Teaching English language online and undergraduates of south eastern university of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Virtual learning environment (VLE) has become a very common and inevitable tool in all sectors, especially in the academic sector. Due to the outbreak of corona virus, scholars all around the world turned their attention to the Virtual learning environment. This paper analyses the online English language teaching and learning in South Eastern University of Sri Lanka. Although VLE was in use, its real value has been identified very recently, in 2019. The mode of classroom teaching has been replaced by zoom teaching or VLE. Although university community in SEUSL are new to this mode, we are compelled to adhere to and continue the teaching learning via zoom. All the sectors in Sri Lanka have been drastically affected by this pandemic and therefore, virtual platforms have been introduced accordingly. At present all the academic activities of South Eastern University of Sri Lanka have been shifted to the mode of VLE. Its necessity to assess the quality of teaching learning is felt very much today. Most of us are favourable to the introduction of VLE, but still there are questions how much we have improved and qualified to provide students real education via zoom. For the current study, second year Arts students were chosen as the target group as they have sufficient experience in VLE. The questionnaire shared among students and the lecturers are taken as the main tools of the survey with a quantitative approach. The findings reveal that both teachers and students have gained sufficient knowledge and experience with regard to the use of VLE for teaching and learning English language but still there are challenges in updating the system. Further recommendations have been made to improve the quality and fill the gaps for a better output.