Merging of context and methodology : M.Ed in TESOL curriculum in Sri Lanka – A pioneer effort.

Abstract

A current debate is on going as to whether the dominance of Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) has led to the neglect of the cruicial aspects of language pedagogy, namely the context in which that pedagogy takes place. While some argue that there is a need to replace a methodological approach to language pedagogy with a context approach ( for eg. Bax, 2003) others express the view that these two aspects could work in harmony ( for eg. Harmerm 2003). The relevance of Western-based TESOL programs for international students who are non-native English speakers (NNSs) and who intend to return to their home countries to teach English has also become a controversial issue today. A large number of students enrolled in TESOL programmes in BANA ( British Sutralian and North American) countries are NNSs. However, many of who are teacher trainees. One of the main areas that has been neglected is ensuing contextually responsive teacher education content (Holliday, 1995) The available literature suggests that the teaching of English is not satisfactory and does not meet the needs of the majority of Sri Lankan students. One of the reasons identified repeatedly for the unsatisfactory state of ELT in Sri Lanka is the lack of competent ESL teachers. Attempts have been made to find ways of improving the teaching of English by changing curriculum regularly based on Western models. The reasons for very little success in the teaching of English could be in part due to training teachers based on predominantly a methodological approach with out xtualitrying to equip the teachers with tools needed to understand the context in which learning/teaching takes place and adopt the methods to suit the context. This paper examines the curriculum that endevours to bridge the gap between ‘metropolitan and ‘peripheral” contexts and merge methodology and contet. The proposed Master of Education programme in Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Language ( M.ED. in TESOL) at the Faculty of Education, University of Colombo attempts, in however a small a way to contextualize ELT within a Sri Lankan as well as an Asian context. This paper identifies the strengths and weaknesses as well as th English medium education and higher education. Paper presented at the Forum on “English medium Education in Sri Lanka: Relevance and feasibility. Trans Asia Hotel, Colombo. 19th July 2004.. Developing multiple textbooks for the Sri Lankan classrooms; Issues and challenges. Paper presented at the 2nd International conference of the Sri Lanka English Teachers’ Association. 30 –1 September 2002. Colombo