Project BEST (Bilingual Examinationin Science and Technology): Improving Reading Comprehension and Test Score

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The action research was made from the problems experienced by the researcher as a science teacher where students were having hard time decoding the questions during examination. As a consequence, students have low performance in their examination as evidenced by low Mean Percentage Score. Through careful analysis of possible interventions, one immediate method was the use of bilingualism in examination with the help of Google Translate. The researcher created a project named BEST (Bilingual Examination in Science and Technology) to improve reading comprehension and test scores. It got its inspiration from movies and television shows with subtitles including certificates with Filipino translation.

METHODS

The researcher employed a cross-sectional quasi-experimental research design following a random sampling technique among grade 11 public STEM students. The experimental group received the researcher-made BEST style and a five-item Likert scale survey, while the control group received a regular examination in science. Both were subjected to validity and reliability using Lawshe Method, KR-20, and Cronbach's a. T-test was used for the test scores.

RESULTS

98% of respondents agreed that BEST helped them understand the questions clearly. In support, Tapang (2012) mentioned that students learn faster, better and with more enthusiasm when they were taught using their local language. There were 93% of students gave an affirmative response that the BEST style gave them more confidence and helped them learn new words. The result was supported by Trudell & Buhmann (2008) where students exposed to intercultural bilingual education have greater self-esteem and they acquire additional linguistic competencies from their first language. Another 93% of the respondents wanted their scientific tests to be written using the BEST style. Lastly, 92% of the respondents wanted to use BEST to other applicable subjects. Tapang (2012), cited that countries who teach their basic education in the local language with the integration of English like Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore consistently score and rank high in tests.

DISCUSSIONS

The result shows a strong and consistent positive response of the respondents towards the use of BEST style. The null hypothesis was rejected based on P-value therefore, there was enough evidence to support that there was a significant difference between the test scores of students in BEST style as compared to regular examination. Cohen's d is said to be "moderate”