Tributaries Factors Affecting the Reading Skills of Grade V Pupils at Flaviano-Pelagia Pantoja MES

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

A teacher teaching English will definitely tackle grammar skills, vocabulary, conversation, listening skills, writing, pronunciation, and reading. Being a master teacher, the researcher has been thinking of reasons for the difficulty of pupils in learning English. The researcher observed that the student performance in the second language acquisition is affected by certain factors starting from the lesson itself and the degree of difficulty down to teachers and teaching methods.

METHODS

Descriptive method of research was used; the main instrument used in this study was a researcher-made questionnaire. This questionnaire was bound to determine the difficulties and the causes of these difficulties by forty (40) Grade Five pupils of Flaviano Pelagia Pantoja Memorial Elementary School. The questionnaires were retrieved, tabulated, and tallied and thereafter treated with the appropriate statistical tools.

RESULTS

First in rank was sounding off difficult words. This has something to do with the competencies learned in the primary school wherein the pupils should have gained the skill. Second was understanding difficult words when reading which showed the low vocabulary that the Grade Five pupils possess in this level. Grammatical structure of sentences was third which revealed the underdeveloped skill in grammar. Of course, low vocabulary meant difficulty in understanding narratives and giving conclusions to what is being read. Finally, word etymology and structural analysis go hand in hand with spelling competencies.

DISCUSSIONS

The difficulties of Grade Five pupils in Learning English were found in sounding off and understanding difficult words, low vocabulary, grammatical structure of sentences and underdeveloped skill in grammar, word etymology and spelling. Causes of difficulties included underdeveloped vocabulary, low reading ability, pupil absenteeism, pupil attitude in English, and disruptive behavior of classmates and lack of instructional materials. A supplement material in teaching English was proposed by the researcher.