An Investigation Of Causes For Students’ Limited Participation In English Speaking Classroom In Gimbi Preparatory School: Grade 12 In Focus

Abstract

This study attempted to investigate causes for students’ limited participation in English speaking classroom in Gimbi preparatory school focusing on grade 12.The researcher used three data gathering instruments namely questionnaire, unstructured interview and classroom observation .One hundred eighty three (183) from three hundred thirty nine (339) students were selected from five (5) classrooms using lottery method of simple random sampling technique answered a 20-item questionnaire concerned with causes resulted in students’ limited participation in English speaking classroom. In addition to this, three (3) English teachers of grade level selected with availability sampling were interviewed on the same issue, and classroom observation was carried out by the researcher. The data gathered from interview was transcribed and analyzed qualitatively in narrative way and data gathered through classroom observation was analyzed in narrative way too, whereas data gathered from students’ questionnaire was put in the table with frequency, percentage and mean in a tabulated form and analyzed quantitatively .The research finding indicate that considerable number of students were reluctant during English speaking classroom primarily due to psychological factors like fear of making mistakes ,lack of self-confidence, feeling of shyness and anxiety provoking factors. Likewise, learning-environment factor-large class size and pedagogical factor-lack of communicative competence were found as factors inhibiting students’ classroom participation during English speaking. Therefore, on the basis of the key findings, the researcher drew conclusions and made recommendations that may help overcome problems and concerns identified in the study.