The British Council Sri Lanka develops more than English skills
View(s):Our English courses encourage critical thinking, leadership skills, team work and the confidence to succeed, from as early as age four
English is widely accepted as the universal language, recognised as the most commonly used language of communication, education and work across the world. Using English is now widely recognised as a basic life skill, integral to success in the global workplace.
The British Council has been a familiar presence in Sri Lanka for over seven decades. Established during the immediate post-independence period of 1949, the British Council today, represents all aspects of cultural relations, building relationships that provide connections and opportunities between the people of the UK and Sri Lanka.
Helen Sykes, the Teaching Center Manager, elaborated on the British Council’s significant role and contribution:
What is the philosophy of the British Council as an educational centre?
The British Council is the United Kingdom’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. In Sri Lanka we are proud of our work over the last seventy years to make a lasting difference for young Sri Lankans; creating opportunities and building connections between the people of the UK and Sri Lanka. Our work in English teaching, libraries and UK examinations supports personal growth and enhances educational and employment opportunities for the next generation of Sri Lankans.
What are the English educational programmes available at the British Council?
Every week around 7,000 children and young adults come through the doors of our teaching centres around the island in Colombo, Kandy and Jaffna and our partner teaching centre in Matara.
Children as young as four start their learning journey with the British Council through Learning Time with Timmy, a programme designed for children aged 4-6 years. Our Primary Plus programme is for children from 6-11 years of age and we have a range of secondary courses designed to enhance core skills as well as building a solid foundation in English for every aspect of your child’s future for children from ages 11 to 15.
Our offer for 16-18 year olds focuses on students who have finished their O Levels and are looking to improve their academic English and communication skills for the next stage in their lives. Next year we will be launching a new course for students who have just finished their A levels. This course will be focused on the needs of these students as they prepare for their future in a global world.
As children progress through our courses we build on their skills and experience to ensure they continue to grow and develop as confident users of English across all the skills.
The British Council Teaching Centre goes beyond teaching English. We know that our students come to us to build confidence in speaking, enhance their social skills, practice their digital literacy and creative thinking skills, develop critical thinking skills, work together in teams and to put their problem solving and leadership skills into practice . We know that these are the skills that global employers are looking for and these are key components of our courses.
Our English courses are communicative with a focus on group work and real life communication in which students develop their listening, reading and writing capacities using a range of stimulating materials and classroom activities. Our learners are at the centre of their learning with a focus on fun because we know that enjoyment is a key factor in motivating children to love learning and enjoy success in using English.
As the world’s English teaching experts, we prepare students for the IELTS exam as well as run Business English courses for adults with a focus on the world of work. We run CELTA courses to train Sri Lanka teachers in communicative English teaching, an internationally recognised Cambridge qualification that can be used all over the world. We also deliver English courses for corporate clients and government institutions in Sri Lanka, building specialised courses to focus on client’s needs.
Can you shed some light on the Timmy Time and Primary Plus ?
Learning Time with Timmy for 4 – 6 year olds is a fun and effective way for your child to learn English. It combines our English teaching expertise with Aardman’s world-famous animated characters. Together, they offer your child a happy and memorable experience of learning English.
Learning English from a young age gives learners a head start and enables them to master English pronunciation naturally and improve their language skills and self confidence .
Aardman is an Academy Award®-winning British animation studio based in Bristol, UK. Their much-loved creations include Wallace & Gromit , Shaun the Sheep and Chicken Run. Their TV show Timmy Time is for two to six-year-olds. Timmy is a little lamb with a lot to learn. This makes him an ideal character for young children because they can relate to Timmy’s experiences. At nursery, Timmy learns how to share things and think about other people’s feelings – not just his own.
We approached Aardman to partner with us because Timmy’s stories capture the imaginations of very young children, and deepen their engagement in the learning process. They are the perfect way to allow your child to learn new words in context and to bring our English teaching to life.
Primary Plus, for 6 – 11 year olds encourages children to express themselves in a safe, motivating environment. Primary Plus incorporates real-life topics that relate to children’s personal experiences, so as to improve their language naturally and arouse an interest in exploring the world using English. Our approach develops students’ understanding of the language, their core life skills and their ability to communicate confidently. Children feel in control of their own learning and grow in confidence as they develop their fluency in English.
Primary Plus is inspiring, engaging and motivating. Your child will build confidence by speaking in English about familiar topics such as their surroundings; from their bedroom to their neighbourhood, express themselves through exciting activities and group projects – exploring subjects like the natural world; from under the sea to outer space and develop important life skills which will prepare them for their future beyond the classroom.
What differentiates the British Council from other educational institutions?
As the world’s English teaching experts, we believe that quality in the classroom is the key criteria for learning success and we recognize the importance of communicative methodology and meaningful authentic opportunities to use English through contemporary and engaging earning materials in the classroom.
All of our teachers have an internationally recognized qualification from Cambridge, and most have experience teaching in international settings. We make a commitment to investing in the continual professional development of our teachers throughout their teaching career with us.
We use British Council global teaching materials, UK sourced teaching resources, prize winning coursebooks and cutting edge educational technology in all of our classrooms. Our teachers use the most up to date English teaching methodology and put students at the centre of learning in an interactive and fun learning environment.
We create a safe and positive learning environment in all of our classes. We know how important it is to feel safe and supported and be able to make mistakes when learning a language and to create an environment which boosts the confidence of our learners. Parents and students comment on how they’ve grown in confidence to speak English in and out of class through this approach which is key to language learning.
Our classes are capped at 20 students per class, ensuring students receive individual attention from teachers and that the teacher is able to put the students at the centre of the learning process. A typical course provides opportunities for students to research and present to the class on a subject that is meaningful to them and engaging to others.
What is the British Council’s promise to Sri Lankan society?
Looking forward to the next 70 years we will continue Britain’s commitment to a stable and prosperous world, contributing to societal change in Sri Lanka in priority areas of the Sri Lankan government in the areas of education and educational reform, the creative economy, social cohesion, and social enterprise, building capacity in the areas of skills for employment and education.
Our teaching centres will continue to deliver excellent and relevant courses island wide to ensure opportunities for young Sri Lankans to develop the English skills that are so important for accessing education and employment opportunities, making connections and widening horizons in a global world.
Sign up for a level test on our website and come in for a consultation to make sure you find the right course for you. Our academic year starts January 7th so be sure to book an appointment and register soon to avoid disappointment.
www.britishcouncil.lk/
Randheer Mallawaarachchi