Understanding the Role of Public Speaking to the Academic Performance of

HUMSS Students

Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

Based on the study of Spencer (2024), Most public speaking teachers were Greeks. They used

public speech primarily to praise or persuade others. At one point, all Greek citizens had the right to

suggest or oppose laws during their assemblies. This resulted in a need for skilled public speakers.

Speaking in public became a desirable skill and was taught to most individuals back then. In the time

of the Greeks, public speaking was called rhetoric. Later, when Rome came to power, speaking in

public was used during the Roman senate sessions and they adopted the public speaking rhetoric

methods of the Greeks.

According to Baumeyer (2018),” Public speaking is the process of communicating information to your

audience. It is usually done in a large number of people; in schools, workplace, or events. The

benefits of knowing how to communicate to an audience include sharpening critical thinking and

verbal/non-verbal communication skills” as stated, Public Speaking is communicating using your

voice in front of an audience to inform, influence, or entertain. It can be in a formal or informal setting

like school-based events. In conclusion, public speaking is a vital skill that is needed in different

aspects of people’s lives including work, environment, and academics.

scores, and ranks for subject. In accordance to a book from Stebbins (2017), students who are more

diligent inside or outside the classroom will usually have an easier time achieving encouraging

academic performance. Student academic performance is defined as the achievement of short-term

and long-term educational objectives as well as the fulfilment of the required educational criteria.

Humanities and Social Science strand often requires activities that include public speaking such as:

reporting, debate, recitation, impromptu speech and many more. According to Sudi et al. (2024)

asserts that studying the humanities fosters students' ability to 5 communicate effectively, broadens

their perspective on the world, and fosters the growth of their capacity for critical and creative

thought. According to Evans et al. (2024), it supports educators and students in creating well-rounded

thinkers by highlighting cultural and ethical commitments and values. regarding the essential

communication skills covered in the HUMSS strand.

Statement of the problem

The general problem of this study is: How may the grammar skills of Grade 8 struggling students of

Parada National High School be honed through the use of

digitalized learning drills for School Year 2022-2023?

Specifically, the study answered the following questions:

1. What is the level of grammar skills of the respondents before the implementation of digitalized

learning drills?

2. What is the level of grammar skills of the respondents after the implementation of digitalized

learning drills?

3. Is there a significant difference between the level of grammar skills of the respondents before and
after the implementation of digitalized

learning drills?

Scope and delimitation

This study is experimental research that focuses on honing students’ grammar skills through the

development of digitalized learning drills for struggling 8 grade students. This study was conducted at

Parada National High School, which is located in Parada, Santa Maria, Bulacan. The grade 8

students who have an average of 79–75 in English will be the target subjects to ensure the validity

and reliability of the study. The participants of this study are composed of 30 struggling 8th -grade

students during the school year 2022-2023.

The researcher used a one-group pretest-posttest design to determine the level of grammar skills of

the struggling 8th grade students before and after the implementation. There are three grammar

lessons that will be the focus of this study: (1) modals, (2) conjunctions, and (3) parallel structures.

The researcher used an experimental design (one-group pre-test-posttest design). The pre-test and

post-test are adapted from the English 8th grade teachers at PNHS.

Significance of the Study

The aim of this study is that it can help you in many areas of life, including school, work, and social

interactions. It can help you develop your communication skills, confidence, and critical thinking skills.

Students. Public speaking can elicit higher interest and engagement, develop their public speaking

skills sufficiently for them to have better academic performances in class discussion, and prepare

them to be graduates with lifelong learning and employment.

public speaking learning drills that are suitable for learners’ abilities and skills. The digitalized drills

may serve as a guide in developing digitalized materials and will serve as the basis for promoting

quality education that can support the acquisition of the desired grammar skills outlined in the

student’s curriculum guide.

Administrators. The result of this study may help administrators ease difficulties in public speaking

skills. This could motivate teachers to apply public speaking learning drills to educational resources to

improve teachers’ teaching lessons and the provision of enrichment activities.

Future Researchers. The findings of this study may serve as a guide and foundation for exploring

public speaking. This study provides relevant knowledge and may be used as reference data in

conducting a study related to learning in public speaking resources. This study will serve as a

supporting source of information for future researchers as they undertake the same endeavor.

Definition of Terms

The following terms are defined and discussed in order to provide future readers with a complete

understanding of the terminology used in the study. This is vital for future readers to be able to

properly understand the research’s contents.

Digitalization. This entails converting all data into digital format from many sources, including texts,

sounds, movies, and photographs. This study (Machekhina, 2017) discusses how digital technology is

used to teach students of all ages. This includes computers, mobile devices, interactive whiteboards,

software applications, and other digital tools.

Grammar Skills. Pascual (2021) discusses grammar skills that serve as the backbone for developing

learning resources that address the problem of

English grammar. In this study, it refers to the use of grammar points such as modals, conjunctions,

and parallelism as the subject matter of the study that is proposed to be developed.

Implementation Program. Refers to the tool that outlines the pace to accomplish a goal or objective.

It helps all students achieve the program intervention of the school, which is an ongoing process
undertaken to improve student outcomes (School Climate Improvement 2022).

Learning Drill. Khetaguri and Albay (2016) defined it as a useful tool that helps learners use the

target language effectively. In this study, learning drills are useful to improve fluency and accuracy and

to keep students focused for better achievement. Lastly, it can be used to practice the grammatical

structure and vocabulary of the learners.

Struggling Learners. Greatschools (2012) defined it as one who has problems with the curriculum,

struggles with grade level transition, and learners who are having conflicts learning a certain

academic subject.

Group Members: