Elevate your English: A Public Speaking and Leadership Program for Grade 11 Students in Balayang High School

Karina Yvonne D. Pascua

doi:10.11594/assrj.01.04.04

Authors

Karina Yvonne D. Pascua Teacher II, Balayang High School, Schools Division of Tarlac Province

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11594/assrj.01.04.04

Keywords:

English proficiency, public speaking skills, toastmasters-based inter-vention, senior high school students, communication skills develop-ment, speaking anxiety reduction

Abstract

Filipinos are proficient English speakers due to historical influences and a collectivist society, yet English skills are declining among younger generations, especially post-COVID-19. To improve competitiveness, the Department of Education focuses on enhancing communication skills in Senior High School (SHS). However, many SHS graduates lack confidence in their employability, citing insufficient preparation and soft skills. The intervention "Elevate Your English," a modified Toastmasters-based program, aimed to improve public speaking skills in Grade 11 students at Balayang High School. Conducted over seven sessions, it included lectures, role assignments, and evaluations. The teacher-researcher, drawing from corporate experience, saw potential in integrating this approach in public schools. The intervention included measuring first the anxiety levels using a modified PSCAS and evaluating performance with a Speech Evaluation Form from Toastmasters. After the program, perceptions were collected via a Likert-scale Satisfaction Questionnaire and validated through interviews, focusing on language improvement, public speaking, and overall program evaluation. As a result, the program significantly enhanced students' abilities. The findings suggested that consistent exposure to English-speaking activities reduces fear and boosts proficiency. The study recommended continued research, support for teachers, and integrating public speaking activities into lessons, including using virtual platforms, to further develop students' skills for academic and professional success.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Allen, M. J. (2017). The SAGE Encyclopedia of Communication Research Methods. In SAGE Publications, Inc. eBooks. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781483381411 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781483381411

Aranda, M. R. R. (2022, December 1). Learning challenges in the new senior high school English curriculum in the Philippines. Ar-anda | International Journal of Learn-ing,Teaching and Educational Research. https://www.ijlter.org/index.php/ijlter/article/view/6216

El-Sayed, A. (2017). Developing EFL Student-Teachers’ Oral Communication Skills in Light of the Toastmasters Approach. Ac-cessed from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED622640.pdf

Enago Academy. (2022). What Are the Ethical Considerations in Research Design?. Ac-cessed from https://tinyurl.com/EthicalConsiderations1

Eslit, E. & Bangelisan, K. (2018). Listening and Speaking Skills of Senior High School: To-wards a Progressive Communication Pro-gram. Published Thesis. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.16259.96800

Fajaryati, N., Budiyono, Akhyar, M., & Wiranto. (2020). The Employability Skills Needed to Face the Demands of Work in the Fu-ture: Systematic Literature Reviews. Open Engineering, 10(1), 595–603. https://doi.org/10.1515/eng-2020-0072 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/eng-2020-0072

Goodman, L. and Green, A. (n.d.). Public Speak-ing, Finding your Voice. Retrieved from https://open.maricopa.edu/com225/chapter/peer-review/ . Retrieved on 12/14/2023

Orbeta, A. & Potestad, M. (2020). On the Em-ployability of Senior High School Gradu-ates: Evidence from the Labor Force Sur-vey. Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS). Accessed from https://tinyurl.com/PIDS2020Survey DOI: https://doi.org/10.62986/dp2020.40

Pervez, S. (2014). Common Misconceptions about Communication Skills. Accessed from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140619112727-38782804-the-strange mis-conceptions-about-communication-skills

Quadra, M. (2022). Toastmasters empowers Filipinos to become better leaders. Good News Pilipinas. Accessed from https://www.goodnewspilipinas.com/toastmasters-empowers-filipinos-to-become-better-leaders/

Rahayu, N. (2015). An Analysis of Students’ Problems in Speaking English Daily Lan-guage Program at Husnul Khotimah Is-lamic Boarding School. Accessed from https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/147421711.pdf

What Recruiters Look for in a Candidate - See what skills recruiters often look for to stand out on your applications! (2021, September 16). Career and Professional Development. https://blogs.chapman.edu/career/2021/09/16/what-recruiters-look-for-in-a-candidate/

Yaikhong, K. & Usaha, S. (2012). A Measure of EFL Public Speaking Class Anxiety: Scale Development and Preliminary Validation and Reliability. English Language Teach-ing, 5(12), pp. 23-55. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v5n12p23 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v5n12p23