Speak Up or Shut Up: Factors Why Majority of Filipino Students Opt Not to Use English Language as a Conversational Medium

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The ability to communicate in English is an essential skill. It is important to understand the English language to be able to interact with more people. It is the medium that most subjects use. Filipino students have difficulties encountered in communication using the English language. Many studies have identified the difficulties that students experience in the English language but no studies have explored the reasons why the majority of Filipino students opt not to use English as a conversational medium.

METHODS

The sampling frame such as the respondents were taken from Senior High School students at ETTMNHS-ISHS School Year 2018-2019. The sampling technique that researchers used was Cluster Sampling whereas the respondents were grouped according to their academic strand and to their sections. A total of 23 students were included as respondents of the study. The data for the study were collected by the researchers using the -Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale-(FLCAS) developed by Horwitz et al. (1986) to conduct data through quantitative analysis.

RESULTS

The feeling represented in findings revealed that most of the students are agree that they are having negatives feeling when speaking or talking using the English Language. Most of the students have not enough confidence so that they feel anxious every time they are needed to answer. They feel embarrassed when they make grammatical mistakes in front of the class. They are not competent in any way when it comes to the English language. Also, in finding reasons revealed that most of it shows that many of the students are agree that they have a negative attitude towards the English Language. The findings represent that being shy is the main reason for not using the English language.

DISCUSSIONS

The researchers found out that the main feelings of students every time they are talking or speaking using the English language are an embarrassment, afraid, and nervousness. Also, the factors why the majority of Filipino students opt not to use English as their conversational medium are having a lack of confidence, shyness, anxiety, and not enough opportunity to speak during their English class. The researchers will endorse the findings of the study to the school itself and to the Department of Education (DepEd) in order for them to create a policy or new strategy wherein Filipino students will able to understand the importance of English and for the improvement of the educational system of every school.