A Study on the Multimedia Teaching Method Applied in Foreign Language Teaching and Learning in Sri Lanka

Abstract

In recent years, as a result of the economic and cultural interactions in between foreign countries and Sri Lanka, teaching languages has successfully step towards Sri Lankan education system. Gradually a vast number of students are motivated to learn languages because of its essentiality in contemporary Sri Lankan society. Due to the rapid development of the information technology in the 21st century, the modern society is also more concerned about the integration of the multimedia education in to the education system in Sri Lanka. This study mainly focuses on the effectiveness of the multimedia teaching method in language teaching classroom in Sri Lanka. This research is designed to be a quantitative research study and the research sample consisted of 100 students engaged in Chinese language learning, as well as the local Chinese teachers who involved in Chinese culture teaching in the University of Kelaniya. Data collection method of this study includes questioner and the interview. The research sample was questioned on the multimedia methods used in the Chinese language classroom and the student satisfaction regarding the multimedia teaching method currently used. The findings demonstrated that, the multimedia techniques usage is not satisfied to meet the academic needs of teachers and the language education system of the university is not yet derived from the traditional education process. Thus, the conclusion concerns the teacher should regulate the new multimedia teaching methods engaged with the new developments of the second language education including PowerPoint presentation, video displaying, picture displaying and object displaying methods in order to let the language learner easily acquire the focal point of the teaching and also to facilitate the effective utilization of learning time by enhancing the interest towards learning. The leaners themselves can be taught to operate multimedia and learning materials. Create more opportunities to train the teachers to use multimedia methods in TCFL classroom is also recommended in order to grow needs and demands of the language studies through the digital media towards a sustainable future in Sri Lanka