Primer on Academic Writing Enhancement for Grade 10 ESL Learners

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

In the Philippines, English has been a course of study for over a century. English has entered the fabric of the country's prime concerns, placing it ahead of its Asian neighbors when it comes to competence in the second language. The Philippines is known as one of the largest English-speaking nations for the majority of its population has fluency in the language. However, the country's edge in English proficiency is said to be declining. This weakening English proficiency of Filipinos has been one of the reasons why oral and written English proficiency has become a vital issue nowadays.

METHODS

The descriptive-quantitative research design was utilized in this study. The main instrument used by the researchers to gather data was the constructed analytic rubrics validated by expert ESL teachers from other schools. The participants were asked to write a different academic text for three series each. Then all the academic texts written by the participants were gathered and evaluated against the validated rubrics through triangulation method, and then data were tallied, analyzed and interpreted. The researcher utilized frequency, weighted mean, one-way ANOVA and linear regression test as a statistical treatment to analyze the data.

RESULTS

The level of writing skills of grade 10 ESL participants in four academic texts is still on developing level. Moreover, written texts of the students are poor in conventions in descriptive and narrative text, poor in word choice in expository text and poor in content, focus,and organization of ideas in writing a persuasive text. On the other hand, the persuasive text has poor performance among the four academic texts written by the participants and the rests are still on developing level. The level of writing skills of the participants is not significant among the four types of academic texts and the aspects of language significantly affect the performance of participants in writing academic texts.

DISCUSSIONS

The results signify that there is a need for students to be more skilled in terms of writing an essay. ESL teachers should always promote programs and projects like Talk in English (TIE) campaign particularly in concerned subjects where English is used as a medium of instruction that will enhance written and oral communication skills of the students. The utilization of the proposed primer created by the researcher in teaching an academic text to students must be effectively ensured.