THE SPEAKING ENGLISH PROFICIENCY OF THE FOURTH YEAR

STUDENTS OF MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY-SULTAN NAGA

DIMAPORO HIGH SCHOOL IN THE SCHOOL YEAR 2012-2013

A RESEARCH PAPER

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS

OF THE COURSE C.A ENGLISH IV

Researcher
JAMINAH DIMAPORO BENASING

March 2013

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The researcher wishes to express her sincere appreciation
and extends her deepest gratitude to the most gracious and the
most merciful almighty ALLAH (S.W.A) for the wisdom, strength
and guidance to make this endeavour a success.
To her ever loving and supportive family especially to her
father, Mr. Zaiton H. Benasing and her mother Mrs. Calima D.
Benasing for their moral, financial and spiritual support and for
always there both in her ups and downs.
To her brothers and sisters namely, Aisha, Ameera Jawaher
and Ahmad who became a part of her inspiration and for their
constant moral support, and to her cousins, Juwairiah Arumpac,
Mizh-al Zacaria, Fatima Jannah Zacaria, Abdul Jabbar Macabato
and Fatima Jasmina Decampong for their moral and material
support.
To her ever supportive uncles, Mr. Khadaffy Dimaporo and
Hadji Noor Macabato. To her beloved aunties, Mrs. Lawanun
Macabato, Mrs. Diamila Dimaporo and Mrs. Sahara Dimaporo for
their encouragement and moral support.
To her teachers, especially to Ms. Aiza A. Maguindanao &
Mrs. Maria Cristina Sonza for their encouragement.
Special mention is due to her friends; Sarangfriends ,
Hodah, Laial , Hafsah, Nor-ain, Hanina and especially to her fellow
Darwinians datroubemakers , Nasib, Amina, Alinor, Yasmin,
Nasiba, Fatma, Nafisah, Sittie Hasmin , Rohaidah and Hasanah for
the support and sympathy.

Jiji

Chapter I
INTRODUCTION
Language is definitely the medium of instruction. It is
through language people do understand each other. In this light,
language became a very important skill man has to learn in order
for him to survive to the environment he is living in. Furthermore,
man was born with his mother language language which he
inherits from his parents. Moreover, he has a second language
aside from his mother language.
Coping-up and understanding others culture and way of life
is essential this may help man to grow as well as his race. The
ability of mimicking the foreign language will lead to
interconnectedness and will bridge nations and culture towards
progress. It is through language man can express his thought and
free himself from the prison of ignorance. As stated by the
theorist Halliday , language has seven functions: (1) the
instrumental function : using language to get things ; (2) the
regulatory function : using language to control the behaviour of
others ; (3) the personal function : using language to express
personal feelings and meanings ; (4) the interactional function :
using language to create interaction to others ; (5) the heuristic
function : using language to learn and discover ; (6) the
imaginative function : using language to create a world of the
imagination ; (7) the representational function : using language to
communicate informations, (Halliday 1975 : 11-17 )

With the help of language, change for the better can be in

our hand ; moreover, language also have the power to destroy
things even life. It is in this reason, language became a powerful
weapon man can have and a wonderful gift God has given to us.
Philippines is known to be a good English-speaking country
largest English-speaking country in Asia. English became the
second language in the Philippines, if not in their mother
language, Filipino use English language for communication. In
schools from basic education up to college, English language is
being taught. Almost everywhere in the country, English language
can be heard , and almost all types of people regardless of race
and educational attainment know the language. Even the
Philippine constitution is written in English.
Furthermore, this study is conducted to assess how the
fourth (4th) year students MSU-SND High School are familiar the
English language and how proficient they are in using the
language in communication specifically in speaking. Moreover,
this study aims to determine the different factors and conditions
that may affect the students performance in speaking.
Furthermore, other related ideas in speaking proficiency will be
discussed in the course of this study.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Man is gifted with knowledge to acquire complex
information, example of these is language acquisition. It is in this
reason, man is superb to all beings God has created. Man has
innate acquisition device ever since he is born as stated by
Chomsky and Lenneberg that the innate knowledge is embodied
in a little box known as the Language Acquisition Device
(LAD) which consists the four innate linguistic properties to
name : (1) the ability to distinguish speech sounds from the other
sounds in the environment ; (2) the ability to organize linguistic
events into various classes which can later be refined ; (3)
knowledge that only a certain kind of linguistic system is possible
and that the other kinds are not ; and (4) the ability to engage in
constant evaluation of the linguistic system so as to construct the
simplest the possible system using the data gathered. However,
acquiring of language may be affected by some physical and
social factors depending on the individuals perception. As
stressed by (Applebee 1947:150) Individual were also seen as
possessing unique interests, styles, needs, and goals, which
should be reflected in the design of method of instruction. On the
other hand, this is negated by the theorist Savignon (1983:47)

Writes Montaigne, Without methods, without a book, without

grammar or rules, without a whip and without tears, I had learned
Latin as proper as that of my schoolmaster. In addition, the latter
was affirmed by (Hillgard and Bower 1966) This antistructural
view can be held to represent the language learning version of a
more general learning perspective usually referred to as learning
by doing or the experience approach.
It is through constant practice of the language man can
acquire both cognitive (grammar and rules) and behavioural
(automation). In Hymes view, a person who acquires
communicative competence acquires both knowledge and ability
for language use with the respect to :
1. Whether (and to what degree) something is formally possible
;
2. Whether (and to what degree) something is feasible in virtue
of the means of implementation available.
3. Whether (and to what degree) something is appropriate
(adequate, happy, successful) in relation to the context in
which it is used and evaluated ;
4. Whether (and to what degree) something is in fact done,
actually performed, and what is doing entails;

(Hymes
1972:281)

Almost a decade the American military was present in the

Philippines and controlled the country until after World War II
(1939-1945). In this light, as early as 9 th century Filipinos are
engaged with English Language and prompted to speak the

language because of the strict policy of the Americans to use the

language as the medium of communication.
In Philippine setting, a highly proficient English speaker gains
respect from the community and earn a high profile identity.
Moreover, the literacy of the language brings you more
opportunity and opens gateway to a high paying job. On the other
hand, the Philippine Education is trying to educate Filipino about
the language (English) hoping that this will be of great help to the
country in reaching progress.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
It is conceived in this study that there are socio-cultural
factors that influence communication arts in English. This means
that such factors as ethno-linguistic affiliation, academic
performance, sex, parents educational attainment, and reaction
towards English as a subject influence in the speaking proficiency
of fouth (4th) year students. This study uses the students ethnolinguistic affiliation, academic performance, sex, parents

educational attainment and reaction towards English Oral

Communication Subject as the independent variables, while
speaking skills like pronunciation, fluency, and comprehensibility
as dependent variables.

INDEPENDENT
VARIABLES

DEPENDENT
VARIABLES

AGE
SEX

SPEAKING SKILLS

ETHNO-LINGUISTIC AFFILIATION
MOTHERS EDUCATIONAL
ATTAINMENT

PRONUNCIATION
FLUENCY
COMPREHENSIBILIT
Y

FATHERS EDUCATIONAL
ATTAINMENT
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
REACTION TOWARDS ENGLISH
ORAL COMMUNICATION SUBJECT

Schematic Diagram

Statement of the Problem

This study basically aims to assess the English speaking
proficiency of fourth year students of MSU-SND High School in
relation to some socio-cultural variables during the school year
2012-2013.

Specifically this study sought to answer these questions :

1. What is the profile of the fourth year students of MSU-SND High
School in terms of:
1.1 Age
1.2 Sex
1.3 Ethno-linguistic
affiliation
1.4 Mothers educational
attainment

1.5 Fathers educational

attainment
1.6 Academic Performance
1.7 Reaction towards
English Oral
Communication
Subject

2. What is the level of the students English speaking proficiency

in terms of:
2.1 Pronunciation
2.2 Fluency
2.3 Comprehensibility
3. Which language components in the speech process especially
in vowels, consonants, stress, intonation pattern, phrasing and
blending are the students most deficient?
4. Is there a significant relationship between the students
proficiency and the following variables:

4.1 Age
4.2 Sex
4.3 Ethno-linguistic
4.4 Mothers educational attainment
4.5 Fathers educational attainment
4.6 Academic performance
4.7 Reaction towards English Oral Communication Subject
4.8
5. What are the common perceived problems encountered by the
students inj the English Oral Communication Subject?
5.1
5.2

The Hypotheses

5.3
Hypotheses formulated:

The following were the Null

1. There is no significant relationship between the students age

and their speaking proficiency level;
2. There is no significant relationship between their ethnolinguistics affiliation and their speaking proficiency level ;
3. There is no significant relationship between their sex and their
speaking proficiency level;
4. There is no significant relationship between their mothers
educational attainment and their speaking proficiency level;
5. There is no significant relationship between their fathers
educational attainment and their speaking proficiency level ;
6. There is no significant level between their academic
performance and their speaking proficiency.

7. There is no significant level between their reaction towards

English Oral Communication subject and their speaking
proficiency level.
5.4
5.5
5.6
5.7
5.8 Scope and Limitations
5.9
The present investigation limits its
respondents to the fourth year students of MSU-SND High School in
the year 2012-2013. This study is also limited to some variables
such as age, ethno-linguistic affiliatin, sex, academic performance,
parents educational attainment and reaction towards English Oral
Communication subject and to what extent these factors will
influence the speaking proficiency in terms of pronunciation,
fluency, and comprehensibility of these students.
5.10
5.11

Significance of the Study

5.12
Evaluating
and determining the
proficiency of the learner have been parts of the educational
practice. The evaluation serves as a language guide for the learners,
teachers, and school administrators and finds out where they are
and how far they achieved, and in what direction they need to go.
This study then will prove to be beneficial among the learners,
teachers and school administrators.
5.13
To the learners, the findings provide
them an opportuninty to size up their speaking performance.
Moreover, this study gives the learners an awareness of their
strengths and weaknesses through the speaking proficiency
examination. Through this study, the learner will be able to

recognize the value of improved speaking skill in English and be able

to understand the serious concerns of the teachers in imparting the
best of their abilities and knowledge. With this realization, the
students will be motivated to improve their speaking skill.
5.14
To the teachers, the result of this study
will provide them important information which are deemed
necessary in making teaching adjustments, so as to fit their
teaching to their students speaking potentials and capabilities. In
doing so, the teachers are able to increase their teaching
effectiveness in oral instruction.
5.15
To the school administrators, this study
will guide them in providing a condusive teaching learning
atmosphere, well suited to the learners speech needs and in
instituting measures for effective teaching oral communication to
students.
5.16
5.17
5.18

Definition of Terms

5.19
To give the readers a better
understanding of some important terms that are used in this study,
the following are defined conceptually and operationally:
5.20
Evaluation. It is the process of
examining and judging carefully. In this study, it refers to the
process of determining the respondents level of speaking
proficiency.
5.21
Proficiency. This is the oral test given
to measure the students ability to use spoken English.
5.22
Speaking Skills. This refers to the
capacity to speak with comfort and accuracy in the English

language. In this study, it refers only to the pronunciation, intonation

skills of the respondents including phrasing and blending.
5.23
Variables. This pertains to the factors
that have relevant correlations or influences on the learners
speaking ability. As used in this study, variables are divided into
independent like age, sex, ethno-linguistic affiliation, parents
educational attainment, academic performance, attitude towards
oral English subject and dependent variable like pronunciation,
fluency, and comprehensibility.
5.24
Stress. This refers to the loudness or
softness with which a vowel, dipthong or a syllable is uttered.
5.25
Vowels. This pertains to the speech
sounds produced with relatively little obstruction of the vocalized
breath.
5.26
Consonants. This refers to speech
sound produced by obstructing exhalation.
5.27
Blending.
This
pertains
to
combinations of final vowel sound of a word and initial consonant
sound of a word as it comes in succession.
5.28
Intonation. This refers to the rising
and falling movement of a voice.
5.29
Sex. It is the two divisions
organisms distinguished respectively as male and female.

of

5.30
Fluency.
This
refers
to
the
smoothness and effortless speech production of the respondents.
5.31
Pronunciation. This pertains to the
intelligibility in the speech production of the respondents.
5.32
Comprehensibility. This refers to the
understandability in the speech production of the respondents.

5.33
5.34
5.35
5.36
5.37
5.38
5.39
5.40
5.41
5.42
5.43
5.44
5.45
5.46
5.47
5.48
5.49
5.50
5.51
5.52
5.53
5.54
5.55

Chapter II

5.56

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND

STUDIES

5.57
5.58
This chapter cites a considerable
number of related literatures and studies. This related literature and
research findings have been taken from both local and foreign
sources.
5.59
5.60

Related Literature

5.61
Over the time, the world had evolved
from simple to complex so as the organisms living within it. In this
light, man has also evolved from its apelike ancestors over 60
million years. Furthermore, language which is the premier tool for
communication has also evolved, making it broadens its complex
rules for reasons of accuracy and precise effect. It is for this reason,
that a speaker must consider the specific language rules for him to
be communicatively competent in communication process. For
example, the English language has developed its rules : (Grammar
2006) An English grammar is a body of rules specifying exactly what
sequence of marks and sounds are correct in the English language.
Many accurate grammar exist, each describing a dialect or some
portion of a dialect; some such grammar are essentially natural,
having formed overtime due to random linguistic shift, while others
have been subjected to some form of conscious manipulation. In this
light, suppoted such contention is that, (Gats 1949) as cited by
(Berrowa 1998), who said that there is little justification for the
assumption of sex difference in capabilities of school achievements.
It is in content, (Kahayon and Aquino , 1999) said that studies have
indicated that girls baby talk earlier and that they have a wider
vocabulary than boy babies. This was negated by (Unlinger and
Stephens 1960) as cited by (Berowa 1998), revealed that studying
with students of high ability found that high and low achievers are
not differentiated by the strength of their needs for recognition and

affection but that high achievers are those who have greater
expectancy of success and higher goals as far as grades are
concerned. These trends are much clearer than boys rather than
girls.
5.62
However,
social
and
physical
environment may also affect the learner in learning the language. In
this content, (Armstrong et al 1991) study the relationship between
the spoken language and teaching of reading at the University of
Michigan. Their study showed that when language of school
instruction is similar to the childs spoken language, learning is
hindered. In addition, (Woolfolk 1987) listed verbal comprehension
memory, recognition, ability to visualizw, spatial, spatial
relationship, word fluency and perceptual speech as the major
mental abilities as determined by heredity, called polygenetic and
experience or environmental. Improved intelligence is through
improved nutrition, health care and social series.
5.63
The different literature showed above
is of related to this present study, such ideas are in relevance to
languge acquisition and language use specifically in speaking. The
above mentioned literature will support the present study to
elaborate the nature of language and its grounds. Moreover, it
stressed that the complexity of learning language have its own
different factors and that the effectiveness or weakness of the
speech depends on the speakers interpretation of the language.
5.64
5.65

Related Studies

5.66
Assessing the language proficiency of
the students play a vital role in providing a useful and relevant
information for the improvement of English education. Assessment
becomes a positive force in the students language growth and
development when it is in terms of what is important to them, and
when it is a means which they can use for directing their studies. To
give the students the opportunity to note which lacks and gaps

block progress will enable them to experience acceptance of their

needs as legitimate concerns for class time and effort. In this way,
language learning will be facilitated and even maximized.
5.67
Primarily , Harvey made an in-depth
analysis of the situation of a group of eight professionalas who
needed English for job-related activities. The target group was
subjected to language tests, both oral and written. Written tests
were aimed at evaluating reading comprehension, knowledge of
basic language structures and lexis of the different specialization. To
test oral-aural skills, they were asked to listen to a fifteen minute
talk on professional matters, and then individual interviews were
conducted and reviewed. An analysis of the test results showed
significant difference within the group, especially with respect to
speaking and writing skills.
5.68
Nextly, Sulaiman made an assessment
to students proficiency to help improve the English instruction in
Indonesian schools. Her findings showed that the majority of the
students were unable to read of any textbooks prescribed at the
university. The students sould not understand English magazines
even after years of studying. They could produce English words but
they could not understand what they are saying. The job of learning
English was extremely uninteresting to them because they did not
see that is produced any results.
5.69
Similarly, in 1997, Dewing, Schutz and
Yang conducted a survey to discover information that would be
useful to foreign language for English in developing programs that
would serve the Taiwan students. Through questionnaires and
interviews, the survey lead to the following conclusions: a) about
40.00% indicated that in professional or occupational matters, they
experienced difficulties due to lack of competence in English ; b) the
four language skills were ranked in terms of need in this order :
reading, listening, speaking and writing. In terms of frequency in
use, listening rated higher than reading. In terms of desired
command, speaking outweighed the other language skills. In

speaking ability, the highest ratings were given to task of giving

routine instructions for telephone conversation. For reading, text
and outlines, summaries and lecture notes ranked at the top of the
list ; c) sentence and vocabulary were considered both difficult and
valuable aspects of learning English. Appropriate usage was the
most difficult but the least important. Pronunciation and spelling
ranked as the two easiest aspects. Morphology or word formation
was rated fourth in difficulty but last in value.
5.70
Furthermore, in a local setting,
Salcedos research work on the study on the factors affecting the
English proficiency of Elementary school in Cagayan de Oro City
during the school year 1981-82, she found out that the proficiency
of teachers in listening, reading and writing was generally average
level. Low proficiency of teachers tended to be marked in the area of
speaking. The factors found to have affected the teachers English
proficiencies were : highest degree obtained, age, earned units in
English, experience, socio-economic status and language use.
5.71
Moreover, in another development, to
determine the factors affecting the oral English proficiency of wouldbe-teachers, Chavez likewise interviewed 240 Education freshmen
enrolled in the private schools in Cagayan de Oro City suring the
school year 1990-91. The oral interview scored following the formula
adapted from the Peace Corps Training Manual and the results were
categorized into five levels : outstanding, very satisfactory, average,
fair and poor. The score reveals that the Education freshmens oral
English proficiency was only fair. In addition, her study disclosed a
significant relationship between the respondents oral English
proficiency and the following independent variables : attitude
towards English, socio-economic status, teachers traits and
teachers methodology. However, frequency of language used and
type of school graduated from did not influence the respondents
oral English proficiency.
5.72
For his study, Andamen found out that
such factors as age, sex, religious affiliation did not significantly

influence the level of reading comprehension and reading

vocabulary of his respondents. Likewise the socio-economic status
did not significantly affect the level of reading comprehension of the
subjects, however, this factor significantly affected the reading
vocabulary of the respondents. In another study, Disangcopan
investigated the relationship of some socio-economic variables with
reading achievements of the first year High school of Marawi City.
She found out that age, family income, educational attainment or
parent and academic achievement were related with reading ability.
5.73
Lately, two recent studies o language
communication were conducted. The first study was conducted by
Boniao. This was on English language proficiency of college
freshmen at MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology. The result of the
study showed that college freshmens level of proficiency in English
was similarly related to their CAT score, type of school attended in
elementary and high school years and college enrolled in. Moreover,
it was also found out in the same study that the students have
better speaking proficiency were those from private schools, whose
parents are professional and are working, who had adequate
exposure to English through media and through a good language
environment, who had been taught by efficient English teachers,
and who have positive attitude towards English as a subject. The
other study conducted by Dela Pea III entitled, Factors associated
with academic Performance of AB freshmen MSU-IIT : Proposed
Language Instructional Program. His study revealed that sex,
language performance and academic lead did correlate with
academic performance.
5.74
The different studies reviwed above
are in one way or the other related to the present study, since the
methodology of the mentioned studies is more or less similar. In
addition, the reviewed studies employed almost the same socioeconomic variables and how these variables influenced the skill
formation among the students. Moreover, some of the studies,
specifically the foreign ones were geared towards assessing the four

language skills. However, present investigation focuses on

evaluating only one of the four language skills the speaking skill.
5.75
5.76
5.77
5.78
5.79
5.80
5.81
5.82
5.83
5.84
5.85
5.86
5.87
5.88
5.89
5.90
5.91
5.92
5.93
5.94
5.95

5.96
5.97
5.98

CHAPTER III
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

5.99
5.100
This chapter presents the method and
procedure followed in gathering the data needed to answer the
problems and to test the various hypotheses. Particularly, the
discussion focused on the following: a.) setting of the study, b.)
research design to be used, c.) the respondents, d.) research
instruments to be used.
5.101
5.102

Setting of the Study

5.103
The setting of the present study is in
Mindanao State University, Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte.
Sultan Naga Dimaporo is situated at the tip of the province of Lanao
del Norte along Illana Bay. It is nestled amidst the north, Kapatagan
on the west, and the province of Zamboanga del Sur in the southern
portion of the municipality. Various barangays of Sultan Naga
Dimaporo are over looking Illana Bay. This municipality has a total
land area of 23, 090.74 hectares. It has a very fertile soil suitable for
agricultural development. Being an agricultural community, the
economy of the municipality is largely dependent on agriculture.
5.104
Considering its potential area devoted
to different agricultural production areas, it is capable of producing
large volumes of agriculture products such as rice, corn, and others.
Fishing is one of the major occupations of the people in the area
notably because of the presence of Illana Bay, which is considered
as the fishing ground in Central Mindanao because of the famous
tuna fish and their allied species. There are no major industries in
the area except the trading of agricultural products such as copra,
rice, corn, and others.

5.105
Fourteen elementary (14) and (18)
primary schools serve the municipality of Sultan Naga Dimaporo.
The other schools are Lanao Norte Agricultural College in Ramain,
Sultan Naga Dimaporo. Tertiary education is provided by Lanao
Norte Agricultural College, the only agricultural school in the
province of Lanao del Norte. The Mindanao State University Sultan
Naga Dimaporo High School is the only high school located in Sultan
Naga Dimaporo. It has a total land area of 58,000 sq. M.
5.106

Research Design Used

5.107
The descriptive survey method of
research was used in this study in as much as it involves description,
analysis and interpretation of the existing conditions. This study
attempts to find out the extent of correlation or influence of the
independent variables on the respondents speaking skills in English.
5.108

The Respondents

5.109
The respondents of this study were the
fourth year students of Mindanao State University-Sultan Naga
Dimaporo High School, enrolled in the school year 2012-2013. As of
this school year, MSU-SND has a total of more or less than 140
enrolles in fourth year.
5.110

Research Instrument Used

5.111
There are two instruments used in the
data gathering of this study. The first is the questionnaire. This was
used to elicit information regarding the perceived problems
encountered by the students in oral English and socio-cultural
characteristics of the respondents.
5.112
The second is the speaking proficiency
examination. This was used to assess the speaking skills of the
respondents. This is a ten minute oral production test and requires
the examinee to read the passage aloud. The passage was entitled
The Pine and the Bamboo. This has been modified to include
words with other critical vowel and consonant sound such as /I/ , /e/ ,

//, /o/ , /u/ , //, /F/, /p/, /t/ and // and statements with the rising
intonation pattern.
5.113

Validation of Instruments

5.114
In determining how much time was to
be spent in answering the question and to thresh out the problems
in understanding the items, the questionnaire from the twenty
students from the try-out section, the modified copy was then
showed to the researchers adviser for comments and suggestions.
Moreover, the speaking proficiency
tests are subjected to a try-out to determine the validity and the
plausibility of the options. Prior to the try-out, copies of the speaking
test will be shown to the researchers adviser with more or less than
ten years of experience in teaching English , her comments and
suggestions will be carefully consider in making the instruments for
the try-out. The test will be administered to the same group of
twenty (20) students who answered the questionnaire. Furthermore,
the validity of the coefficients was determined by establishing the
inter-correlations between the questionnaire score items correlate
with the speaking proficiency score, wherein the inter-correlations of
the items range from 0.53 to 0.73. These values are interpreted to
very high correlations, thus the test is valid.
5.115