Investigation of Approach used in Teaching Writing Skill: in Gambella and Itang secondary and Preparatory school

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate approaches frequently used in teaching writing skill in Gmbella secondary and preparatory school and Itang secondary and preparatory schools in the case of grade 11 students. To achieve this, the researcher employed descriptive survey design which use both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The participants were 247 students and 7 teachers at Gmbella and Itang preparatory schools. Data were collected through questionnaires and interviews. The data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively using tables, numbers and percentage. The finding of the study shows that in the schools under the study the product based approaches is the most frequently used by English language teachers in teaching writing skill. Inexperienced and skill gap of teachers in teaching writing skill was found to be the challenges that encountered English language teachers in employing different approaches for teaching writing skill. It has been also found out that large class size, lack of training, motivation of the teachers in teaching writing skill were the challenges in employing different approach in the schools under study. Based on the findings the researcher recommended that the skill gap of the teachers in teaching writing skill should be taken in to consideration to this end, short and long term training programs, educational opportunities should be provided for English language teachers .Teachers should motivate, encourage and support learners to write frequently until they master the necessary skill. In addition, the school directors need to provide and make every necessary resource available to teach effective writing skills. Moreover, regional educational bureau have to consider for the construction of additional class room at least to solve the problem of large class size. If the problem of large class size is not solved teachers could not check the student‟s practice on writing skill and difficult to provide appropriate and timely feedback. It is therefore up to the concern of teachers school and Regional Educational Bureau ,to enhance the writing skill of preparatory students in the schools under the study.