find the difference between perceived and actual English language learning needs among the Airline apprentices in Sri Lanka. Even though there are plenty of Airline courses for Apprentices in Sri Lanka, no any English course for Airline apprentices to be found. Consequently most of the apprentices who join this job just after A/L struggle to deal with the sudden language shift from their mother tongue to English.This sudden language shift has become a challenge to achieve their career goals. Therefore, this study has used qualitative and quantitative instruments such as: semi-structured interview with the experts and likert scale questionnaires respectively, to find out the needs of apprentices in designing an ESP course. The sample population of the study consisted of five experts and sixty apprentices who are related to the Airline industry. The findings of the questionnaire were analyzed under five headings: personal background, general opinions about using English language skills, identifying English skills based on a priority basis, identifying course material needs & identifying course activities with learning preferences. This analysis is aimed at identifying the manner in which how English communicative skills can be incorporated with the use of authentic materials and resources in pursuing their career goals. The findings of the study will contribute to develop an ESP course for Airline apprentices based on their needs in Sri Lanka. Further, this study also provides valuable implications for ESP course designers.
Exploring the impact of student-led peer assisted learning (‘kuppi classes’) on examination performance and mental, social and emotional development of medical students of a Sri Lankan medical school
(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2017) Chandrasekara, S.; Bandara, H.; Chandrasiri, N.; Choden, T.; Chandratilake, M.
INTRODUCTION & OBJECTIVES: Peer-assisted-learning (PAL) is the acquisition of knowledge and skills through active helping and supporting among status equals or matched companions. In ‘kuppi classes’, a local term for an informal form of PAL, students of a junior batch learn from students of a senior batch in a didactic manner. The aims of this study were: to explore the educational environment and the reasons for attending kuppi classes; to determine the correlation between attendance of kuppi classes and student performance at examinations. METHODS: The study focused on kuppi classes for preclinical subjects, the student experience of the first two years, and their performance at the second-year summative examination. Two focus group discussions were carried out with 14 medical students to identify the breadth of the issues related to each objective. The transcriptions were thematically analysed and a selfadministered questionnaire was developed based on these themes. It was administered to 178 third-year medical students. RESULTS: The qualitative component revealed that the learning environment in kuppi classes were much more relaxed and acceptable compared to formal teaching sessions. According to the questionnaire, the main reason for attendance is as a backup for formal lectures. For the tutoring student it is a revision. The attendees expect kuppi classes to be more examination oriented. However, the association between kuppi attendance and subsequent examination performance was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Didactic and informal near-peer-learning sessions may provide students with the conducive social and emotional environment to learn. However, it may not have an impact on examination performance.
Prevalence of visual impairment among adults aged forty years and above in a Medical Officer of Health Area in Sri Lanka: Cross-Sectional Study
(ClinMed International Library, 2018) Abeysena, C.; Bandara, H.
BACKGROUND: Visual impairment is a global health problem, particularly people living in low- and middle-income countries. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of visual impairment and factors associated with it among adults aged ≥ 40 years in a Medical Officer of Health area in Sri Lanka. METHODS: A community based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 602 adults aged ≥ 40 years selecting from cluster sampling technique. Visual acuity of < 6/18 in the better eye was considered as visual impairment. Low vision was defined as visual acuity of 6/18 to 3/60 in the better eye and blindness as < 3/60 in the better eye. The prevalence of visual impairments along with best corrected prevalence and its 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Multiple logistic regression was perform to assess the associated factors and results were expressed as Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) and 95% CI. RESULTS: Overall prevalence of visual impairment was 21.3% (95% CI: 18.0%-24.6%). The prevalence of low vision and blindness were 19.6% (95% CI: 16.4%-21.8%) and 1.7 (95% CI: 0.67%-2.7%) respectively. The prevalence of best corrected visual impairment was 11% (95% CI: 8.5%-13.4%). The prevalence of best corrected low vision and blindness was 8.3% (95% CI: 7.1%-11.5%) and 1.7% (95% CI: 0.67%-2.7%) respectively. Age ≥ 60 years (AOR = 6.30, 95% CI: 3.9-10.1) and low monthly income (AOR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.3 -3.4) were associated with visual impairment. CONCLUSION: Visual impairment was a public health problem among adults aged ≥ 40 years in the above study setting.