Literature Connect: Bridging Language Learning Gaps Among 21st Century Learners

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

English language learning remains to be the most serious and most rampant learning difficulty despite the department's effort to provide quality education. Lit Connect is a research that is premised on a specific language program integrated English classes with the purpose of alleviating reading problems among Grade 9 students of Bolbok Integrated National High School in Lipa City. The use of literature as springboard had a significant effect on students' listening comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary. Moreover, literature as academic reading had a significant effect on reading comprehension, oral language, grammar and writing comprehension.

METHODS

This study focused on the literature-based strategies in developing language competencies among Grade 9 students in the Bolbok Integrated National High School. The researcher made use of the experimental pre-test-post-test design whereby a careful analysis of the gathered data is made in order to arrive at the needed answers to the problems posited in the study. This study was conducted in the subject school, with four Grade 9 classes. Grade 9 English teachers and students were taken as the respondents of the study.

RESULTS

A significant relationship exists only between post-test results and the following variables: vocabulary, viewing, grammar and study strategies as affirmed by a p-value of p< 0. 05. The coefficient of variation (r2) represents the rate of variation of post-test results based on the perception of the respondents regarding the utilization of literature-based strategies. Of all the domains of the English language, only four of them showed a significant relationship with the literature based strategies. These were vocabulary, viewing, and grammar. These five domains are highly interrelated with each other, especially with vocabulary and viewing which have similar r2 and p-value.

DISCUSSIONS

The results imply that Grade Nine English teachers of Bolbok Integrated National High School religiously comply with the Department of Education orders and regulations on instructions and curriculum implementations. Furthermore, they are abreast with the current trends in language teaching. However, since the result of the study showed that six out of the ten domains have no relationship at all to the result of post-test, teachers should focus more on how to improve and develop those domains namely listening comprehension, fluency, oral language, reading comprehension, writing and composition, and attitude.