A STUDY ON DEVELOPING
DISCOURSES FOR EIGHT STANDARD STUDENTS TO IMPROVE THEIR SKILLS
INTRODUCTION
The noun discourse comes
from the Latin word ‘discursus’ to mean an argument. That kind of argument does
not mean people fighting or coming to blows. The argument in discourse refers
to an exchange of ideas, sometimes heated that often follows a kind of order
and give – take between the participants. A discourse, in other words is an
extended communication dealing with some particular topic usually in speech or
writing. Learning and teaching discourse analysis engages students and tutors
in the exploration of texts and talk. Discourses helps in improving
communication skills.
Communication skills
have a great impact on the success of an individual. A person’s ability to
stand apart in a crowd is more often determined by his/ her communication
skill. The four major skill of language learning; listening, speaking, reading
and writing provides a right key to success. The mastering over the four skills
enables one to be proficient in English language and its acquisition. Teaching English means learning the four skills.
The skills and its
acquisition cannot be done all alone by a student himself. Involving parents in
their child’s learning provides many opportunities for parental involvement in children’s
learning, not only improves a child’s morale, attitude and academic achievement across all subject areas are also improved. It also promote better behavior and social adjustment.
Understanding the above
mentioned facts, the project aims at a survey and related activities for its
completion. In order to analyze those standards a project is developed along
with a survey. The project aims at evaluating and identifying the participation
of student in learning and acquiring of various elements of English. The
project and the survey reports will be a clear depiction of the present
educational status of the society. The project not only hints on students alone
but also teachers and parents. The project is a complete social survey based on
the learning system of students and the various factors related to the learning
process.
OBJECTIVES
§ This
research undertakes the prime objective of evaluating the students on the basis
of the skills prescribed to them as the discourse. The main objectives of
this research are:
§ To identify
the insight and favorable attitude towards English language by the students.
§ To analyze
the ability to make use of the grammar and vocabulary in writing English.
§ To find
general education problems
§ To analyze
knowledge and understanding of vocabulary
§ To identify
the self confidence of students in using English language.
§ To analyze
the status of skills in students including reading, writing and observation.
§ To
understand effectiveness of discourses in learning process.
§ To identify
the influence of parents in the learning process of students. To develop a favorable attitude towards English language.
§ To suggest
remedial measures as possible.
HYPOTHESIS.
Proper and appropriate
discourses will improve the various skills of the students of eight
standard.
METHODOLOGY
Sample
In order to conduct the
survey on “ developing discourses suggested in the text book of standard VIII
to improve study skills”, i chose St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School, Idukki
for the study. Fifteen students of Viii standard were taken as the
sample.
The
tool of Study
In this survey the tool
used is questionnaire consisting of questions based on writing and reading,
observation skills and parental influence in learning.
3 Procedure
I took two days to
complete the survey. 24 and 25 of October 2016. The investigator collects
information by visiting fifteen students of standard VIII from St. Mary’s
Higher Secondary School Murickassery.
ANALYSIS AND
INTERPRETATION OF DATA
The outcome of the
survey conducted would easily be depicted through the analysis only. The survey
conducted to analyze the discoursial abilities of the students, we had
understood certain facts and figures. The very first step in the project was to
develop a discourse from the textbook of standard VIII. The second step was to
assign the students to write the discourse from the text book, that is the
travelogue. This discourse was selected from the chapter ‘ Marvellous Travel ‘
by Joshua Fernandez. As the third step, a study was conducted for the purpose a
questionnaire was developed with twelve questions. The samples were fifteen
students of VIII standard.
The research
titled ‘ developing discourses suggested in the text book of standard VIII to
improve study skills’ revealed many facts of present day children and their
study skills. From the survey through the questionnaire we could find
· Lack
of self confidence in using English language.
· The
status of study skills of students
· Lack
of discourses in the text book.
These points were
gathered within the surface study of the questionnaire and the discourse given
to develop. By going deep into the analysis we can see more and more facts
drawn out from the study.
The analysis and
interpretation of data is mainly based on four criteria s. They are ;
Ø Based on
educational standards
Ø Based on analysis
of skills based on analysis of parental support
Ø Based on gender.
Educational standard
determines the overall status of a student. It is the sum total of his talents.
From the questionnaire and the discourse developed an overall educational
standard of the selected students was identified. It could be easily identified
through the demographic representation.
Table. 1. Educational Analysis
|
SL. NO
|
CRITERIA
|
NO OF CHILDREN
|
|
1.
|
Above average
|
3
|
|
2.
|
Average
|
7
|
|
3
|
Below Average
|
5
|
From the table it’s very clear that only 20 % of the selected students were
above average. 46 % of them were average students. It’s a fact that 34 % were
below average students. The overall status of the educational level is very low
and diminishing which would ultimately result in the wide range of educational
disparity. Often there will be a tendency for the average students to fall
either downwards or move upwards. So sensitive approach can only give better
results in the performance level of the students.
Students are equipped with different types of skills. Skills are necessary in
the learning process students should be proficient in one or other skill.
Different skills like skill of writing, reading and skill of observation
were analyzed during the survey and from discourse.
The following table
could explain more on the skills acquired by the students.
Table
2 Skill Analysis
|
SKILLS
|
BELOW AVG
|
AVERAGE
|
S
|
|
Observation
Skill
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
|
Reading Skill
|
3
|
4
|
2
|
|
Writing Skill
|
2
|
6
|
3
|
Based on the analysis
table drawn we can clearly infer that skill acquisition of different categories
of children have variations.
The primary skill
needed in writing a discourse like travellogue is the observation skill. For
the below average student’s the observation skill is only 16 %. But for the
average student’s the observation skill is 23%. However the above average student’s
has got observation skill constituting 28 %. Though the figure of above average
is not much satisfying, it is somehow a pleasant matter. So from the
demographic representation it is clear that observation skill is a very
necessary fact in the learning process. A good observation mean a good symptom
of learning.
Again taking the
next skill reading, which is an active skill, the situation is better in all
the categories of children. As in the words of Francis Bacon, reading maketh a
full man, reading is an important skill needed in the development of a
discourse. 30 % of the below average students had the proficiency in reading.
Though it doesn't make any effective change in their academic status. 50 % of
the students have, particularly the average students have reading skills. It’s
not bad in the case of above average's also. Everyone may not be able to write
well, but anyone who knew to spell the letters could be able to read if they
try.
Writing is again
an active skill needed in the fruitful outcome of education learning. 33 % of
the selected samples had below average writing skill. But 46 % of the selected
sample’s had average writing skill. On analyzing the above average writing
skill constitutes around 42 %.
Observation, reading and
writing are the very necessary skills in learning. Development of discourses
had the very base of these skills and its collaboration. A good reader can be a
good observer and it can happen vice- versa also. A good observer can easily
pass out his relevant observations into a writing, if he knew the basis of
writing. So for the active enhancement of learning and developing of discourses the skills are of a prime pattern of concern.
Involving parents in
their child’s learning provide’s many opportunities for success. Opportunities
for parental involvement in children’s learning, not only improves a child’s
morale, attitude and academic achievement are also improved. The following
diagram shows the participation of their parents in the learning process.
TABLE 3 PARENTAL
SUPPORT
|
Response
|
Above average
|
Average
|
Below Average
|
|
yes
|
2
|
4
|
1
|
|
No
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
|
Sometimes
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
The above demographic diagram shows the various attitudes of students in
response to their parental support. 50% of above average student’s receives
parental support. Likewise 57% of average student’s also receives parental
support. In the same way, only 25% of below average receives parental support.
On the reversal, 25% of the above average student’s doesn’t receive parental
support. 28% of the average students doesn’t receive parental support. But
unfortunately 75% of below average's doesn’t receive parental support. From
the demographic representation the conclusion can be clearly drawn that there
are differences in the levels of students who receive and not receive parental
support. So in order to improve the backwardness of their own children, the
parents themselves have to initiate. It is their duty to make the students
learn at home rather than to blame the teachers at school. They should ensure
that children open their books at home.
Based on Gender
Gender plays a
major role in the analysis and appraisal of the learning and developing
discourse strategy. From the selected samples, Girls are more active in
skills and observation. Which would give them a better result as compared to
boys. Boys are very passive and approaches life simply with no seriousness. But
girls are somehow different. Anyway there are exceptions, but in general i would
like to say that Girls are smarter than boys.
Thus based on the
four criteria s of educational standards, skill analysis, parental support and
the basis of gender, the analysis was done. Each analysis constitute a
different thing, but anyhow the analysis was able to be done with reference to
sample survey conducted. Various analytical results were also received.
MAJOR FINDINGS
§ Lack of
discourses in textbook. Available discourses are exam oriented.
§ Grammatical
and vocabulary fluency is very low for students.
§ Lack of
proper guidance.
§ Lack of
reading.
§ Parental
support is merely present.
§ Lack of
self confidence
§ Skill of
interpretation and comprehension is absent.
§ Student’s
are ignorant of the environment they are living i.e both natural and social.
§ Interest
motivation is absent both in teacher and student.
From the research it is
clearly understood that the children of Kerala, particularly of the Malayalam
medium are poor in their skills and overall performance. By engaging more in
activities and related exercises can only give improvement in the situation.
The unanimous cooperation of teacher’s, students and parents can only bring the
success. The implication of these sorts of learning is nothing but spoiling the
children and thereby the the country’s future.
DISCUSSION OF
RESULTS
From the survey
conducted on to study about the discourse, conducted among fifteen students
concluded that the present education curriculum particularly of high school section
doesn’t concentrate much on discourses. The discourses are mainly embedded
together at a section only. Which is done at a hurry move in order to
just finish the section, mostly spoon feeded by the teacher. Thus the students
doesn’t have improvement in their skills. Observation is the basis of learning.
Reading and writing are also to be emphasized. Parental support is absent most
of the times, that absence is reflected in their studies. On
considering the gender also, girls are far better than boys in the case of
studies but at the level of observation it has a variation.
The major suggestions
are
Give more activities and
compel them to do.
Understand and make the most
effective use of the study materials.
Develop the specialised
language and vocabulary.
Interpret the discourses
suggested in the textbook as far as possible.
Effective communication with
student and teachers and thereby the parents also.
CONCLUSION
Discourses are essential
in the development of the skills and all other areas of a child’s development.
So the education curriculum should give importance to such discourses. Children
are the future, they are to be trained and motivated or else the whole world
will have to suffer the lose. They are to be nurtured properly
REFERENCES
* Importance of
parental involvement in their children's learning, Journal, center for
child well being; Mount Royal University.
* Aims and
objectives of English language teaching; Journal of arts, science and
commerce. Web.
