Journal of Economics & Management Research

The COVID-19 pandemic, which has paralysed the world for almost two years, has had disastrous effects on many sectors of society. Across the globe the educational system has plummeted due to the COVID-19 pandemic [1]. In Sri Lanka, a large population comprising school going children and university undergraduates are facing disruption to their studies due to the devastating effects in the education systems brought about by of the pandemic. The hasty transition from the traditional face-to-face classroom methodology adopted in the teaching of English to undergraduates into online learning and blended learning modes has created a plethora of problems ranging from internet connectivity issues to inability to possess devices for learning due to economic crises. Teaching English to undergraduates entails equipping them with the four language skills, namely reading, writing, listening and speaking. However, the online teaching method has to some extent curtailed the freedom that the face-to-face language classroom provides. This paper attempts to briefly explore the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges faced, on the teaching of English to undergraduates in Sri Lanka