Learning MFL (Sinhala) in the Junior School

In BSC children learn Sinhala as a second language and they are given opportunities to learn either in the Advanced group or in the Basic group depending on their present language skills. In Junior School, students learn a broad range of topics to expose pupils to a variety of vocabulary including cultural information. They are encouraged to understand and respond both in speech and in writing during the lessons. Lessons usually include songs, videos clips, role play group & individual work.

Key Stage 1 students will work on their speaking and listening abilities, while Key Stage 2 students in basic Sinhala will begin to learn the Sinhala alphabet, write in Sinhala, and speak in simple phrases. Whereas in advance Sinhala they build their knowledge into writing and speaking in sentences.

As they develop their skills, appropriate basic grammar such as verbs, singular and plural, present and past tenses are taught at the Advanced level. Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing skills are monitored at the end of each topic to evaluate their progress.

It is expected that by learning basic communication skills of Sinhala language children will be able to communicate confidently in a multi-lingual society such as in Sri Lanka.