Spelling Difficulties Encountered By the Intermediate Pupils of Venancio Trinidad Sr. Memorial School

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Language is the mirror that reveals what is going on in the human mind. It is audible behavior, which distinguishes man from other living things (Yule 2006:9). On the other hand, language is an acquired habit of systematic vocal and non-vocal activities representing meanings coming from human experience. This study investigated English spelling errors made by intermediate pupils of Venancio Trinidad Sr. Memorial School, including both vowel and consonant errors. This study was based on the assumption that the intermediate students have a weakness in English spelling. The researcher carried out this study to discover the factors behind these problems. Unawareness of spelling rules and sound problems might be the cause.

METHODS

To deal with English spelling errors, two spelling tests (pre-and post-intervention) were administrated to one hundred fifty students from intermediate at Venancio Trinidad Sr. Memorial School. The student's native language is Tagalog, they have been studying English as part of the K-12 Curriculum. The sampling procedure was taken from three different settings. Fifty students from Grade Four, fifty students from Grade Five and fifty students from Grade Six. In the beginning, the pre-intervention test was given to the students without any explanations of spelling rules or English sounds. After the pre-test, the students were taught a model spelling syllabus which was designed by the researcher for this purpose. After a week the students were given the post-intervention spelling test.

RESULTS

Based on the test results, the main findings of the study were that spelling errors were noticeable in particularly poor vowels. Students face difficulties with English sounds that do not exist. Also, the study indicates that the overgeneralization of spelling rules is a causative factor for the spelling errors committed. Based on an analysis of the results, it is recommended that a possible solution for the spelling problem involves teaching correct pronunciation, basic spelling rules and reminding the students of the exceptions to English spelling rules.

DISCUSSIONS

Students should have a good grasp of these skills before reaching the secondary educational level. Thus, it is necessary to focus on spelling rules and English sounds in primary education.