The Relationship between Vocabulary and Writing Skills of Grade 9 Students of General Emilio Aguinaldo National High School: Basis for a Proposed Instructional Protocol for Vocabulary Enhancement

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Many educators experience problems on how to expand students' vocabulary skills. It is through one's stock of words that one develops the ability to express ideas clearly especially in writing. Lack of adequate vocabulary related to written communication is one of the problems that have to be taken into consideration if quality education is to be achieved. In this study, the researcher tried to determine the level of vocabulary skills, the level of writing skills, and the relationship between the students' vocabulary and writing skills.

METHODS

To find the relationship between the level of vocabulary and writing skills of the grade 9 students of General Emilio Aguinaldo National High School, this study applied correlative research design. 365 respondents from 7 sections were given an objective-type vocabulary test and were asked to write an essay rated through a rubric. Data collected were tested through quantitative analysis.

RESULTS

Respondents were described to possess above average level in vocabulary skills and in all the areas of writing skills, getting the lowest average in paragraph construction. The study revealed that the writing skills of grade 9 students are significantly related to their vocabulary skills. Hence, it may be inferred that a student who is good in vocabulary is likely to be good at writing. Since the respondents are deemed to be above average performers in vocabulary skills and writing skills, they have the potentials to enhance both skills. Moreover, based on the findings of the study, an instructional protocol for vocabulary enhancement was proposed.

DISCUSSIONS

Based on the interpreted results, it appeared that the performance of the grade 9 students in vocabulary tends to affect their performance in writing paragraphs. Therefore, there is a need for teachers to employ techniques and strategies that would enhance students' vocabulary including better strategies in teaching paragraph construction. Further, researches concerning the relationship between vocabularies and writing skills must be done in order to find some other solution to this problem. Thus, the utilization of the instructional protocol to enhance vocabulary is recommended.