TECHNIQUES TO PROMOTE COMMUNICATIVE SKILLS AMONG THE STUDENTS OF PRIMARY SCHOOL: AN ACTION RESEARCH

Abstract

Although communication is an aspect of living of all the animals existing on the earth, there is difference in how communication takes place; we, the human beings, communicate using the language but the animals do using the signs. It is true that language is also a sign; however, being the most developed creature, the human beings have the systematic patterns whereas the others don’t. In addition, human language is clearer enough to be studied. Using the same language human beings have been able to conquer the world. It is communication and the advancement in the field of communication that has made it possible to merge every nook and corner of the world and develop the world as a small global village. And there is no doubt that it is English language that has adjoined the world into a single chain. With the modern changes and development in science and technology, English language is getting essential for everyone. It has also been a very common indicator of person’s knowledge. In addition, it is also the indicator of how modernized one is getting along with the time. In our context, communicating in English is the must for getting enrolled into a good job, or into a good school. It has been a common requirement of our daily living. This is the reason; the wise parents ask why their child doesn’t communicate well in English. There is a fear; no good English means no any better opportunity. However, the development of the skill in the students is not noticed as per the expectation and the increasing grades. Though the students get into high school the pattern of their communication seems to be very near to the way they used to do when they were in the primary school. Changing the communicating skills rapidly once the students grow up is, certainly difficult, though not impossible. Therefore, I carried out this study to help the students improve their communicative skills in primary level. I had no big dream of bringing about the changes overnight; however, I did have the hope of getting something useful and practicable for the classes. So, I centered the study in trying out various techniques in the language classes. I, not only, was heading for the activities effective in the class but also the ones that the students love to carry on with. I had made a rigorous study of literature before making the intervention plan so that I would have no problem in preparing the materials and the process of implementing the tasks upon the students. I was doing the things being based on qualitative method; hence my ontology, epistemology and axiology remained very subjective. The whole of the broad methodology was specified by ‘action research’, for, my research method was action research. I was trying to find out the ways of improving communicative skills of the students and trying out the different activities in the class in small groups, therefore, I find it appropriate having the research method chosen. Similarly, for the validity of the research, the quality standards have been addressed. The study results that students love to work in the small groups. They not only like working in the groups, but also improve their skills being in the groups. In addition, sharing and cooperativeness in the group enhances their learning and understanding. Group works have left positive impact on them and that they want to continue with the same in the days to come as well. On the one hand, the study has sharpened those who were already good at learning, in fact, communicating, on the other had it has also motivated the quiet ones to speak up in the class with their friends and their teachers. The learning aspect, this way, has been improved, besides, they have also been found feeling better psychologically. The students’ conversation sounds much structured and better, it is polite as well. Their conversations is better than that they used to have. Something important about the study is that they do not coin the words randomly but look for the appropriate one. Therefore, the outcomes of the action research are positive.