Students’ Performance in Science Tests Using Three...

Students’ Performance in Science Tests Using Three Languages and their Language Preference in

Learning Science Concepts A Case of Primary Students in the Bicol Region in the

Philippines

Jualim Datiles Vela

Hideo Ikeda

Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation Hiroshima University

The PHILIPPINES

170 Languages

8 Major Languages

Bicol Cebuano Hiligaynon Ilocano Kapampangan Pangasinan Tagalog Waray

90 million people

Filipino English Official languages

Western Malayo-Polynesian

7,107 islands

17 regions

Filipino National language

2

Language Diversity

3

Varying Views on the Medium of Instruction in Education

Supporters of the use of English language It is the universal language, it is economical and it creates job opportunities especially abroad.

Proponents of the use of Filipino language Large percentage of the masses from other regions can speak this language.

Advocates of the use of Mother language Mother language enables students to think and process their experiences in a logical and rational way.

4

International science tests

Poor Performance of Students in Science

TIMSS

1999 2003

National Achievement Tests (NAT)

(http://timss.bc.edu/PDF/t03_download/T03_SChap1.pdf)

NAT 2007-2008 2010-2011 2008-2009 2011-2012 2009-2010 ( http://www.depedqc.ph/announcements/2013-NAT-GUIDELINES/2013%20NAT%20Overview%20-%20QC.pdf)

Jualim Datiles Vela Hiroshima University

The Problem

Performance of Primary Students from the Bicol

region

NAT Average 2007-2008 47.06 2008-2009 55.54 2009-2010 58.43 2010-2011 49.96 2011-2012 53.6

(http://depedregion5.ph/national-achievement-test--nat-.html)

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Reasons for Students’ Poor Achievement in Science

Lack of qualified teachers

Limited or lack of funds from the government

Lack of teaching materials

Inadequate number of classrooms

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Purpose of the Study Help students from lower sections

Focus on language

Develop materials for teaching science using local languages that could help primary teachers

Questions Addressed

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Which language do students perform well and the least?

How did the students from lower sections perform in the tests?

What is the student respondents’ language preference in recitations, exams, homework and in following teacher’s instructions in science class activities?

Jualim Datiles Vela Hiroshima University

Significance of the Study The study:

Provides new findings and valuable information on the extent of use of the languages by the Bicolano student respondents

Presents valuable inputs on teaching and learning methods using students’ preferred language in teaching and learning science.

Supports the earlier studies and the current MTB-MLE(Mother Tongue-based Multilingual Education) of the Department of Education in the Philippines regarding the use of local languages in teaching students.

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Methodology

Research Venue -Bicol Region

Bicol Language ( major language)

At least 5 million Bicol language

speakers

Catanduanes (island province)

Northern Catanduanes

Southern Catanduanes

- 4 Elementary Schools Science achievement of students is ranked 14th out of 17 regions

(2006-2007 National Achievement Test)

Jualim Datiles Vela Hiroshima University 9 http://bestphilippineattractions.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/bicol-region-map.png

RESPONDENTS Grade 3

318 students ( 160 boys and 158 girls)

Age range ( 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 years old )

Grade 4

303 students (155 boys and 148 girls )

Age range ( 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 years old )

Section 1 (High Performing Students)

Section 2 (Average Performing Students)

Section 3 (Low Performing Students)

In each section, the students were randomly grouped.

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Instruments for Data Collection Comprehension Tests in Three Languages

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Science Test in English Language

Science Test in Filipino Language

Science Test in Bicol Language

Content _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ Main Components I.____________________________ a. b. c. II.____________________________ a. b. c. III._____________________________ a. b. c.

Survey Questionnaire

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Language used at home, outside home, at school and in the classroom

Language students and their teachers use during science class

Language students prefer in science related activities and in studying science.

respondents’ background

information

Questionnaire used multiple choices for students’ answers

Average Mean Scores of Tests in 3 Languages Per Group in All Schools Combined

Class Sections

Group 1

Group 2

Group 3

English

Language

Filipino Language

Bicol Language

Section 1

5.56

7.69

6.95

Section

2

4.78

6.92

5.90

Section

3

4.59

7.44

6.31

Total Mean Scores

4.99

7.34

6.39

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Findings GRADE 3 Tests

Average Mean Scores of Science Tests in 3 Languages Per Group in All Sample Schools

Class Sections

Group 1

Group 2

Group 3

English

Language

Filipino Language

Bicol Language

Section 1

8.27

8.72

7.60

Section

2

5.29

7.19

6.08

Section

3

5.18

7.06

6.12

Total Mean Scores

6.30

7.71

6.62

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Findings GRADE 4 Tests

Findings from Survey Questionnaires Language used at home, outside home, at school and in the classroom

At home

Outside home

• Talking to friends • Talking to neighbors • At a store or market

In the school campus and in the classroom

Grade 3

Bicol Filipino English

Bicol Filipino English

Filipino Bicol English

Grade 4

Bicol Filipino English

Bicol Filipino English

Filipino Bicol English

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Language students and their teachers use during science class

Students are required to

use

Teachers use

Teachers usually switch to

Grade 3

English Filipino Bicol

English and Filipino English Bicol, Filipino and English

Filipino Filipino and Bicol Bicol

Grade 4

English Filipino Bicol

English and Filipino English Bicol, Filipino and English

Filipino Filipino and Bicol Bicol

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Language students prefer to use in science activities and in studying science.

While Studying Science

During Class Recitations

While Reading Science

While following teacher’s

instructions

Grade 3

Filipino English Bicol

Filipino English and Filipino Bicol English

Filipino English and Filipino English Bicol

Filipino English and Filipino English Bicol

Grade 4

English Filipino Bicol

Filipino English and Filipino Bicol English

Filipino English and Filipino English Bicol

Filipino English and Filipino English Bicol

While the teacher is discussing science

lessons

During science

exams

During science

classes

While doing

homework

Grade 3

Filipino English and Filipino English Bicol

Filipino Bicol English

Filipino English and Filipino English Bicol

Filipino English and Filipino

Bicol English

Grade 4

Filipino English and Filipino English Bicol

Filipino Bicol English

English English and Filipino English Bicol

Filipino English and Filipino

Bicol English

Follow Up Research Venue: Non-Pilot school in a small village

Respondents: 45 grade 3 students (lower section)

(22 Female and 23 Male)

Age range: 8,9 and 10 years old.

Randomly grouped

Group A : taught using English

Group B : taught using Bicol

Group C : taught using Filipino

Duration: 2-day regular science classes

15-item test after the classes.

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Findings

Group 1

Group 2

Group 3

BICOL

LANGUAGE

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

FILIPINO LANGUAGE

TOTAL MEAN SCORES

11.2

8.6

13.8

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The results indicate that the Filipino language could help

students from the Bicol region especially those who belong to

the lower sections perform better in science.

Students from the lower sections had a higher mean scores in

the tests using the Filipino language. They scored lowest in the

tests using the English language.

The student respondents prefer using the Filipino language

during recitations, exams, in doing their homework and in

following their teacher’s instructions.

Jualim Datiles Vela Hiroshima University

Answers to the Research Questions

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Primary Students’ Performance and Language Preference in Science

Respondents comprehend science well using the Filipino language (the national language) compared to Bicol (mother language).

WHY?

Grade 3 and 4 (except Grades 1 and 2 ) students have only experience studying subjects using Filipino and English. Although their teachers switch to Bicol from time to time.

Science for grades 3 and 4 are “mandated’ to be taught in English. The use of mother language in science education will start in school year 2014.

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Further Tasks Develop more instructional materials utilizing the local

languages for use and reference by primary school teachers in the province.

Further research by administering more actual classroom instruction in the Bicol region using the 3 languages.

Thank You Very Much!

Maraming Salamat!

Dios Mabalos!

Arigatou Gozaimashita!

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