COMMUNICATION APTITUDE AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS AS PERCEIVED BY SELECTED GRADE 11

STUDENTS

A Research proposal

Presented to the Faculty of

Vicente Madrigal Integrated School

(Senior High School)

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the

Subject Practical Research 1

by

Almodovar, Zedrick Ortega

Camero, John Eric

Cruz, Jenny Rose

Evano, Lea Mae

Gemino, Estelle Joy Peñalber

Patawara, Ryo Bryan

Robin, Reymundo

Rodriguez, Mark Jeremy

 
I. INTRODUCTION

The most fundamental life skill is the ability to communicate effectively with others. It is

what allows us to pass our thought and information to other people and comprehend and

understand what is said to us effectively then be able to reach out to them. In today's global

world, it is necessary to communicate with the outside world effectively and efficiently (Rao et

al., 2016). Communication Aptitude is the key for enabling any process that leads to achieving

any goal wanted in life. It paves the way in developing success in life, studies, work, and

relationships with other people. However, In accordance with advances in information

technology and the pandemic crisis that we are experiencing today, communication is mostly

carried out remotely.

Communication is defined as an exchange of information or thought between individuals

by means of writing, speaking, or using a mutual system of symbol, behavior, and signs, and the

course of communication is the swapping of information, knowledge, thought, and ideas. It is

important by oral conduction and transcription of mutual understanding. Everyone wants to

communicate effectively considering its purpose to share and gain ideas and information.

According to Mushtaq and Khan (2012), we cannot live without society, and to live in a society,

we must communicate with other people. To live in a society and communicate with other

people better and more effectively, we must have good communication skills. Communication

aptitude is a skill that everyone must-have. It is a precarious skill for achievement in every

aspect, but precise substantial for students in specific. Everybody communicates with others for

different purposes in our daily life activities. Students need a communication aptitude or skill

enable for them to finish their studies and have the job that they desire. If they have the ability to

communicate really well, they can present their message and ideas in an effective manner.

Developing Communication Aptitude can benefit students in various arenas of their life such as

personal, social, professional, etc. Good communication is considered very important at all
levels. It can improve the way that you operate through life, smoothing your way in your

relationships with others. Poor communication, on the other hand, can sour relationships from

personal to other aspects of your life, and make your life significantly harder (“skills,” 2018).

Communication is the main tool to form relationships on the way to make more grounded

relations among two individuals or more individuals. Without communication, human relations

are hard to be maintained. The biggest barrier to a student’s communication aptitude is the

pandemic crisis that we are experiencing today. COVID-19 pandemic has affected all levels of

the education system around the world. In light of the pandemic, teachers, and students across

the world have faced the nearly impossible challenge of rapidly introducing remote operations.

With this operation, students can build communication with lecturers and fellow students, search

for learning sources in cyberspace, and various other benefits. The focal point of remote

operations is to facilitate the exchange of information, which enables the interaction and

exchange of knowledge between students at any time and somehow improves their academic

performance. In addition, remote operation is compatible with other teaching methods and

technologies of prior learning in the sense that it can continue to support traditional learning

tools. This type of interaction extends learning beyond the walls of the school and removes

some of the restrictions imposed on learning, such as distance and space (Ally & Prieto-

Blazquez, 2014; Bansal & Dhananjay, 2014). It also facilitates communication and collaboration

between the teachers and the students, as well as among students. Communication Aptitude is

essential competency not only for Academic Success but also for professional success in the

future.

Well developed communication skills are vital in students’ academic success. At all

levels of education, students must be able to communicate effectively. However, without well

developed communication aptitude, students run the risk of falling behind other students or their

peers or becoming emotionally overwhelmed or withdrawn at school (“Child,” 2019). It is

reasonable to believe that the communication aptitude were having a very positive deterministic

impact on the academic success of all the students at any level. Different types of schoolwork,

such as class presentations, participating in group discussions and meetings, constitute one of

the main factors leading to good academic performance, and they are commonly covered by

oral communication. Through effective communication, students can learn to acquire the right

skills, and their ideas, concepts, and initiatives can be shaped by communicating effectively.

Students’ prowess in verbal communication can also increase their presentation skills. By

performing as an effective communicator, a student will be able to interact confidently in

different types of schoolwork requiring personal and academic performance (Mahmud, 2014).

However, the Corona Virus pandemic has changed it all. The pandemic has disrupted the

nonverbal communication many people take for granted. Nonverbal communication also

encompasses space and touch: how close you get to someone or allow them to get to you. All

of this has been disrupted by the pandemic. Communicating with students in an online

environment requires a little more thought and planning than communicating with students in the

traditional environment because the online environment lacks body language. Knowledge of

communication weaknesses within remote environments can help them decide how to establish

timely and appropriate communications, and how to interact effectively with each other in this

pandemic. Moreover, understanding the importance, impact and the ways on how to improve

communication skills can improve the students’ academic performance this Pandemic.

This research was done to find out the factors that account for the poor communication

skills of students that lead to poor academic performance and an aim of bringing light

suggestions and recommendations on ways of improving the learning of the Communication

Skills of the students despite the pandemic. It also examines the importance and the impact of

communication aptitude on the academic performance of the Grade 11 students during the

pandemic.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The general problem of the research is the thoughts and experiences in the

Communication of the selected Grade 11 students in their Academic Performance during the

Pandemic. Specifically, the research is looking for responses to the following questions:

1. How may the profile of the respondents be described?

1.1. Students

1.1.1. Age

1.1.2. Sex

1.1.3. Tracks and Strands

1.1.4. Academic Performance in School

2. How can they differentiate their experience in communication when there was no

pandemic and now that the pandemic is rampant? Is there a difference in Academic

Performance or not?

3. How does Communication Aptitude affect students’ Academic Performance?

4. How do they maintain their Communication Aptitude and Academic Success during the

Pandemic?

5. What are the conclusions of the study that can affect the Communication,

Communication Aptitude, and Academic Performance of the Students?

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This research is a representation of the aspiration to reveal the thoughts in

Communication of the selected Grade 11 students in their Academic Success during the

Pandemic, and it is hoped that the following experiences will benefit the following:
Students. This study may help in the development of communication aptitude of other students

who have poor communication skills at this time. This may add knowledge for them and at the

same time will help them boost their confidence about their communication skills which is gonna

be effective to their academic performance. Moreover, this may encourage them to do well and

improve their communication skills even this pandemic that can lead to their academic success.

This study sets the stage for positivity in Communication during the Pandemic.

Academic Teachers. The results of this study hopes to give them knowledge and insights

about the help of Communication Aptitude to the students’ Academic Success this time of the

pandemic. This will make them aware of the ways how to improve and how the communication

skills affect their students’ Academic Performance. With this information, they can come up with

an idea on how to improve their students’ communication skills and academic performance

during pandemic.

Department of Education. This research could provide a more realistic picture of the existing

current situation of the Grade 11 students and the struggles and effect of communication on the

communication aptitude and academic performance of the students this pandemic. The results

of this study may make them realize that they need to do certain activities that will boost the

communication aptitude of the students with poor academic performance.

Future Researchers. The result of this research may serve as a reference for other

researchers who would like to deal with Communication Aptitude and Academic Performance in

the future. This may provide them the comprehensible information and knowledge all about

communication and academic performance during pandemic times.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This study aims to determine the thoughts and experiences in Communication correlated

to the Academic Performance during this pandemic of the selected Grade 11 Students.
 This is a qualitative research that will utilize a phenomenological research design. Using

a phenomenological design, data is collected through online survey questionnaires.

Understanding the importance, effects, and ways to maintain and improve the communication

aptitude will help students during this pandemic to achieve academic success.

The variables comprise in the study are grade 11 students' profiles like age, sex, tracks

and strands, Academic Performance, and experiences in communication during the pandemic.

The locale of the research is on Vicente Madrigal Integrated School. The respondents of

our questionnaires are (6) six grade 11 students on different Tracks and Strand. (2) two

respondents from the TVL-ICT track, (2) two respondents from the ABM strand, and (2) two

respondents from the HUMSS strand.

II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This study was designed to explore the experiences and thoughts of selected Grade 11

Senior High School Students (SHS) enrolled in Vicente Madrigal Integrated School to the

Communication Aptitude and Academic Success this Pandemic. To facilitate the more

comprehensive details of this phenomenological research approach, a review of related

literature and studies include the following:

Communication in its very basic form is the transmission of messages between two

parties or more. Communication is said to be a natural occurrence in the daily life of each

individual and Communication Aptitude is the essential skill or requirement of people,

specifically students in the learning process. Through perfect communication skills, aims and

objectives of learning can be conveyed to students perfectly; and so, can ideas, thoughts,

opinions, knowledge, experiences, and even feelings. Therefore, through communication, there

is a process of exchanging or sharing information between information senders and information

recipients (Masdul, 2018; Shonubi & Akintaro, 2016; Suprapto, 2017). During the time of the
COVID-19 pandemic, various countries implemented a lockdown. All communication and

learning process was switched over to remote methods at all levels of education, from

Kindergarten, Middle School to Higher Education. One study by Jurik et al. (2014) certainly

points out the significance of communication between teachers and students, “Verbal teacher-

student interactions and student characteristics are meaningful for student learning, motivation,

and academic success.” Students learn, retain, and apply information most effectively when

they have received personalized education paths and when sufficient resources are made

available to them. In typical classrooms, students that require more attention or support are

tended to – however, with the pandemic, this was no longer the case. Despite heightened

disengagement levels due to the loss of social interactions or communication, especially

amongst students, they did learn new skills that can help in their academic performance, such

as time management and responsibility. (“alphabetical,” 2021). Students’ academic

achievement becomes an essential element in defining an individual as well as public

development (Ali, 2009). Students’ academic achievement has received high attention in the

research literature. Students’ performance is observed to be deeply dependent upon

communication skills and this had conclusively been evidenced in the literature. The accurate

use of communication, additionally, encourages good quality relationships. A student of a school

that has a great academic performance, perceives communication skills in broader perspectives

and believes that such abilities are vital and should be developed systematically (Muhmud,

2013).

The function of communication skills, in general, is to establish social relationships

among humans in various fields, from politics, economics, psychology, health, education, and

others, in a transdisciplinary, interdisciplinary and even multidisciplinary manner (Bucata &

Rizescu, 2017; Coe, Bruce, & Ratcliff, 2017; Liang, Tian, Zhang, & Tian, 2020; Masdul, 2018;

Obregón & Tufte, 2017). This function of communication in learning is known as instrumental
communication, which is intended to be informative and persuasive, in the sense that a lecturer

or a student who acts as an informant wants the information to be conveyed to be accurate and

worthy of being known (Masdul, 2018). Social communication function refers to the building of

functions self-concept, self-actualization, gaining happiness, avoiding tension and pressure, and

creating good cooperation between fellow students and between students and lecturers during

learning. They include talking, listening, watching, interviewing, analyzing, interpretation and

evaluation. Message recipients must be able to identify the intent of the sender, take into

account the context of the message, resolve any misunderstandings, decode the information

accurately and decide how to act upon it. Such skills are essential for learning, building healthy

relationships, building a sense of community, and gaining academic success for students

(Velentzas and Borni, 2014). During the time of the Pandemic, students are forced to shift from

face-to-face communication and learning to distance communication.

Both face-to-face and remote communication environments have different advantages

and problems. Students have many years of training in how to behave in a class. The

communication, social rules, class procedures, and expectations for distance learning are less

clear (“OECD,” 2020). Successful students in Face to face learning must actively listen and

participate in class, communicate, take good notes, study, and complete assessments. While

successful online students must be motivated, disciplined, self-directed, and good at time

management. Besides, discussion in the remote environment may offer more opportunities for

students to think about, research and even draft their discussion posts and responses. In this

situation, extroverted and introverted students stand on equal footing which may result in more

even, open, and honest discussions (Norman, 2020). The technology available nowadays

allows people to stay in contact and communicate effectively with others in innovative ways,

from virtual happy hours learning with classmates and friends to religious services. A recent

review of studies (Waytz and Gray, 2018) suggests that remote technology for communication
may function both as a social connector and a separator. Technology helps in maintaining social

connections or having a communication aptitude via digital communication platforms (Genoe et

al., 2018), providing support for people for whom face-to-face social interactions are difficult to

obtain especially at this time of the pandemic. Waytz and Gray (2018) suggest that, depending

on different factors such as age, generation, and developmental differences in technology use,

online communication can improve academic performance, social relationships when people

use it to strengthen existing relationships with off-line friends and family, especially when in-

person social interactions are impeded by external factors, such as a lockdown. Students not

only need to carry out technical tasks, but they also do need to communicate effectively and

efficiently. Developing effective communication skills even remotely is an essential part of the

ability for the student to succeed, especially in this pandemic. To become a good achiever, the

student must possess highly developed levels of communication skills. Developing these skills

not only increases the potential of the student but will also improve the quality of their stability in

academics and in life even in the midst of crisis. Students must have highly developed oral and

writing skills to interact effectively with teachers, and collaborators, especially during this time of

Pandemic. Communication skills are becoming increasingly necessary for success in the

organizational environment of our time. (Ihmeideh et al., 2020). To increase communication

effectiveness, schools need to gain knowledge of the value of the responsibilities of the sender

and receiver and adhere to active listening and communicating skills (Lunenburg, 2012). To

succeed in their academics, students need outstanding communication skills even through

remote technology communication.

Remotely communicating and learning seems to have lots of benefits for everyone,

especially students involved in this pandemic. While remote communication and learning are

having a positive impact, problems need to be brought to light. Such drawbacks will prove to be

considerable obstacles if fully understood, expected, and planned. One study carried out by
Boling et al. (2012) found that most of their study participants viewed online courses as

individualizing learning and limiting interaction with others. Students described feeling isolated

from their teachers, from the content of the course, and from their classmates. Some students

explained how their online interactions were text-based lectures and several reading and writing

assignments completed. Many of those tasks limited the ability of the students to develop a

higher level of cognitive abilities and imaginative thinking, and communication skills which can

affect their Academic Performance. Communicating has also become more challenging and

burdensome to some students because of different reasons including environmental conditions

and lack of technology. In addition, McConnell (2016) identified issues related to interpersonal

aspects of remote communication. Often the students felt alone, overshadowed by other

members, or reluctant to publicly share their ideas. Murphy et al. (2012) drew up a series of

case studies, in which early adopters of online learning communication explored their practice

and experiences. Low engagement and interactivity, along with other problems caused by lack

of immediacy and non-verbal clues, were a major concern. Some students perceived the

medium as “faceless,” and there could be misunderstandings. The tone could turn unpleasant,

leading even to “flame wars.” These problems were particularly off-putting to the students who

were new to online learning (Kear, 2010). Distance communication reduces the social cues

typical of face-to-face interactions, encouraging more impersonal interactions with students.

Literature reviews and studies used in this phenomenological study serve as guides in

making the framework and findings of the study.

RESEARCH FRAMEWORK

This study is focused on the thoughts and experiences of Selected TVL-ICT, ABM, and

HUMSS Grade 11 Senior High School Students of Vicente Madrigal Integrated School in their

Communication and Academic Success during this Pandemic. The Conceptual Framework

used is IPO also known as Input-Process-Output. IPO is a structured methodology for capturing
 and visualizing all of the inputs, outputs, and process steps that are required to transform inputs

into outputs.

EFFECTS AND COPING

MECHANISMS OF
EXPERIENCES OF
COMMUNICATION STUDENTS IN
STUDENTS IN THEIR
IN REMOTE COMMUNICATION IMPLICATIONS/
COMMUNICATION
LEARNING THIS WHICH AFFECTS THEIR CONCLUSIONS
APTITUDE AND
PANDEMIC COMMUNICAION
ACADEMIC SUCCESS
APTITUDE AND
ACADEMIC SUCCESS

III. METHODS AND TECHNIQUES OF THE STUDY

This chapter concentrates on the discussion of the research methods and procedures

adhered to by the researchers in order to answer systematically the specific problems posed for

investigation. Specifically, the research method, research design, research instrument,

respondents of the study, and data collection used for accurate data analysis and interpretation

were explained in this chapter.

 Qualitative Research is a type of naturalistic investigation that aims to learn more about

social phenomena in their natural setting. It focuses on people’s real-life experiences as they

are observed in their daily lives, rather than the ‘what’ of social events. Through the use of non-

numerical data such as interview transcripts, survey responses, experiences, and observations,

qualitative methods have been utilized to observe the link between the variables and the issue.

The study determined the communication aptitude and academic success of selected Grade 11

Senior High School students of Vicente Madrigal Integrated School.

The sampling procedure used in this study included the Snowball Sampling strategy.

Snowball Random Sampling Strategy is a sampling method in which the researchers will ask

relevant people or someone who will be willing and qualified to participate in the research. In

this study, the researchers used the snowball sampling strategy to interview the students about

their experiences in their communication and their academic performances in this Pandemic.

A. RESEARCH INSTRUMENT

The researcher will use multiple measurement tools in the study to gather the data to assess

the variables postulated in the problem statement. The researcher utilized the online

questionnaire as a primary tool to collect and describe the data. The questionnaires will provide

more insights into the experiences of selected Grade 11 students in communication aptitude

and academic performance in this pandemic. The interview contained 3 open-ended

questionnaires that allowed for an in-depth analysis of our topic. The questionnaires were

distributed to the selected Grade 11 Senior High School Students of Vicente Madrigal Integrated

School in different Tracks and Strand. They were in total of 6 Grade 11 Students. The

respondents were asked to fill up the five-part questionnaires for this study. The questions that

were asked were structured simply and clearly so that the respondents could easily understand

the objective. These questions gathered answers from the respondents’ own perspectives and
experiences, helping the researchers collect more information about the current status of

students in their Communication Aptitude and Academic Performance.

B. RESEARCH DESIGN

This study used a Qualitative Research design that seeks to contextualize the

understanding of phenomena, explain behavior, identify processes, and understand the

contexts of the participant’s experiences. A Qualitative Research approach that helps in

describing the lived experiences of an individual is known as Phenomenological Research. The

phenomenological method focuses on studying the phenomena that have impacted an

individual. This approach highlights the specifics and identifies a phenomenon as perceived by

an individual in a situation. It can also be used to study the commonality in the behaviors of a

group of people. We used phenomenological research because it has roots in psychology,

education, and philosophy. It aims to describe, understand and interpret the meanings of

experiences of human life.

C. RESPONDENTS OF THE STUDY

The responses were gathered from the selected Grade 11 students of Vicente Madrigal

Integrated School. The respondents for the questionnaires are in total of (6) six Grade 11 Senior

High School students of Vicente Madrigal Integrated School. (2) Two respondents from the TVL-

ICT track, (2) two respondents from the ABM strand, and (2) two respondents from the HUMSS

strand. The respondents had to fill up and complete the online survey with open-ended

questionnaires through the google form link sent by the researcher.

D. DATA COLLECTION

The researcher will seek permission from the Principal of the Vicente Madrigal Integrated

School. Then, the researcher will coordinate with the Subject Teacher or the teacher that is

involved in our Practical Research Subject. Afterward, the researcher will ask the selected
Grade 11 Senior High School students to complete the surveys or questionnaires that are

conducted through an online google form for the qualitative components of the study.

The researcher will keep the confidentiality and privacy of the participants in the present

study by using codes in the checklist instead of using their information during the transcription

and analysis of the survey. The researcher made sure that only the collected answers and the

related data for the study are included and did not ask about their personal information.

To explore the experiences of selected Grade 11 Senior High School students of Vicente

Madrigal Integrated School in Communication Aptitude and Academic Performance during this

Pandemic, the researcher will question the students or respondents during data collection

regarding their experiences in their communication aptitude and academic performance during

this pandemic such as the differences in their communication aptitude and academic

performance before the pandemic occurred and now that the pandemic happened, how did the

communication aptitude affect their academic performance and how do they try to cope and

maintain their communication aptitude that leads to academic success during this difficult time.

Based on the literature review of Majid et al. (2021) and according to Moore (2020), the learning

process, as well as academic success this pandemic shall not take place without

communication and communication aptitude. Students with strong communication skills can

thus create a more positive learning and academic performance atmosphere for the students at

this time through remote learning. Well-developed communication skills are vital to students’

academic success because, without well-developed communication skills, students may be

emotionally overwhelmed or withdrawn at school. Many factors are affecting the poor

communication skills of students during this pandemic and that includes lack of communication

between students and even with teachers because of environmental conditions and lack of

technology which leads to the poor academic performance of students. The researchers took

their time analyzing the responses provided by the respondents for the study, and the
researchers will not add follow-up questions because the answers to the prepared questions are

sufficient enough information to add to the study.

Further, the researcher will conduct a questionnaire midway of the study. Each

questionnaire is an open-ended questionnaire which leaves a blank space for the respondents

to give their point of view about the specific question. The researcher will use an online survey

through an online google form link to conduct the questionnaires. These questions are the same

for each participant. The participants that are used were informed that their names are

confidential and would not be used in this study. The researchers and the volunteered

participants strictly followed the process for better emphasis and quality answers on the

research objectives.

IV. PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS, AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

This chapter discusses the data collected from the respondents of the study. The

respondents were Selected Grade 11 students from TVL-ICT, ABM, and HUMSS strand from

Vicente Madrigal Integrated School with the age bracket of 16-19 years old. This chapter

provides tables to summarize the collective reaction and experiences of the respondents and

also answered the specific problems given in the statement of the problem.

DATA ANALYSIS

Data were analyzed using the phenomenological methods which focus on studying

people’s lived experiences. The first step in data analysis will be horizontalization in which the

research will identify and group all the data relevant to the phenomenon studied. After

transcribing the survey data, the researchers will read every statement, phrase, or word to

identify relevant experiences. The second step is elimination and reduction. This is where the

repetitive and redundant information will be removed. The next step is clustering and

thematizing the invariant constituents of the experience. The participants’ responses will be
grouped into meaningful units that appear to be crucial characteristics of the selected Grade 11

students’ experiences and provided an understanding of the Grade 11 students’ experiences in

communication aptitude and academic success during this pandemic.

The data collected from the conducted survey and questionnaires are summarized and

compiled by the researchers. The researchers acquired the answers regarding the questions

from the statement of the problem. This chapter presents the tabular and textual presentations

of data used in the analysis and interpretation of the research questions of the study.

Table 1

Profiles of the Participants / selected Grade 11 Senior High School Students in terms of

Age, Sex, their Track and Strands and their Academic Performances this 1st Semester

Student Age Sex Track and 1st semester

Strand Academic

Performance

(average)

Participant 1 17 Female TVL-ICT 91

Participant 2 19 Male TVL-ICT 90

Participant 3 16 Female ABM 93

Participant 4 17 Female ABM 92

Participant 5 18 Male HUMSS 93

Participant 6 17 Female HUMSS 94

Interpretation for Table 1:

The table shows the profile of the selected Grade 11 Senior High School Students of

Vicente Madrigal Integrated School who participates in the conducted survey. The profile
included the age, sex, track and strands, and the 1st semester Academic Performances of the

participants.

With 16 as the youngest and 19 as the oldest, the respondents based on their

demographic characteristics presented, almost all of them have high Academic Performance in

the 1st Semester of Grade 11 Senior High School.

Table 2

Are there any differences in their experience in Communication Aptitude and Academic

Performance when there was no Pandemic and now that the Pandemic happened?

Participant 1 {Yes, there are differences. When there was no pandemic, we could
communicate and coordinate really well with our teachers and classmates
that sharpened my communication aptitude and that also makes my
Academic Performance successful. But now that there has been a pandemic,
it’s kinda hard to communicate and coordinate because we don’t know when
will our teachers and classmates will be available to ask questions about the
lesson so my communication aptitude somewhat dropped.}
Participant 2 {There is a significant distinction. My communication skills and Academic
Performance were quite good before, compared to what they are right now
that the pandemic happened. I’m very shy and don’t feel at ease speaking
with strangers/classmates through online and that’s why my Academic
Performance has suffered significantly.}
Participant 3 {Yes. In terms of Communication Skills, I was more confident in talking and
expressing myself before unlike now. On the other hand, my Academic
Performance didn’t change that much. I actually think that it is easier for me
to have good Academic Performance considering the situation.}
Participant 4 {Yes. Before the pandemic happened, I can actively participate in many
activities with the help of other people which makes me have a good
communication aptitude and academic success, unlike now. It’s not that easy
to communicate with them and ask for some help but I tried my best to
maintain my Academic Performance now.
Participant 5 {For me, there is not much difference. I can actively communicate before and
even until now with others which makes not much difference in my
communication aptitude and academic performance.}
Participant 6 {Yes, when there was no pandemic, I do communicate a lot because I feel
awkward talking to people in person. But now, every single day, I’m always
communicating with everyone. I can easily communicate with the teachers
and my classmates confidently, that’s why I think my communication skills
and my Academic Performance somewhat improved.
Interpretation for Table 2:

The respondents’ answers that are collected from the questionnaire show that they have

different experiences in their Communication Aptitude and Academic Performance when there

was no pandemic and now that the pandemic happened. Table 2 revealed the Grade 11

respondents’ answers if there are differences or not in their communication aptitude and

academic performance and how their experiences had changed. Five (5) Grade 11 students

responded that there are differences, while one (1) respondent said that there is not much

difference for him. Two (2) of the respondents said that their Communication Skills and

Academic Performance has suffered when the pandemic happened, two (2) respondents said

that their communication skills have also dropped but their academic performance was

maintained during this pandemic, one (1) respondent said that there is no difference in his

Communication Aptitude and Academic Performance before comparing to now, and one (1)

respondent said that her Communication Aptitude and Academic Performance improved during

this pandemic that we’re using remote learning.

Most of the respondents clearly expressed that there are differences in their experience

in communication aptitude and academic performance before when there was no pandemic and

now that the pandemic happened. The pandemic and the change in the learning system made a

difference in their experience communication aptitude and their academic performance. Many

students struggle to communicate effectively with other people especially their classmates and

their teachers in remote learning this pandemic which affects their communication aptitude and

academic success, but some of them take the pandemic crisis positively in their learning which

makes their communication aptitude and academic performance maintained or even improved.

Table 3
 How do you think Communication Aptitude affects your Academic Success in this

Pandemic?

Respondent 1 {I can’t do some of my Activities alone, I needed some people to help me, so
I’m trying my best to communicate well with others and sharpen my
communication skills and ask for help for my academic performance to
improve.}
Respondent 2 {Since my Communication skills weakened during the pandemic, it affects
my Academic Performance in a way that I cannot be able to express myself
and answer my teachers’ questions and recitations even though I know the
answer. It affects my Academic Performance since my teachers weren’t
able to recognize me fast unlike my classmates who participate actively.
Furthermore, lots of opportunities and contests are lost due to my weak
communication skills. I might be credited with extra points for that but since I
was shy to join, I lost my opportunity to have higher grades.}
Respondent 3 {The lack of ability to communicate can clearly affect our communication
aptitude which leads to poor academic performance. Not only us, students,
are affected but also the people that are being involved in the situation
which is all of us.}
Respondent 4 {In my perspective, it is really different when we communicate in person
than remotely and it’s kinda difficult for my Communication skills now that
we communicate thru online and it affects my Academic Performance.
Unlike before, it's much easier and more convenient to access
communication to my study. But now, if I wanted to ask urgently, I don’t
know if they will respond immediately.}
Respondent 5 {Communication Aptitude quite affects my Academic Performance because
we study more in modules or online so we can’t practice successfully our
communication skills}
Respondent 6 {Communication skills play a huge role in my today’s academic performance
because we have a lot of tasks that need to communicate with others, that’s
why my communication skills can make me feel easy to communicate with
my classmates and teachers as well as with my friends. It affects my
Academic Performance in a good and effective way.}

Interpretation of Table 3:

The respondents’ answers that are collected from the questionnaire show that there are

different ways on how Communication Aptitude affects on the Academic Performance of

different students. Table 3 revealed the correlation of Communication Aptitude to the Academic

Performance of the students during this Pandemic. All of them have different opinions on how

their Communication Aptitude affects their Academic Performance but their opinions have only

one meaning and that is ‘If we have good communication skills, we will achieve our academic
success’ and ‘If we have weak communication skills, it will affect our academic performance

negatively’. Five (5) of the respondents said that since the pandemic happened, their

Communication Aptitude didn’t practice well and that affects their Academic Performance

somewhat negatively, while one (1) respondent said that her Communication Aptitude improved

thru remotely communicating which affects her Academic Performance positively.

Most of the respondents clearly expressed that their Communication Aptitude affects

their Academic Performance severely. The Pandemic made a big impact on their

Communication Aptitude and Academic Success. Many students said that their Communication

Aptitude weakened because of struggle with communication in remote learning during this

Pandemic and that affects their Academic Performance negatively. However, some students

said that their Communication Aptitude was maintained or even improved during this Pandemic

because it was easier and more convenient for them to communicate with others online which

affects their Academic Performance positively.

Table 4

How do they try to maintain their Communication Aptitude that leads to Academic

Success in this Pandemic?

Participant 1 {I tried to maintain it by being focused on the goal-minded where I will plant
in my head this thinking that I need to do this if don’t I will not pass.}
Participant 2 {As much as possible, I try to be positive about everything and maintain it
just like how I maintain it during face-to-face learning.}
Participant 3 {Social isolation is one of the main reasons why my communication skills
weakened and decreased. However, in order to maintain it during the
pandemic, I make sure to have time to talk with my friends, family, and even
with my classmates and my teachers virtually so that I can be used in
expressing myself again.}
Participant 4 {To maintain the communication skill that leads to my academic success
during this pandemic, I’m trying my best to communicate effectively and do
my academics well despite every circumstance that we are facing right
now.}
Participant 5 {My communication skills are always been peaceful. Even before, I’m
always trying my best to communicate well and effectively with others, so
my communication skill and academic performance have hardly changed
 even during this pandemic.}
Participant 6 {By being confident and trying to always have the courage to communicate
and be connected with the people who can help me succeed academically.}

Interpretation for Table 4:

The respondents’ answers that are collected from the questionnaire show that they have

different ways on how to try to maintain their Communication Aptitude and Academic

Performance amidst the pandemic that we are experiencing now. Table 4 revealed the ways in

how the selected Grade 11 Senior High School Students of Vicente Madrigal Integrated School

maintained their Communication Aptitude which leads to Academic Success during this

pandemic. All of them have different ways on how do they maintain it but all of their ways are

helpful to every student that is struggling to communicate effectively during this pandemic.

All of the respondents clearly expressed how do they cope positively with the struggle of

Remote Learning during this Pandemic to maintain their Communication skills and Academic

Success. But there are also some students who really couldn’t cope with the struggle of the

Pandemic because of environmental conditions and personal incapability, so even if they

wanted to maintain or even improve their communication aptitude and academic performance,

they can’t. However, it does not remove their capability to learn and have their academic

success, there are other ways to learn, have good communication skills, and academic success

in this Pandemic with the positive mind, self-belief, motivation, and strong determination to

reach the goal of being successful.

V. CONCLUSION

The experiences of the selected Grade 11 Students in Communication Aptitude and

Academic Performance during this Pandemic are challenging. This study revealed many

aspects of experiences in terms of Communication Aptitude and Academic Performance of

students and that includes the differences in experiences of students in Communication

Aptitude and Academic Performance before on face to face learning and now that the pandemic

happened which we now use remote learning, the effects of Communication Aptitude to the

Academic Performance of students, and the ways on how they do they try their best to maintain

their communication aptitude for their academic success. All of the experiences of the Grade 11

Senior High School students in Vicente Madrigal Integrate School were a big help in conducting

this study, it will bring students knowledge, hope, and a better understanding of Communication

Aptitude and Academic Performance during this Pandemic and on coping with the struggle of it

positively. The findings from this study revealed different issues regarding the communication

aspect of the topic, for example, the struggle in the communication or lack of communication of

students or even the teachers which affects their communication aptitude and their academic

success. Most of the information gathered from this study will be a big help for improvements in

communication, communication aptitude, academic performance, and even in the future system

of education, it will enhance their efficiency by improving the means of communication for a

clearer way of studying of students. The Department of Education will mostly benefit from this

study because of the information regarding the flaws in the education system in terms of

communication that affect the students’ communication aptitude and academic success. There

are challenges, struggles, and hardships in this situation brought by the Pandemic but there will

always be a thing that can be their small way of coping with the challenges, and that is their self-

belief, positivity at everything, inspiration, and strong determination to achieve the goal of being

successful in life. The uncovered experiences of students in their Communication Aptitude and

Academic Success differs from student to student. The researchers concluded that

Communication Aptitude and Academic Performance were both have differences and not before

when there was no Pandemic and right now that the Pandemic happened. The researchers also

concluded that Communication Aptitude greatly affected their Academic Success and that there
are different positive ways how to cope with the struggles of having a poor communication

aptitude.

RECOMMENDATION

It is considered that this study contributes to giving some information on how the

students adapt to remote learning systems in terms of their Communication Aptitude and

Academic Success and this research also aims to show the importance of having to

communicate well for the communication aptitude and academic success of the students even if

the Pandemic was stopping them to do so. In the light of the revealed findings, the researcher

came up with the subsequent proposals;

1. Further research from this study may be done by students from other schools and provides

broader information to other students and even teachers to come up with a good approach

on how to communicate effectively with others or the learners. The purpose of this research

is to determine the challenges faced by each of the students who are now part of remote

learning communication.

2. The Department of Education (DepEd) would be helping the school teachers and students

by encouraging them to continue learning remotely despite the struggles they’re facing

brought by the Pandemic and help them by providing a solution to the problem in terms of

communicating well which can also improve their communication skill and academic

performance. Deped could provide some equipment such as mobile phones, internet,

tablets, etc. to the students who are incapable of having those and Deped could also

perform an activity that can motivate and encourage students who were not confident in

communicating well remotely.

3. Collect information about their understanding and knowledge improvement by encouraging

them to join Communication Club or Training, Group Study, or any activities that could

enhance, improve, and nurture their Communication skills. Communication Club,

Communication Training, and Group Study are all activities that can surely improve

students’ ability to communicate and socialize effectively even during this time of the

pandemic. According to Chad Edwards (2020), any activities that can improve a person’s

communication skills like communication training are vitally important in their life because

having effective communication skills can develop interpersonal relationships and can

present themselves in an effective manner and competent ways to others which can

improve their life.

4. Both students and teachers will be using the best communication practices that can easily

enhance their communication skills and can improve the students’ academic performance, it

really has a big contribution on the part of students, especially in school. If they have poor

communication, they will have a poor communication aptitude which can also lead to bad

academic performance.

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Participation of Members:

Almodovar, Zedrick Ortega – 0/10

Camero, John Eric-5/10

Cruz, Jenny Rose-0/10

Evano, Lea Mae-0/10

Gemino, Estelle Joy Peñalber

Patawara, Ryo Bryan-0/10

Robin, Reymundo-0/10

Rodriguez, Mark Jeremy-8/10