A Study of English Vocabulary Achievement of Ninth Graders: A Comparative Study of Kathmandu and Lalitpur District

Abstract

Vocabulary is a significant aspect of language. To get mastery over language, we need to mastery over the vocabularies of that particular language. Without good command over vocabulary, we cannot express all of our desires. So, the researcher is interested to investigate the English vocabulary achievement of ninth graders. This study attempts to explore the achievement of vocabulary included in the English textbook of grade eight. The researcher prepared a list of content words (nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs) used in the English textbook of grade eight and counted their frequency. He selected the words with high frequency counts and some additional words having low frequency as well. On the basis of selected words, the researcher constructed a set of written questionnaire as the main instrument for data collection. The data was provided by the 80 students studying at both public and private schools of Kathmadnu and Lalitpur district. The researcher selected four schools and twenty students form each school on random sampling procedure. The data obtained were analysed, evaluated and interpreted using descriptive approach and simple statistical tools i.e. mean, and percentage. The findings of the study showed that the English vocabulary achievement of the students of grade nine in content words was found satisfactory in total but while doing schoolwise analysis the students of Janasewa Higher Secondary School were found no satisfactory. It was also found that boys' achievement of English vocabulary was better than girl in total. The disparity in English vocabulary achievement was found in different schools. The students' vocabulary achievement of Lalitpur district was found far more better than the students of Kathmandu district. The present work is divided into four chapters. The first chapter deals with general background, review of the related literature, objectives of the study and significance of the study. The second chapter deals with methodology, that includes sources of data collection and limitation of the study. The third chapter includes analysis, and interpretation of data. Findings and recommendations are given in the four chapter. The sample of test items, answers of the students and references given in the appendices.