English Background as the Predictors for Students’ Speaking Skills in Pakistan

Abstract

This paper is based on the English background of the students as the predictors for students English speaking skills at the secondary level at province of Sindh, Pakistan. A questionnaire was designed for students of grade-11, which was used to collect data from 60 male students of the public institutes in district Hyderabad, Pakistan. There were three independent variables used in this study: (X₁) either students attended English language institute, (X₂) number of years students were educated in English medium schools, and (X₃) last class’s English score. The dependent variable was English speaking score (Y). Students’ speaking skills were assessed by a standardized rubric designed by language experts. There were four research questions formulated. Data was analyzed using linear and multiple regression, and t-test in SAS 9.2 (Statistical Analysis System). With ?=0.05, the result indicates that there is a significant relationship between student last class’s English score (N=60, M=50.45, SD=9.00) and their speaking scores (N=60, M=11.77, SD=3.21), r = 0.73, p<0.001. The number of years educated in English medium school (b = 0.22, t =2.05) and last class’s English score (b = 0.26, t = 8.26, p <.0001) were found significant predictors at R² =0.57, F(2,57) =37.20, p<0.001. No statistical significance was indicated in students speaking score between those who attended English language institute (N=48, M= 12.04, SD= 3.43) and those who did not attend an English language institute (N=12, M= 10.67, SD= 1.83), t(58)= –1.34, p = 0.19. Interaction with students showed that most of the students do not speak English with fellow students because of shyness and lack of confidence.

Keywords: English speaking, language, speaking skills, secondary school.