Attitude towards English, Speech Anxiety and Academic Attitude towards English, Speech Anxiety and Academic Achievement among Elementary Pupils: Basis for Enriched Language Communication Program

Abstract

English is the leading foreign language and is considered as the second language in many countries including the Philippines. However, there are many students whocannot speak English fluently and are anxious to communicate in English. Thisstudy determined the learners’ attitude towards English, speech anxiety andacademic achievement in English among grade 3 to grade 6 pupils of Lora CarnigSchool of All Nations. The respondents are 29 Grade 3 pupils, 22 Grade 4, 14 Grade5, and 11 Grade 6 pupils.  Descriptive-correlational method was employed with theuse of survey questionnaire in determining the attitude towards English and pupils’speech anxiety. For the academic achievement in English, school record wasused.  The statistical tools used were weighted mean, mean, standard deviation (SD)and Pearson r.Findings revealed that majority of the respondents have high positiveattitude towards English. The standard deviation of 0.426 indicates that the groupis homogenous in terms of their attitude towards English. Overall, the respondents’speech anxiety in English is low. This means that the pupils are accustomed to speakEnglish at school not only during English subject, but also in other subjects. Therespondents’ academic achievement is high (86.84%) interpreted as outstandinglevel.  The test of correlation between attitudes of the pupils towards English andspeech anxiety has no significant correlation. While pupils’ attitude towardsEnglish and academic achievement in English has a significant correlation, andpupils’ speech anxiety towards English and academic achievement in English hassignificant correlation as well. This study provides a basis or as reference for future researchers to conduct the similar research or related study.