An Investigation of the Teaching Techniques, Assessment Strategies and Students’ Attitude towards Reading English and their Impact on Learners’ Performance in Pakistan

Abstract

Effective teaching learning of English has got a prominent position in all the educational plans and policies of Pakistan. To ensure the effectiveness of English, efforts have been taken to enhance the teaching learning strategies, assessment techniques and reading attitude of students. Considering the importance of English, a survey, regarding the teaching techniques, assessment strategies and learners’ reading attitude and their impact on learners’ performance, has been conducted. The sample, comprising 535 students and 26 teachers, from target population delimited to Hyderabad, had been selected using random stratified technique of sampling. The findings clarified that earners’ reading attitude, assessment strategies and teaching techniques (independent variables) were strongly correlated to the performance of learners. However, the poor performance of students in English raised a question on assessment strategies, teaching techniques and learners’ attitude. The teachers and students mutually believed that conservative and unproductive teaching and assessment techniques employed by higher secondary school teachers failed to attract and motivate the students in order to enhance their performance. Even the teachers having vast teaching experience were incapable to use modern techniques and AV aids in their classroom teaching and assessment. They were incapable to develop and employ the modern standardized assessment tests. Rather than to focus on learners’ skill development, teachers focused on memorization and rote learning. Consequently, students’ interest toward classroom learning process did not flourish. Their attitude towards learning English was dismal. The research paper is rounded off with suggestions at the end.