Taking English to far-flung places

It is a lazy Sunday morning but a diverse group from all over the country is gathered in Colombo intently listening to senior trainers going through the paces of how to teach English. This is just one of the numerous workshops and training programmes for teachers and would-be teachers, including a male and several nuns, being conducted by the Colombo Academy of Language Skills and Dramatic Arts (CALSDA) and the 90 participants are from far-flung places such as Lindula, Chilaw, Puttalam, Batticaloa and Deniyaya to name a few.

Not only does CALSDA hold such programmes in Colombo, but their trainers also fan out across the country to capacity-build the numerous teachers who have taken on the task of training children.

As a trainer that Sunday gave out tips such as: “The child should understand the text well or there should be meaningful reading and also eye contact”, CALSDA Director Varuni Jayasekara stresses that while it is important for the teachers to cover the syllabus what they want is to make the students not only accomplished speakers but also accomplished writers. “Otherwise they would be half-baked.”

Established in 2000, CALSDA has brought in new dimensions in the field of English Language skills, explains Mrs. Jayasekara adding that the curriculum not only caters to children and teenagers but also adults and professionals. Within a short span of eight years, CALSDA has established itself as a leading examining body for speech, drama and allied subjects, with the current syllabus opening many creative doors both to students and teachers, she says.

At the helm of CALSDA are Mrs. Jayasekara (Executive Director) and Mrs. Zulfika Musafer (Director of Examinations), both with years of experience and professionalism to back them up, while its patron is Mrs. Daphne Lord, a stalwart in the field with 58 years of teaching experience.

“The syllabi provide an opportunity for personal, artistic and professional development through speech, drama and language skills,” says Mrs. Jayasekara. Wide and varied, the syllabi include “a dynamic mixture of subjects” leading to a Diploma in English, Advanced Certificates in General English Literature, Associate Recital Diploma, Associate and Licentiate Diplomas etc.

Being one of the largest examining bodies with over 50 examiners drawn not only from Colombo but also places like Batticaloa, Kandy, Kalmunai and Matara, interestingly CALSDA also has men on its panel.“They are specialists in speech and drama and also professionals in their own fields,” says Mrs. Jayasekara mentioning a doctor, a lawyer and a senior executive of a corporate firm.

With over 500 teachers supporting CALDSA examinations, both practical and theory, she says that it provides a good alternative to foreign exams which are beyond the reach of the average student due to the high costs incurred as fees. A double benefit is that students interact and relate better with local examiners.

Justifying that CALDSA has “something for everyone”, Mrs. Jayasekara picks out ‘Public Speaking and Interview Technique’ designed to help school-leavers seeking employment or admission to university. Business English is also another course to train young people to cope with their working environment.

The higher aim of CALDSA is to set off a ripple effect to improve the knowledge of English of all and sundry. - KH