4. Impact of AVP Technique... by Mohan

Introduction:

Communication Skills, especially the Listening Skills are very essential in the High School level but it is being taught in classrooms by using traditional methods which were not fruitful. In designing and implementing a syllabus for English Language Teaching, the professional aim is always to adjust teaching inputs to the needs of the learners. Proper strategies are not used in the classroom transactions. Technique is the actual strategy employed by the teacher to operationalize the method. Learning Listening Skills through AVP technique is introduced for classroom transactions which are more effective in teaching all the subjects. It reduces the stress of the teachers and ensures the quality of the learners who challenge to understand the hard spots with minimum help of the teachers. By adapting the strategy in the classroom, slow learners and under achievers attain the competency within limited time and with less strain. Designing different techniques/activities related to the ability of the learners will ensure cent percent achievement and will motivate the learners to learn in their own phase. The teaching should be based on real-life needs provided opportunity for skill-practice. The teaching should motivate the students for self-assessment.

Significance of the Study:

Communication is the art of being understood and communicating in a Global world is a challenging task. Listening is one of the important aspects of Communication. An active activity that involves receiving, deciphering and perceiving a message which intent to respond. Listening is a technique for improving understanding of what is being said. Listening plays a crucial role in Speaking and Writing abilities. High School Education concentrates on achievement of the students’ competency in all subjects. In English, Listening Skill is not prescribed separately in the Curriculum. Students of standard IX had problems in learning Listening Skill in St. John Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Coimbatore. The difficulties faced by the learners were assessed through previous achievement test and suggestions were given to those who were handling classes to the students. The researcher wanted to improve the standard of learners. Hence, the researcher found out an innovative learning method namely AVP [Audio-Video-Picture] technique that provided effective teaching on Listening Skills in the cited school.

Objectives of the Study:

• 1. To find out the significant difference between AVP technique and conventional method in achievement mean scores in learning Listening Skill at standard IX.

  2. To find out the effectiveness of AVP technique in relation to pupils’ achievement in Listening Skill at standard IX.

Hypotheses of the Study:

• 1. There is no significant difference between the control group [conventional method] and experimental group [AVP technique].

  2. The AVP technique is more effective than conventional method for teaching Listening Skills.

Delimitations of the Study:

The responsibility of the researcher is to see that the study is conducted with maximum care in order to be reliable. However, the following delimitations could not be avoided in the present study.

• 1. The study is confined to 32 students of standard IX studying in St. John Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Coimbatore.

  2. The study included Listening Skills alone, and was limited to one topic in the same.

  3. Since experimental design had been used, the size of the sample was limited.

  4. Only the effectiveness of AVP techniques was tested in the study.

  5. The study is confined to matriculation students only.

Method of Study:

The investigator selected the experimental study to know the effectiveness of AVP techniques in enhancing achievement in Listening Skills at standard IX. The researcher framed as techniques such as audio cassettes, video and pictures. Qualitative approach was espoused in the study.

Sample selected for the Study:

Thirty two students of standard IX learning Listening Skills in St. John Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Coimbatore were taken for the study. 16 of them were considered as experimental group and the remaining 16 were considered as control group.

Variables:

The independent variables namely AVP technique and the dependent variable namely achievement score were used in this study.

Tools used for the study:

The investigator made use of self-made achievement test as the tool for conducting the study.

Description of Techniques used in the study:

After administering the pre-test, the conventional method of teaching was adapted for the control group and the researcher provided treatment through AVP techniques to the experimental group, who were provided with following techniques:

AVP Techniques [Audio-Video-Picture]:

Testing the listening ability of the students through Audio, Video and Picture by questioning. After bestowing treatment to the experimental group, post-tests were administered to the students.

Data Analysis:

The researcher used descriptive analysis and inferential analysis for analyzing the data. The “t” test was used to find the significant difference between the mean scores of different groups of variables selected for the study.

Findings of the Study:

There is significant difference between the control group [conventional method] and experimental group [AVP technique] with regard to their achievement mean score in Listening Skills.

The students of experimental group have outscored the students of control group in their achievement in Listening Skills. The AVP technique is more effective than conventional method in enhancing their achievement in Listening Skill.

Conclusion:

Research in any area is only a humble beginning to explore its nuances. AVP technique is fairly a new idea and full potential is yet to be realized in the field of education. Any piece of knowledge on AVP techniques is a contribution to its knowledge base. In this way, the research study can be considered as a small but significant contribution to education. More studies in different dimensions of AVP techniques are essential to understand the value of AVP techniques.

Educational Implications:

The AVP Technique

• • can become an effective strategy in the classroom teaching at high school level.

  • is effective for learning communication skills.

  • if well planned and executed; it becomes resourceful.

  • can be extended to all categories of students at high school level.

  • is effective both for the slow learners as well as for the average learners.

  • helps a student to become self-reliant and confident.

  • enhances the thinking capacity of the students and it help them to develop reasoning skills.

  • enhances mutual understanding and co-operation among students at all levels and all subjects.

  • provides the chance of learning to the students in their own phase.

* * *