The Language & Communication Laboratory
The Language & Communication Lab was established with the IRQUE grant of the World Bank in April 2007.
The main aims of this lab are:
- To provide adequate English language proficiency to medical undergraduates so that they could follow the course without a language barrier.
- To provide students with opportunities to improve English. Sinhala & Tamil conversational skills to communicate with patients of different socio-cultural backgrounds.
To achieve those objectives we are focusing on five main areas, namely to improve the students' ability to read, write, listen, speak in English using correct grammar and correct pronunciation. This is achieved in two stages.
Firstly by the intensive course in English in the first four weeks of the first term (orientation programme).
Secondly by the on going course in English which will run through all the modules of the phase 1 and phase 2.
During the orientation period (First four weeks of term 1) language lab activities are carried out from 1.00-4 .00 p.m. on four days of the week. These are mainly aimed at getting the students to use the grammatically correct English in writing & speaking. There is emphasis on correct spelling & correct pronunciation as well. The activities are based on non medical & medically related topics.
Under the new curriculum in each module a student spends 3 hrs per week (1.00-4.00 p.m. on Wednesdays) in the language lab. These activities are based on the contents of the relevant module. Currently these activities are conducted by the academic staff members of the Faculty with the assistance of the demonstrators (medical graduates).
At the moment the self learning activities are mostly based on grammar & vocabulary. Students are encouraged to utilize the lab during their self learning hours. Dictionaries, glossaries (medical & general English) are available for reference. CDs to learn English, Tamil, Sinhala with essential words and phrases for absolute beginners are available. CDs of the English Talking dictionary (Collins) and the Talking dictionary (Oxford) are also available. At the moment, since resources are limited students are allowed to use them for reference inside the lab premises only.
Language and Comm. Laboratory Staff
Academic Staff
| Dr. D M S Fernando | Person in Charge |  |
Non-Academic Staff
| Mr. P.H.T. Chamara Punchihewa | Technical Officer |  |
Contact Details
Telephone: +94 11 2758723
email: thakshikap@yahoo.com
