Teaching Learning Context and Learner Profiles

As per the requirements of the Final Evaluation of the course Teaching Practicum (PGP8503), the internship period, covering 100 teaching hours was carried out at the Department of English Language Teaching of the University of Kelaniya, one of the reputed state universities in Sri Lanka. The Department of English Language Teaching is affiliated with the Faculty of Humanities, yet, responsible for conducting lectures for all the four faculties in the university. The department carries out a number of courses for each faculty conducting need analyses, designing curriculums and syllabuses, lesson materials and formulating summative and formative assessments. All the course materials were developed based on UTEL benchmark bands.

During the internship period, I was in charge of teaching three courses for three faculties covering 19 hours per week as follows:

Course code	Name of the course	Faculty / Department served	Number of teaching hours per week	Mode of delivery
ACLT 11013	Academic Literacy I	Faculty of Science	6 hours	On-site
		Department of Plant and Molecular Biology (BS)	3 hours	On-site
		Department of Zoology and Environmental Management (ENCM)	3 hours	On-site
DELT 11212	English for Social Sciences	Faculty of Social Science	4 hours	Virtual
Foundation: A Certificate Course in English		Faculty of Humanities	9 hours	On-site

Learner profile - Academic Literacy I (Department of Zoology and Environmental Management)

The first group consists of a group of thirty five first-year English as a Second Language learners aged between twenty to twenty-six from the Faculty of Science, Department of Zoology and Environmental Management, University of Kelaniya.  Academic Literacy I is a GPA contributory, and obligatory course that focuses on basic academic literacy skills. It is important to acknowledge that this group of learners read for an English Medium Degree Program. The group consists of twenty female students and fifteen male students. Sinhala is the first language of twenty-nine learners and Tamil is the native language of the remaining six students. They come from different localities in Sri Lanka with cultural, social and linguistic disparities. The lectures are conducted for continuous three hours per week. The course content was developed based on the UTEL benchmark. Accordingly, this learner cohort comprises students under band 6. There is a range of levels of English proficiency with some learners appearing to be very proficient for their age. Every student has their own learning style. Most of the learners prefer visual, aural, verbal and kinesthetic learning strategies. Moreover, the majority of the learners prefer the deductive learning approach. Overall, most of the learners have high motivation and confidence to learn essential academic literacy skills.

 Learner profile - Academic Literacy I (Department of Plant and Molecular Biology)

The second group consists of a group of forty first-year English as a Second Language learners aged between twenty to twenty-six from the Faculty of Science, Department of plant and Molecular Biology, University of Kelaniya. Academic Literacy I is a GPA contributory, and obligatory course that focuses on basic academic literacy skills. It is important to acknowledge that this group of learners read for an English Medium Degree Program. The group consists of twenty twenty-five male students and fifteen male students. Sinhala is the first language of thirty-eight learners and Tamil is the native language of the remaining two students. They come from different localities in Sri Lanka with cultural, social and linguistic disparities. The lectures are conducted for continuous three hours per week. The course content was developed based on the UTEL benchmark. Accordingly, this learner cohort comprises students under band 6. There is a range of levels of English proficiency with some learners appearing to be very proficient for their age. Every student has their own learning style. Most of the learners prefer visual, aural, verbal and kinesthetic learning strategies. Moreover, the majority of the learners prefer the deductive learning approach. Overall, most of the learners have high motivation and confidence to learn essential academic literacy skills.

 Learner Profile - English for Social Sciences 

This group consists of 20 first-year English as a Second Language learners aged between twenty to twenty-six from the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya. English for Social Sciences is a credited compulsory course. This course is outlined to improve learners’ basic English skills and lectures are delivered in online mode. This group consists of learners from different departments and the group consists of sixteen female students and four male students. Sinhala is the first language of all learners. Students come from different localities in Sri Lanka with cultural, social and linguistic disparities. The lectures are conducted for four hours per week. The course content was developed based on the UTEL benchmark. Accordingly, this learner cohort comprises students ranging from band 4 to 6. Every student has their own learning style. Most of the learners prefer visual, aural, verbal and kinesthetic learning strategies. Moreover, the majority of the learners prefer the deductive learning approach. Overall, most of the learners have high motivation and confidence to learn essential academic literacy skills.

Learner Profile - Foundation: A Certificate Course in English (Group 01)

This group consists of fifteen first-year English as a Second Language learners aged between twenty to twenty-six from the Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya. Foundation: A Certificate Course in English is an option and a non-credit course. This course is outlined to equip the students with the skills and knowledge required to cope with English medium instruction at the undergraduate level and to communicate effectively and appropriately in English. the group consists of learners from different departments and the group consists of twelve female students and three male students. Sinhala is the first language of all learners. Students come from different localities in Sri Lanka with cultural, social and linguistic disparities. The lectures are conducted for three hours per week. The course content was developed based on the UTEL benchmark. Accordingly, this learner cohort comprises students ranging from band 3 to 4. Every student has their own learning style. Most of the learners prefer visual, aural, verbal and kinesthetic learning strategies. Overall, most of the learners have high motivation and confidence to learn essential academic literacy skills.

Learner Profile -  Foundation: A Certificate Course in English (Group 02)

This group consists of twenty first-year English as a Second Language learners aged between twenty to twenty-six from the Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya. Foundation: A Certificate Course in English is an option and a non-credit course. This course is outlined to equip the students with the skills and knowledge required to cope with English medium instruction at the undergraduate level and to communicate effectively and appropriately in English. The group consists of learners from different departments and the group consists of fifteen female students and five male students. Sinhala is the first language of all learners. Students come from different localities in Sri Lanka with cultural, social and linguistic disparities. The lectures are conducted for three hours per week. The course content was developed based on the UTEL benchmark. Accordingly, this learner cohort comprises students ranging from band 3 to 4. Every student has their own learning style. Most of the learners prefer visual, aural, verbal and kinesthetic learning strategies. Overall, most of the learners have high motivation and confidence to learn essential academic literacy skills.

Learner Profile - Foundation: A Certificate Course in English (Group 03)

This group consists of one visually impaired first-year English as a Second Language learner from the Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya. Foundation: A Certificate Course in English is an option and a non-credit course. This course is outlined to equip the students with the skills and knowledge required to cope with English medium instruction at the undergraduate level and to communicate effectively and appropriately in English. The lectures are conducted for three hours per week. The course content was developed based on the UTEL benchmark. Accordingly, this learner can be ranged under band 4. The lessons are delivered orally and answers will be elicited orally. As per the request made, permission to record the lesson was granted for the future reference of the student. The whole lesson is delivered in a discussion mode.