A study of out-of-class english language learning activities of secondary school students in english program

Abstract

Learning a language which is not ordinarily used in the community is challenging since the meaningful resources of the language use is limited only in the classroom setting. Outside the language classroom, students do not have much opportunity, if any, to participate in activities that promote their language acquisition. This study aimed at investigating students’ participation in out-of-class English language learning activities and the perceptions toward the effectiveness of those activities to their English language development. The subjects of this study were 45 early secondary school students in an English Program at Assumption College Sriracha, Chonburi Province. Data collection was conducted by using a questionnaire, a semi-structured interview and an observation. The findings showed that ‘surfing the Internet in English’ was the most popular out-of-class English language learning activity for the students. This was followed by listening to English songs; reading aloud in English; reading English signs, announcements, or billboards; and setting the language on the computer in English, respectively. The activities found most effective to English language development were surfing the Internet in English, translating English texts into Thai, speaking English with teachers, participating in English camp, and listening to English songs, respectively. All students perceived the advantages of out-of-class English language learning activities to their English language skill development even though the purposes and goals of participation in those out-of-class English language learning activities were not similar. Out-of-class English language learning activities are therefore a channel which helps increase exposure to more language use for these students. Thus, it is recommended, based on the study findings, that English Language teachers should encourage students to involve in more out-of-class English language activities and carefully consider utilizing the out-of-class English language learning activities by integrating them into in-class English language instruction.