Mr Mariyaslevan Story
I am Mr Mariyaslevan, an English teachers in a small village school in Muruganoor, Vavuniya area. I have been teaching for the past 25 years and would like to share my experiences and insights. In primary schools, English is taught from Grade 1 to Grade 5. However, for Grades 3 to 5, only 30 minutes per 6 periods are allocated per week. Additionally, the primary focus of schools tends to be on preparing students for the scholarship exam after Grade 3, which limits opportunities for improving students’ English proficiency.
This situation, combined with the use of outdated teaching methods, has hindered most students’ ability to progress in English. While a few students excel, the majority lack interest and do not achieve the necessary standards in reading, writing, or speaking. Many students struggle to read or understand sentences and cannot write properly in English without errors.
To address these issues, we introduced the Lotus Program. This system has brought significant changes in students’ interest and progress in learning English. The program incorporates a phonics-based approach, which is introduced at the start of Grade 3. Students learn to write letters and words in alignment with grammatical rules.
The Lotus Program also uses storybooks and visual aids to engage students. Based on their proficiency levels, students are grouped and guided to gradually improve their reading, comprehension, and writing skills. By connecting the program to the school curriculum, we ensured that it complements the syllabus without disrupting it.
As a result, the Lotus Program has helped students achieve noticeable improvements. They can now understand sentences, write in English with fewer errors, and speak naturally. Beyond improving language skills, the program has made learning English enjoyable, motivating students to engage actively in their studies.
