CHAPTER 1:

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction
As we all know, many people around the world are not that fluent because of the
fact that their vocabulary proficiency is narrow. They are lack of instructional materials
to learn and broaden their English vocabulary.
In other countries, English is a means of communication because it is considered
as the international language. Clear vocabulary is crucial to language learning because it
underlies all other language skills, can be a stepping stone to advanced language use, and
can help students achieve language fluency more quickly.
Learning vocabulary is not an easy task. It needs creative processes to help
students develop interest in words. The more words that the learners know, the better they
can listen, read, speak and write. A good vocabulary helps them to express their thoughts
clearly. A person with a large vocabulary can understand and enjoy more activities and
be a more interesting person than one who knows only a small number of words. They
need more words as they learn new facts or varied activities.

Vocabulary is the entire words that make up a language. Before someone studies
about the English skill, he should learn about vocabulary as the first step. Vocabulary is
one of the important factors in all language teaching, student must continually be learning
words as they learn structure and as they practice sound system (Gushendra, 2017).
According to Alqahtani (2015), vocabulary learning is an essential part in foreign
language learning as the meanings of new words are very often emphasized, whether in
books or in classrooms. It is also central to language teaching and is of paramount
importance to a language learner.
As a student, English is a must to teach learners and explain to them the value of
English language. To be proficient in English, learners should learn the language itself
and it will not be achieved if they only have limited stock of vocabulary. Thus, there is
the necessity for the researcher to measure the learners’ vocabulary proficiency level and
the factors that may affect their proficiency level through this research study.
 Al-Atoum (2017) indicated that cognitive flexibility is an important component of
creative thinking and indicates the automatic cognitive state by changing the situation or
its characteristics. This means the ability to produce a variety of ideas about a specific
problem or situation and the shift from a certain type of thinking to another when
responding to a stimulus that challenges the individual's thinking.

Vocabulary is very important as it is the basis of any language. They are the raw
building blocks we can use to express our thoughts and ideas, share information,
understand others, and develop personal relationships. Even if we barely know a
language and have no knowledge of grammar, we can still communicate.

A person who lacks of vocabulary may encounter difficulties when speaking

because of the fact that they are inexperienced and does not have enough exposure in
reading. The researchers would want to study and analyze the English language variables
and the vocabulary proficiency level of the students in the Tanauan Institute Inc. where
they are currently engaged in to provide an enhance instructional material to develop
reading skill.

Background of the Study

Nowadays, learning English has become more important in all levels of students.

It has been necessary at primary and secondary school because it is used as a standard in

National Examinations.

Teachers, concedes to the fact that there is an immense deterioration in the quality

service of education in our country more so in the expanse of the English language. One

significant basis is that when the Department of Education officially disclosed that there

was a notable decline in the results of the National Achievement Test, particularly in the

area of English.
 Also, in a classroom scenario, the researcher observed that most students have

difficulty in reading and writing in English. These days, most of them do not understand

the meaning of some words commonly understood by students of their age level.

Moreover, the researchers are concerned about the ability of the students to understand

and make sense of the vocabulary they encounter in the lesson.

The present research study is anchored on determining the related variables and

vocabulary proficiency level of second year college students and how it is being affected

by the profile of the respondents, learning English related variables, home related

variables and vocabulary proficiency related variables. With the deteriorating results in

the expanse of vocabulary in various achievement tests, the purpose of this study is to

assess the vocabulary level of the students and determine the factors that largely affect

their level of vocabulary proficiency.

Conceptual Framework

The foregoing illustration describes the three distinctive parts of variables, namely

the independent variables or the input, the intervening variables in the throughput or the

means/ process and the dependent variables or the output training.

The first block contains the profile of the respondents, respondents’ perception on

learning English, respondents perceive their vocabulary proficiency and the vocabulary

proficiency level of the respondents.

The second block which is the throughput analysis of English language

vocabulary proficiency, distribution, retrieval and analysis of the questionnaire and the

application of the appropriate statistical treatment on the data gathered.

 The third block contains Significant/Non-Significant differences in the vocabulary

proficiency level of the respondents when grouped according to sections and the enhance

instructional material.

Input Throughput Output

Profile of the respondents Use of questionnaires in Significant/ Non-Significant

gathering data to identify as differences in the
formulated in the statement Vocabulary Proficiency
Respondents’ perception on of the problem Level of the respondents
learning English
when grouped according to
sections
Data gathering procedure
Respondents perceive their
vocabulary proficiency
Enhance Instructional
Analysis and Interpretation of Material
Vocabulary Proficiency Level data
of the respondents

Utilization of statistical tools

for the treatment of data.

AN ANALYSIS OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE VARIABLES AND

PROFICIENCY LEVEL OF THE SECOND YEAR COLLEGE
STUDENTS IN TANAUAN INSTITUTE INC.

Figure 1. Research Paradigm of the Study

Statement of the Problem

The main purpose of this study is to assess the learning English related variables

and proficiency level in vocabulary of second year college students at Tanauan Institute

Inc. that can be a basis for teaching English as a second language. Specifically, the

present study sought to answer the following questions:

1. What is the profile of the respondent in terms of :

1.1 Gender ;

1.2 Parents’ Educational Attainment ;

1.3 Parents’ Occupation ; and

1.4 Extra-curricular involvement ?

2. What are the respondents’ perception on learning English in terms of:

2.1 Multiple Intelligence ;

2.2 Attitude towards English ;

2.3 Reading Habit ;

2.4 Learning Style ; and

2.5 Peer Influence ?

3. How do the respondents perceive their vocabulary proficiency in terms of

the following:
 3.1 Context Clues ;

3.2 Synonyms/Antonyms ;

3.3 Word Structure ; and

3.4 Word with Multiple Meanings?

4. What is the vocabulary proficiency level of the respondents in terms of

4.1 Context Clues ;

4.2 Synonyms/Antonyms ;

4.3 Word Structure ; and

4.4 Words with Multiple Meanings ?

5. Are there significant differences in the Vocabulary Proficiency Level of

the respondents when grouped according to sections?

Research Hypotheses

1. The vocabulary proficiency levels of second year students are not significantly

related to the following factors:

1. Profile of the Respondents

2. Learning English Related Variables

3. Vocabulary-Related Variables
 2. There are no significant differences in the vocabulary proficiency level of the

respondents when grouped according to sections.

Significance of the Study

The results of this study have great advantage.

Administrators. The results of this research study maybe used by the

administrators in the preparation of plans and programs inclined to foster and promote the

use of the English Language especially when it comes to vocabulary proficiency. It can

also be an instrument for them to encourage teachers to work with diligence and

efficiency so as to achieve the institution’s goal of producing quality and globally-

competitive graduates.

Teachers. The findings may be a feasible basis for the teachers to assess and

evaluate whether their teaching strategies are effective or not. Through this study, they

can seek the help and support of parents and peers in motivating and guiding the

students so that instruction and learning in school can be supplemented commensurately.

Students. Knowing the importance of the English Language in globalizations, the

results can make the students realize the value of improving one’s vocabulary level. It

will serve as their passport in competing with the rest of the world

Parents. Through the findings of this research study, the parents may be able to

know the importance of parental motivation in learning thus, serving as veritable basis

for them to employ good parenting style and motivation. This may also serve as an eye-

opener for them in inculcating in their children the value of improving one’s vocabulary.
Though it may require parents to spend more time teaching their children than doing the

chores at home, it will definitely establish a strong bond and create harmonious

relationship between parents and children.

Scope and Limitation of the Study

The present study is a descriptive correlational research that deals with the study

“An Analysis of English Language Variables and Vocabulary Proficiency Level of

Tanauan Institute Inc. Second Year College Students: Basis for an Enhance Instructional

Material to Develop Reading Skill”., situated in the town of Tanauan Province of

Batangas. Surveys were conducted for the School Year 2021-2022.

This study will be limited to second year college students in Tanauan Institute Inc.

for the school year 2021-2022. The total number of two hundred (200) students were

taken as representative of college department in Tanauan Institute Inc.

Definition of Terms

The following terms are defined operationally to help the readers and other future

researchers understand this study better.

Attitude towards English pertains to the orientations and behaviors of the

learner towards the English language.

Context clues. It refers to the hint in the sentence that helps the reader defines

the unfamiliar words.

 Learning Style refers to the individual’s unique approach to learning based on

strengths, weaknesses and preferences.

Multiple Intelligence indicated in a checklist that will identify pupil’s different

learning abilities, skills and capabilities.

Reading Habit considered as the active skill-based process of constructing

meaning and gaining knowledge from oral, written and visual text.

Parents’ Educational Attainment. This refers to the highest education level

reached by the parents of the intermediate pupils.

Word with Multiple Meanings refers on how student can identify words with

more than one meaning.

Word Structure refers to how a student can identify the formation of words

which includes inflection, derivation formation and compounds in a sentence is to what

the term refers to.

Vocabulary Level considered as the degree, amount, and quality of the stock of

words of the respondents as measured by the given test.