Introducing collaborative learning into English education in a Sri Lankan university: An exploratory case-study

This thesis is a qualitative exploratory case-study to investigate an enactment of a re-designed English for General Academic Purposes (EGAP) curriculum with collaborative activities in a Sri Lankan university setting. This specifically demonstrates the potential use of a less institutionalised environment for ESL teaching and learning, where ‘collaborative peer social capital’ and ‘peer inculcation’ can be built up. Teachers’ and students’ data were analysed thematically and interpreted with concepts from curriculum studies and Bourdieusian sociology. The intent of the study was to help Sri Lankan ESL learners to overcome negative emotions and social barriers in English language learning.