Abstract:
Today, educators are faced with the challenge of addressing the needs of the growing
number of students whose primary language is not English. While mastering other
skills and content in other subject areas, there is the necessity for these learners to
gain proficiency in English. Teaching English as a second language to all Sri Lankan
school children irrespective of their social, economical or geographical background
has been a major educational policy of successive governments in Sri Lanka since
the early 1950s. This continues to be the declared government educational policy as
in recent years more than ever, the country’s need for English-speaking citizens has
come to be realized.
Teaching of English at the Advanced Level is considered an appropriate means of
achieving the goals to equip them with the necessary knowledge and technical
skills required for the modern employment market.
The results of this cross sectional survey analyses the attitudes of students to the
GCE AL General English course in four state schools. This paper further attempts to
develop a model for building a direct relationship between student aspirations and
English studies in order to achieve greater relevance in the GCE AL General English
programme.The findings made in this study regarding the attitudes of students to
General English in the Balangoda Educational Zone may provide useful insights for
improving educational policy with regard to English education, as well as the quality
of the English course offered by schools.
