ENHANCING ENGLISH VOCABULARY ORAL READING OF MIEN STUDENTS BY USING PHONICS METHOD AT BETTY DUMEN’S BORDER PATROL POLICE SCHOOL

Abstract

This research aims to evaluate the pre-teaching and post-teaching results from applying Phonics technique in enhancing the English vocabulary oral reading of Mien students. There are seven students who were studying in Prathom 6 in Betty Dumen’s border patrol police school participated in this research. Research instruments used in this study were pre-test and post-test, and Phonics teaching and learning materials. Data collection was conducted when the school teacher had already passed a Phonics workshop and applied her knowledge to students. Observations were periodically done by the researchers throughout the semester. When Phonics teaching was finished and the post-test was carried out subsequently, the pre-test and post-test results were statistically analyzed and compared to see the improvement of the students before and after the Phonics teaching.

This research was found that Mien students show significant improvement on their English vocabulary oral reading after the Phonics teaching as evidently justified by the statistically higher post-test scores in spelling words, especially for initial and final consonants. However, the sound blending skill needs further scaffolding. As for the suggestions regarding this research, the findings show that Phonics teaching is specifically suitable for this context where students who are a vulnerable group of people use English as their foreign language and those who are multilingual. This research also shows that the teachers are the key factor that plays an important role in creatively and effectively teaching English through Phonics. Thus, phonics teaching should be continuously fostered in this school and the Phonics teaching should also be transferred to other border patrol police schools or even those under the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC). Moreover, it is recommended that the reading comprehension and writing skills be promoted.