Transforming English language learning into a digital adventure
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A line of children in crisp white uniforms walks purposefully toward their desks. Above the entrance to the classroom, a new sign gleams: "Akelius Language Lab." This isn’t just another classroom; it’s part of a transformative English-language learning initiative implemented by UNICEF Sri Lanka, supported by the Akelius Foundation in partnership with Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Education and Provincial Education Department, supporting nearly 1,500 primary-grade students across 12 schools in eastern Sri Lanka.
For years, learning English in many Sri Lankan schools, like most other subjects, has centered around the traditional teaching methods, with lessons driven strictly by the textbooks, blackboards and chalk. Classrooms relied heavily on traditional reading, writing, and comprehension exercises, with little room to tailor lessons to individual learning needs or varying paces. Limited resources, large class sizes, and uneven teacher distribution have further made English, a challenging subject for many children. Although English is introduced early in the curriculum, meaningful exposure and interactive learning remain out of reach for far too many.
Now, with Sri Lanka’s renewed push for digital transformation of the education sector, schools that once lagged are stepping into the future through initiatives such as Akelius. Alongside the introduction of the platform, it has brought with it tablets and smartboards, which has in turn sparked the students’ passion for learning, in communities often left on the margins.
In classrooms with minimal facilities, children are now experiencing a genuine shift.
“This platform has introduced a new way for us to teach English,” says Nishamani Nayanathara, an English teacher at the Kantale Agbopura Primary School in eastern Sri Lankan. “We are a rural school, and if not for UNICEF support, these children wouldn’t have the chance to access these devices or such an innovative learning platform such as Akelius. But what’s truly remarkable is the change in their enthusiasm. Children who weren’t so keen on English are now the first ones in class.”
More Than Technology
The Akelius platform isn’t just about putting tablets in children’s hands. It’s about reimagining how they learn, building their listening and speaking skills and their confidence.
Designed around the four pillars of language learning - reading, writing, speaking, and listening - the platform uses rich audio, visuals, and interactive tasks. Students are able to revisit the lessons and learn at their own pace.
Nine-year-old Dinuka Nethsara from the Kantala Agbopura Primary School explains it in the most honest way, “My favourite subject now is English because learning with the tab has made it so much easier. The pictures and songs make it easy to understand and remember. Before, we just wrote what the teacher dictated. Now we must use our own thinking to follow the lesson on the tab.”
The shift from copying to thinking is transformative. Children are no longer just memorizing the lessons and are instead engaging.
Learning as play
Another quiet innovation introduced to the English language learning experience via Akelius is the gamification of the lessons. With colorful visuals and game-like activities, English has turned into an activity children look forward to rather than feel anxious about.
Grade 4 student Naushad Atheef, from Imam Shafi Vidyalaya in Muttur, a suburb of eastern Sri Lanka says, “I really enjoy learning English using Akelius. My favourite lesson has been learning about the parts of the body. The song is very catchy and made it easier to understand.”
These playful elements aren’t just fun. They are intentional tools that support memory and mastery.
But the most powerful feature of Akelius is its ability to adapt to each learner. Children learn differently, at varying paces and via varying mediums. The platform recognizes these differences and shapes the experience accordingly.
Grade 5 student Chanaya from Agbopura Primary School explains the difference; “Not only has this made learning easier for us, but the teachers also mark our lessons faster now.” Instant feedback and individualized pathways mean no child is left behind, and no child is held back.
Technology only succeeds when teachers embrace it. Akelius empowers educators with tools to access rich educational materials, track each child’s progress and identify students needing extra support, helping manage classrooms more efficiently.
This has shifted teachers from lecturers to facilitators, allowing them to focus on guiding and supporting students making the learning experience more student centric.
This transformation has also required significant investment. To facilitate the use of Akelius platform and support Sri Lanka’s education digitization efforts, in the Eastern province alone UNICEF has provided a total of 414 tablets for hands-on learning, 11 smartboards to facilitate collaborative lessons, as well as headsets, chargers, and other essential accessories. For many rural schools, these devices represent the first real step into digital learning.
Reaching Those Who Need It Most
Across the 12 schools in the Eastern Province, excitement around English language learning is soaring. Children who once hesitated now volunteer and lessons that once felt distant now feel accessible. In communities that have long struggled due to resource gaps, the Akelius platform has represented something deeply meaningful - an opportunity.
In Sri Lanka, Akelius has transformed into something more than English language learning. It has paved the way to ensuring that children in rural schools have the same chance to dream and achieve as any child, anywhere. Each morning, when the children walk into the Akelius Language Lab, they aren’t just attending a class. They are stepping boldly into their futures and the confidence that they can learn, communicate, and thrive.
When innovation meets compassion, extraordinary things unfold. The Akelius platform isn’t just improving English learning, it is expanding horizons and changing futures.