LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 14:6 June 2014
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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An Exploratory Study into Factors Affecting Achievement in
English among Bangladeshi College Students:
An Investigation of Teachers and Students Perceptions

Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, M.A. in TESOL

Abstract

The study investigated the factors that led to poor performance in English subject in Bangladeshi HSC (12th Grade) level students. The research was set up to investigate the effect of some key factors on performance in English subject of the Grade 12th Learners. The factors under investigation consisted of instructional materials, teaching methods, assessment, teachers training and social and educational background of the learners. To carry out this investigation, 40 students were issued with questionnaires and 37 completed them. 4 English subject teachers also participated in the study from two (2) colleges. The instrument used for data collection was questionnaires and interviews. Four (4) teachers and Four (4) students’ interview were taken. Analysis of data revealed poor instructional materials, lack of adequate exercise on CLT in the classroom, faulty assessment systems, lack of teachers training, low basic level of the students were factors associated with students’ poor performance in English. Based on these findings, recommendations were made on strategies, which will improve the quality of teaching/learning English at HSC (Grade 12) level in Bangladesh. Keywords: Students performance, instructional materials, methods, assessment, teachers training.

Background of Research

In Bangladesh, a student has to study English as a compulsory subject for 12 years to pass the Higher Secondary Certificate Examinations (HSCE). A good mastery of English is required by students in order to do well in higher education, which is conducted through the medium of English: the recently established science and technology universities use English as their medium of instruction and viva voice examinations of almost all higher education organizations are held in English. Yet, according to Scribd (n.d: p. 7), after twelve years of schooling and studying English, a large proportion of students fail in English in the HSCE exam, while those who pass, mostly earn very poor marks. As a teacher of English in a secondary school in Bangladesh, I have observed to my dismay over the years that the students who pass can neither speak fluently nor write correctly because they learn little or no English at all.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, M.A. in TESOL
mahbubdiu12@gmail.com
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