Ssc) and General Certificate of Education-Ordinary Level (Gce O-Level) English Language Course
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A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SECONDARY SCHOOL CERTIFICATE (SSC) AND GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION-ORDINARY LEVEL (GCE O-LEVEL) ENGLISH LANGUAGE COURSE Muhammad Iqbal Naeem 01-SS/Ph.D (Edu)/03 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN 2011 A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SECONDARY SCHOOL CERTIFICATE (SSC) AND GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION-ORDINARY LEVEL (GCE O-LEVEL) ENGLISH LANGUAGE COURSE By MUHAMMAD IQBAL NAEEM 01-SS/Ph.D (Edu)/ 03 A thesis submitted in fulfilling the partial requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Education DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN 2011 ii Dedicated to My parents, whose love, patience and sacrifice proved to be an unfailing source of inspiration iii FORWARDING SHEET The thesis entitled “A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SECONDARY SCHOOL CERTIFICATE (SSC) AND GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION- ORDINARY LEVEL (GCE O-LEVEL) ENGLISH LANGUAGE COURSE” submitted by Muhammad Iqbal Naeem in partial fulfillment of the requirement of PhD degree in Education has been completed under my guidance and supervision. I am satisfied with the quality and originality of student’s research work. Supervisor________________________ Date_______________ (Dr. Muhammad Maqsud Alam Bukhari) iv STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING I, Muhammad Iqbal Naeem Reg. No. 01-SS/Ph.D (Edu)/03, student of PhD Education, International Islamic University Islamabad do hereby solemnly declare that the thesis entitled ‘A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SECONDARY SCHOOL CERTIFICATE (SSC) AND GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION- ORDINARY LEVEL (GCE O-LEVEL) ENGLISH LANGUAGE COURSE’ submitted by me in partial fulfillment for the requirement of PhD degree is my original work, except where otherwise acknowledged in the text and has been submitted or published earlier and so will not be submitted in future for any degree from a University or an institution. Signature________________ Dated: March 25, 2011 Muhammad Iqbal Naeem v APPROVAL SHEET A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SECONDARY SCHOOL CERTIFICATE (SSC) AND GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION-ORDINARY LEVEL (GCE O-LEVEL) ENGLISH LANGUAGE COURSE By MUHAMMAD IQBAL NAEEM 01-SS/Ph.D (Edu)/03 Accepted by the Department of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences, International Islamic University Islamabad, in the partial fulfillment of the award of the degree of “DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN EDUCATION” Viva Voce Committee Supervisor: _______________________ (Dr. Muhammad Maqsud Alam Bukhari) Internal Examiner: __________________ (Dr. Nabi Bux Jumani) External Examiner _______________ External Examiner: _________________ (Dr. R. A. Farooq) (Dr. Muhammad Zafar Iqbal) Chairman____________ Dean_________________ Department of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences, International Islamic University, International Islamic University, Islamabad Islamabad vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Thanks to Almighty Allah, The beneficent, The Merciful, all Embracing, all Knowing, Who provided the researcher courage and ability to complete this humble contribution towards knowledge, and to His Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) who is forever the torch of guidance and knowledge for humanity as a whole. The researcher is highly indebted to Dr. Maqsood Alam Bukhari, the supervisor for his cogent criticism, thought provoking suggestions and inspiring guidance which have been a great help in the completion of the study. The researcher is extremely thankful to chairman department of education Dr. Nabi Bux Jumani who benevolently extended his moral and academic support and also grateful to Dr. Khalid Hassan Bukhari, Dr. A. R. Saghir, Dr. Asad Rizvi, Dr. R. A. Farooq, Dr Zafar Iqbal, Dr. M. Munir Kayani, Dr. Naeemullah Bajwa, Dr. Hukam Dad, Dr. Umer Farooq and Dr. Sajid-ur-Rehman for their valuable suggestions during the process of research work. The researcher is also thankful to Dr. Ghulam Behlol, Dr. Shafqat Ali Khan, Miss Sania RC, Muhammad Akhlaq, Ph.D. Scholar, Ahsan Naqvi, Ph.D Scholar, Rehana Banaras, M. Tahir SSS, Abdul Sattar, and Abdul Shakeel for their great co- operation and sincere help for completion of the thesis. The researcher is also grateful to Mr. Zaheer Haider Shah whom I found always ready at a short call to correct the language errors and mistakes of the entire thesis. MUHAMMAD IQBAL NAEEM vii ABSTRACT The present research focuses on comparative study of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and the General Certificate of Education-Ordinary level (GCE-O level) English language course to trace out the problems and shortcomings of the curriculum objectives, teaching methods, contents and examination system. The objectives of the study were: (1) to analyze the objectives of teaching English of SSC and GCE O-level; (2) to compare the contents of the curricula of both the courses; (3) to critically review the teaching methodology of both the courses; (4) to undertake the comparison of the examination system of English course in both the programmes. The population of the study comprised all the principals (heads of the schools), teachers and the students of SSC and GCE-O level in the Punjab province. The sample included the teachers teaching English to 10th class and the students studying in 10th class only. As many as 40 principals, 200 teachers and 400 students were selected from the SSC level. While 20 principals, 100 teachers and 200 students were selected from the GCE O-level. Questionnaires designed with a five-point rating scale and two-point rating scales were administered to the sample. The researcher also made a comparison of results and document analysis of O-level and SSC level English language course. The data collected were tabulated and analyzed by using, t-test and chi square. The researcher concluded that the course objectives of learning English language in SSC and O-level were well-defined and clear and were relevant to the demands of the students. However, in the O-level, they met the international standards but in the SSC, they did not meet the international standard. The teachers teaching O-level students followed student-centered and language-centered viii approaches that catered the interests and needs of the students. They ensured participation of the students in the learning process, whereas in SSC, the teachers used to follow teacher-centered approach. The Grammar Translation Methods (GTM) was used to teach English language at SSC level students while the Direct Teaching and Activity-based methods were used to teach O-level students. The examination system at SSC level was found promoting cramming and rote memorization whereas the O-level was found comparatively better in this respect as it focused on understanding of concepts, hence promoting creativity. The main recommendations were that the SSC curriculum needs to be revised and modified according to the students’ requirements e.g. integration of four skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking), use of technology and induction of the latest topics in the curriculum like human rights and environment etc. The English language teachers at SSC level may also motivate the students by using authentic material and by adopting pair work and group work in the classroom. The public schools may be equipped with libraries, language labs and audio-visual materials such as tape recorder, video-player, overhead projector, multi-media etc and such facilities may be properly used for improving the teaching learning process in the subject of English. ix TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Forwarding Sheet Statement of Understanding Approval Sheet Acknowledgement vii Abstract viii List of Contents x List of Tables xvi Abbreviations xxiii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM 4 1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 4 1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS 4 1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 5 1.5 METHODOLOGY 5 1.5.1 Population 6 1.5.2 Sample 6 1.5.3 Instruments 6 1.5.4 Collection of Data 7 1.5.5 Data Analysis 7 1.5.6 Delimitation of Study 7 CHAPTER: 2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE 8 2.1 LANGUAGE AND ITS LEARNING 8 2.2 LEARNING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE 10 2.3 FOUR LEARNING SKILLS 11 2.3.1 Teaching of Listening Skill 11 2.3.2 Teaching of Speaking Skill 12 2.3.3 Teaching of Reading Skill 13 2.3.4 Teaching of Writing Skill 13 2.3.4.1 Creative writing skill 14 x 2.4 SOME ASPECTS OF LANGUAGE LEARNING 14 2.4.1 Pronunciation 14 2.4.2 Vocabulary 14 2.4.3 Preposition 15 2.4.4 Translation 15 2.4.5 Library 15 2.4.6 Innovative Programmes 16 2.4.7 Language Laboratory 16 2.4.8 Intensive and Extensive Reading 17 2.4.9 English Language Games 17 2.4.10 Grammar 17 2.5 METHODS AND APPROACHES OF TEACHING OF ENGLISH 18 2.5.1 The Substitution Method 18 2.5.1.1 Advantages of the Substitution Method 18 2.5.1.2 Disadvantages of the Substitution Method 19 2.5.2 The Bilingual Method 19 2.5.2.1 The Advantages of the Bilingual Method 20 2.5.3 The Play-way Method 20 2.5.3.1 Some Forms of the Play-way Method 21 2.5.3.2 Advantages of the Play-way Method 21 2.5.3.3 Disadvantages of the Play-way Method 21 2.5.4 The Dr. West’s Method 21 2.5.4.1 Advantages of The Dr. West’s Method 22 2.5.4.2 Disadvantages of The Dr. West’s Method 22 2.5.5 The Reading Method 22 2.5.5.1 Advantages of the Reading Method 23 2.5.5.2 Disadvantages of the Reading Method 23 2.5.6 The Grammar Translation Method 23 2.5.6.1 Advantages of the Grammar Translation Method 24 2.5.6.2 Disadvantages of the Grammar Translation Method 24 2.5.7 The Direct Method 25 2.5.7.1 Advantages of the Direct Method 25 xi 2.5.7.2 Disadvantages of the Direct Method 25 2.5.8 The Structural