Abstract:
Time to time various teaching theories and approaches have been
introduced to improve English as a second language (ESL) learning and
teaching. Researchers introduced numerous teaching methods from grammar
translation to communicative competence. Each new method lasted a few
years or decades due to various teaching learning difficulties, failures and not
suiting the needs of the learners and benefitting them. With the advent of
Science and technology it became a vogue to conduct computer assisted
language teaching and learning. Yet there are impediments in learning and
teaching ESL at all levels. The traditional teaching methods are still followed
in the tertiary education including the universities in Sri Lanka. The syllabi
are designed according to class room teaching. By introducing a hybrid ESL
learning model it is intended to achieve better performance in ESL learning
and teaching to be on par with ESL learning and teaching in the other
developed countries. One hundred and twenty five first year students from
the Faculty of Arts University of Jaffna were selected on a random basis. A
qualitative method was used to collect data. This study intends to research
on introducing a hybrid ESL learning model to the first year students of the
Faculty of Arts. Questionnaires were circulated to the students to gather
data. Two modes of teaching were done with the students. One in the
traditional manner and the other through computer based teaching and
learning. Interviews were conducted with the staff and class room
observation is utilized. The findings revealed the fact that the learners and
staff benefit very much through a hybrid ESL teaching mode. The research
may motivate administrators and teachers to introduce hybrid ESL learning
at tertiary level.
