Second language Sinhala learning and teaching problems- solutions (study based on Sinhala students and teaching teachers as second language in the Open University of Sri Lanka).

Abstract

Language is a medium of communication and a major tool for social integration. In the post war context of Sri Lanka, it was widely believed that Tamil and Sinhala languages can and should be used to create mutual understanding and harmony among the communities. Hence, in Sri Lanka teaching Sinhala as a second language to speakers of Tamil has gained a prominent place in the national agenda for ethnic harmony. According to this, in Sri Lanka Sinhala is taught in Sinhala schools as a mother language as a compulsory course from primary classes to high grades. As the same manner, the Sinhala Language is taught in Tamil schools as a second language. Similarly, the Sinhalese students in the university are offered Sinhala from the Bachelor’s degree to the Post Graduate Degree. Teachers are also taught in teachers training colleges. In other universities, Sinhala is taught as a secondary language, certificate course in the Open University of Sri Lanka. Sinhala is taught as a second language since the past twenty years. Today, students who study Tamil as a mother language in Sri Lanka are in the process of learning Sinhala as a second language. There is a need for a second language not only at school level but at the professionals well especially in the government and private sectors. In this way, there are various issues related to the curriculum, modules, continuous assessment, teacher and learner social environment when teaching Sinhala as a second language for Tamil students. Among them, there are various issues related to students. They also make the lowering of the student’s directory level. Hence, they were involved in the process of learning Sinhala as a second language in the Open University of Sri Lanka. Many of the problems related to students and their learning teaching, have an impact. Therefore, the problems faced by the students and the teachers in Sinhala learning teaching as secondary language in the Open University of Sri Lanka are being examined. Therefore, the study is aimed at analyzing the problems faced by students in Sinhala learning teaching as a second language in The Open University of Sri Lanka. It aims at improving the quality of the students and improving the quality of the course by presenting their solutions.