http://repository.lib.vpa.ac.lk/handle/123456789/1827 Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:14:56 GMT 2026-04-21T10:14:56Z http://repository.lib.vpa.ac.lk/handle/123456789/1832 Exploring English as a Second Language Requirements of Performing Arts Undergraduates in Sri Lanka: Implications for Syllabus Revision Embogama, R.M.S.N. Needs analysis is considered a prerequisite for the development of a sustainable curriculum. This study shares the findings of a student survey conducted as part of a needs assessment conducted prior to the development of an English course for the first-year dance and drama undergraduates of the University of the Visual and Performing Arts. Despite research being conducted to identify the English language learning needs of students in higher education only a limited number of studies have taken place with regard to ESL learners following the subject streams of performing arts. The main findings suggest that the study participants expect to develop English proficiency not with the primary intention of engaging in academic pursuits such as writing reports and research papers but rather to become effective communicators in the second language (L2) who can promote themselves as professionals in national and international arenas. Given the unique characteristics of performing arts students whose learning styles differ as a result of the experiential nature of the subjects they Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT http://repository.lib.vpa.ac.lk/handle/123456789/1832 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.lib.vpa.ac.lk/handle/123456789/1831 Adult Learners’ Perceptions of a Blog-based Assessment in an English as a Second Language Course Embogama, R.M.S.N. This study was conducted in order to gather adult learners’ perceptions on the use of blogs for assessing their English writing skills in terms of the perceived benefits, drawbacks, and technical constraints. Being a case study, the research involved a group of adult ESL learners following an English proficiency course at the undergraduate level in a state university in Sri Lanka. It was conducted by using a survey-type questionnaire shared with the purposive sample of year one arts undergraduates who were in the second semester of study. Descriptive statics were used for data tabulation and percentages were generated to decipher the sample’s reaction to a blog-based assessment given to them during the first semester of study. The findings from the data analysis indicate that these students perceived blogs as a valid, acceptable, and beneficial form of assessment that can also improve and motivate them to write in the second language. However, they also admitted that challenges remain when authoring blogs, such as poor bandwidth and lack of connectivity, difficulty in understanding instructions on creating blog accounts, having their content plagiarized, and technical constraints. From the findings, there is a suggestion to first promote the use of blog entries to assess students’ writing skills as a continued practice and second to formulate strategies to counteract the challenges. To sum up, the main findings reveal that in spite of some difficulties, these ESL learners had a highly positive attitude towards the use of blogbased assessments for testing their English writing skills. Sat, 03 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT http://repository.lib.vpa.ac.lk/handle/123456789/1831 2022-12-03T00:00:00Z http://repository.lib.vpa.ac.lk/handle/123456789/1830 A study of performing arts undergraduates’ needs and perceptions of learning esl at the tertiary level: insights for syllabus design Embogama, R.M.S.N. Prior to any revision or redesign of a syllabus, it is crucial to conduct a needs analysis in order to gather the expected requirements of a course. The objective of the research was to investigate the needs and perceptions of a group of dance and drama students as ESL learners of a tertiary-level English language programme. The research focused on the students’ language learning requirements, their motivation to learn the L2, their preference for learning different language skills and tasks, perceptions about the existing English program, and preferred learning styles. Using the purposive sampling technique, data were gathered through a survey-type questionnaire. The research comprised a sample of 215 performing arts undergraduates majoring in either dance or drama at a Sri Lankan state university. The research findings revealed that these students need to learn English primarily for purposes of verbal communication. They preferred to learn by doing presentations in English and also indicated their willingness to adopt computer-assisted language learning to develop ESL proficiency as autonomous learners. The majority expressed their satisfaction with the existing English programme although some were of the view that it should be more speech-oriented. The overall research results indicated that the students preferred an activity-based curriculum that focused more on developing their English-speaking skills. Moreover, it showed that the respondents were highly motivated and aware of the importance of developing their English language skills to function in their general and academic contexts Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT http://repository.lib.vpa.ac.lk/handle/123456789/1830 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z