Effect of Picture Reading Instructional Approach on English Language Achievement of Upper Basic Students in Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The design of the study is a quasi-experimental design, using a pre-test, post-test control groups. The area of this study was Owerri Educational Zone of Imo State. The population of the study comprised 27680 upper basic two students. Eighty (80) students constituted the sample (40 males and 40 females) Purposive sampling technique was employed in the selection of two co-educational schools from the area while random sampling technique was used to select the two classes, one treatment and the other control. The instrument used for data collection was a Researcher-Made comprehension passage and vocabulary building instrument titled (CPAVB), which was developed from students’ recommended class reading textbook. The instrument was validated by three experts, one from Curriculum Studies, one English Language and one from Measurement and Evaluation, all from Abia State University, Uturu. A test-retest method was carried out to determine the reliability of the instrument (DCPAVB) using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Statistics. The reliability coefficient obtained was 0.71. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer research questions two (2) – six (6), while Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used also to test the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The main findings of the study indicate that differences exist between the students taught English Language using picture reading approach and those taught using lecture method in favour of picture reading and that there is no significant difference between the mean achievement scores of male and female students taught English Language using picture reading approach. Based on the findings, the study recommended that: English Language teachers should use picture reading instructional approach in teaching English Language and Government should encourage and motivate English Language teachers by sponsoring and organizing workshops, seminars, conferences and in-service training programmes on the implementation of picture reading method in the classroom etc.