Using pictures to reinforce English composition writing in upper primary schools in Emuhay a sub-county, Vihiga county, Kenya.

Abstract

Instruction using a variety of learning resources has been heralded as a most promising activity that can engage students into academic language and literacy skills. The purpose behind this study is to look for solutions to the perennial poor performance in English composition due to use of conventional teaching methods that lack innovation. However, there is scanty research on picture based instruction in general and on its effect on composition writing and language achievement in particular. The aim of the study will be to investigate the effect of pictures on students' achievement in composition writing hence English Language performance. Two categories of schools will be selected; public and private. The focus groups will receive treatment by using pictures whereas the control group will be taught conventionally. The sample population will be 10 percent of learners in the Sub-county, who will constitute upper primary pupils in the six schools; eighteen English panel leaders (teachers), eighteen teachers of English and two Quality Assurance and standards Officers (QASO). The sample population will be the class seven pupils of the six schools. The learners will be forty from each school, within the age group of 11-13 years. The research methodology to be employed in the study is an experimental design. The focus groups will receive the treatment with the use of pictures, whereas the comparison group will be taught conventionally. The participants of the study will be forty standard seven pupils of Emutsa, Eluhove, Epang'a and kima (public) and a hundred from Fadhili star academy and Discovery Academy (private) in Emuhaya Sub-county, their ages ranging from 11 to 13. Three instruments that will be used in this study are observation, questionnaire, and semi-structured interview. The data will be analyzed using the most recent SPSS software package, via Mann-Whitney U rank some Test. The outcome of this research will be to generate information for innovation in teaching of the English composition for both the teachers and policy makers in the education sector.