CHAPTER 1

By
Suzaina Binti Othman 2011664806

TITLE

Factors hindering the mastering of English

Language among secondary school students in

Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

INTRODUCTION
English is the number first language spoken in

the world where 112 countries use English to

communicate (NumberOf.Net, 2010).

It is being used in nearly every area such as

business, education, etc. Even 26.8% of the Internet uses English as the medium of instruction (Internet World Stats, 2011).

 The government is emphasizing on the

importance of the language in the national

education to achieve Vision 2020.

However, the number of the language

mastery is deteriorating.
This is spelled by the number of students in the local universities who are competent in the language (Shamsudin, 2010)

STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

Majority of the Form 5 students in Kota Bharu district are still unable to construct proper sentences, either in speaking or writing, without making basic grammatical mistakes, which may due to several intrinsic as well as extrinsic factors.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. Are

students perception towards the

language and their parents socio economic status, the factors that prevent them from mastering the language?
2. Are English teachers bias toward students

according to their learning ability?

3. Are English teachers only focus on preparing

students for the public exam or improving

on students language proficiency?

4. Does the schools grade/ administrative/

policy has any effect on students mastery of

the language?

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE

to identify the factors that hinder the

students of schools in Kota Bharu district

from mastering the English Language.

?RESEARCH HYPOTHESES?
Students perception towards the language and their parents socio economic status affect their mastery of the language. English teachers are bias toward students

according to their learning ability.

 English teachers are only focused on

preparing students for the public exam

instead of improving on the students

language proficiency.
The school grade/ administrative/ policy helps

to

increase

students

mastery

of

the

language.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

the schools in Kota Bharu district are chosen because they comprises of different types of schools, namely premier schools, chinese vernacular schools, religious schools, bestari schools and

others. Thus, the study is relevant in finding out the

factors that hinders students from mastering the language.

 the study will provide data regarding the correlation of parents social economic status and students language mastery learning. the study will help the teachers to realise the importance of improving students proficiency in the language which is essential for their lifelong learning

 the study will be a trigger for the school to adopt certain policy in order to improve students proficiency in the language. so that others can make further research based on this study, so that the level of

English in secondary schools, in Kota Bharu

district particularly, will improve.

DEFINITION OF TERMS
mastering of English language means taking control
of the language and to be able to use it fluently (UsingEnglish.com, 2011) master: to become skilled or proficient ( MeriamWebster Dictionary, 2011)

 secondary school = comprises of two levels: lower forms (1-3) and upper forms (4 & 5), with seven categories: daily, boarding, cluster, technic & vocational, arts, sports and

religious schools
(http://www.moe.gov.my/?id=3&act=murid&pid=181) basic grammar = parts of speech

(http://www.wmich.edu/medieval/resources/IOE/basicgram

mar.html)

RESEARCH LIMITATION
it might be difficult to get an honest response from teachers regarding their attitude towards students different abilities. some parents might be reluctant in exposing

their economic status for a study.