The impact of the learning environment of Resident English Camps in achieving the pledged oral competency of the students: A case of selected camps in Kandy, Nittambuwa and Kurunegala

Abstract

Resident English Camps have acquired a wide spread popularity at present owing to their controversial challenge that they are capable of originating an orally competent individual within their fleeting course period of one month or two months. Their assured quick progress of the language with the change of the environment has left individuals with a doubt about its veracity. Thus this study was focused on discovering the possible impact of the learning environment in the camp in facilitating students’ English language acquisition to reach the pledged apex of oral competency. In accumulating data for the study, 30 students, 4 instructors and 5 former students from three leading Resident English Camps located in three geographical areas, Kandy, Nittambuwa, and Kurunegala were utilized. The primary data collection sources such as interview method, questionnaire method and observation method and the secondary data collection sources including books, journals, the internet, abstracts, magazines, and newspapers were effectively utilized so as to accumulate data for the study. Through the data analysis, the researcher could discover that camp environment which is an antithesis to an ordinary classroom environment retains the capacity to enhance students’ learning process with its unconventional, yet properly-structured, nurturing environment. Here, students with the need to learn the language gain confidence so as to produce and practise the language being away from the increasingly sarcastic put down oriented the world. Evidently, the positive, motivational camp environment has acted as a facilitator in boosting the oral competency of the students.