A STUDY ON DEVELOPING DISCOURSES FOR EIGHT STANDARD STUDENTS TO IMPROVE THEIR SKILLS

    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.