Exploring and Reorienting the Challenges and Reinventing Revitalized Strategies in Teaching English for Certificate-Level Students at the SLITHM Colombo Campus

Abstract

Acquiring proficiency in the English language poses various difficulties for students enrolled in Certificate Level batch no.334 at the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM). The objectives of this research study were to identify the obstacles encountered by the students in their English language learning journey and explore effective strategies to overcome these challenges. A survey questionnaire was employed as part of a quantitative research design to ascertain the specific challenges faced by the students during the process of learning English. A total of 100 students, randomly selected from all five disciplines, with 20 students from each, were interviewed as part of a qualitative research design to determine the most successful learning strategies for overcoming the existing obstacles. Purposeful sampling was utilized to select five participants from each discipline who had achieved the highest grades in English at the G.C.E. (O/L) examination, with the aim of identifying the most efficient learning strategies to conquer the current challenges. The research findings revealed that the majority of students considered the influence of their mother tongue to be the most significant hurdle, followed by limited exposure to fluent English, inadequate resources, and a lack of self-motivation in learning the language. In comparison, a small percentage of students expressed that a restricted vocabulary, outdated teaching methods, and a negative attitude towards the subject also impeded their progress in learning the English language. The findings further indicated that a student-centered approach to learning, incorporating innovative teaching methodologies and the utilization of technology, would yield positive results. Additionally, the introduction of e-learning facilities was found to effectively address almost all of the current challenges faced by the students.