Status and Challenges of Learning and Teaching Speaking at Higher Secondary Level

Abstract

The present study entitled Status and Challenges of Learning and Teaching Speaking at Higher Secondary Level .This study was an attempt to find out status of speaking ability of higher secondary level students and find out the challenges faced by teachers and students on teaching and learning speaking skills. In order to find out the status and challenges of speaking skill the data were collected by using both open and closed ended questions as a set of questionnaire. Forty students and five English teachers of Nawalparasi District were selected through non-random sampling procedure for the study. To meet the objectives of the study, the data were analysed using simple statistical tools like tables and charts .The study has found that higher secondary level students and teachers are facing many challenges while learning and teaching speaking skill. Teachers are facing challenges due to limited time exposure, not having sufficient materials, low participation of students, large number and mixed ability students. Likewise students also face challenges due to mother tongue influence, not provided well trained teachers, imperfectly learned pronunciation and intonation, examination system, large classroom inadequate opportunity to speak in and out of classroom. This thesis consists of five chapters. The first chapter deals with the introduction of the topic in which background of the study, statement of the problem, objectives of the study, research questions, significance of the study, delimitation of the study and the operational definition of the key terms. The second chapter includes the review of both theoretical and empirical literature along with the implications of the review for the study and conceptual frame work. The third chapter deals with research design and method of the study, population sample and sampling strategy, study area, data collection tools and techniques ,data collection procedures and data interpretation procedures .The forth chapter includes analysis and interpretation of the results and summary of findings. The obtained data from questionnaire has been analysed and interpreted with the help of tables and charts. Likewise, fifth chapter includes the conclusions and recommendations based on policy related, practice related and further research related. This chapter is followed by references and appendices used for the study.