Determinants of poor academic performance in English among Cambodian high school students: A survey study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69496/cjess.v3i1.157Keywords:
Cambodia, English language learning, High school education, Motivation, Student performanceAbstract
English has emerged as a global lingua franca for numerous individuals across various nations. The various applications of English have rendered its instruction and acquisition a central concern for numerous scholars and educators. The inquiry into the motivation for learning English has garnered increased interest from scholars, as this element significantly impacts students' learning outcomes. This study sought to examine the factors contributing to inadequate performance in English among high school students at Hun Sen Oraing Ov High School in Cambodia. The study utilized a quantitative methodology through self-administered questionnaires to attain this purpose. Three hundred questionnaires were distributed to 300 high school students in grades 10, 11, and 12. Nevertheless, merely 256 students submitted the questionnaires. The data was quantitatively evaluated using Microsoft Excel to determine mean scores, standard deviation, and frequency. The findings indicated that the factors contributing to inadequate performance in English among students at Oraing Ov High School are associated with their perceptions of the English subject for the national grade-12 examination, the proficiency of teachers in English, family educational background, the English curriculum, and the teaching and learning resources. The study is constrained by the methodology employed and the participant count. Current findings suggest that the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) should mandate English as a compulsory subject in the national grade-12 examination, whereby any high school student who fails the English subject will receive a failing grade in the grade-12 national examination. Furthermore, the present findings indicate that the MoEYS should prepare a regular professional development program for Cambodian English teachers to enhance their pedagogical skills and ensure adequate resources are available in public schools for use in English language instruction.
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