PANEL DISCUSSION ON ENGLISH LANGUAGE

at Main Library, UOC

Apanel discussion titled Confidence to Speak English: A Necessity for South Asian Learners? will he held on Thursday, December 17 from 2 to 3.30 p. m. at the Main Library, University of Colombo.

The panelists are Dr Asantha U. Attanayake, Senior Lecturer in English Language, Dept. of English Language Teaching, University of Colombo, Ms. Louise Cowcher, Director Education and English, British Council and Col. Adam Barborich, Research Scholar, PGIHS, University of Peradeniya.

The discussion is moderated by Krishantha Fredricks, Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Sinhala, University of Colombo.

The discussion is woven around Dr Asantha Attanayake’s recent book, “Post-colonial Curriculum Practices in South Asia: Building Confidence to Speak English” by Routledge Publishers, UK.

The book is based on her study of English language education in four Post-colonial countries, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The study brings out the importance of building confidence to speak English by eliminating the fear of speaking English.

The study introduces Language Attitude Anxiety, a special type of anxiety, which is caused by the existing language attitudes in society that affects learners in their speaking in English, which in turn, is extended to their English language learning in general.

The event is organised by the Main Library, University of Colombo. All are invited.