English Proficiency Profile of BSEd Students: Implications for Student Enhancement Activity Material (SEAM)

Authors

  • Alfonso M. Samillano Jr. University of Antique, Sibalom, Antique, Philippines
  • Grace C. Pastolero University of Antique, Sibalom, Antique, Philippines

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.69569/jip.2025.126

Keywords:

Curriculum enhancement, Curriculum development, English language teaching, English proficiency, Pedagogy

Abstract

This study examined the English proficiency of Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSEd) students to determine if they meet the expected proficiency level for teachers in the Philippines. With the hope of pinpointing areas where help is needed and exploring what lies behind the rise and fall of a learner’s English- language abilities, this research was designed to provide data for targeted actions and reform of BSEd English courses. The aim was to help future teachers improve their English skills, raise the standard of English language teaching, and enable graduates to meet the new demands of twenty-first-century classrooms. The English Proficiency Assessment tool gathered scores in listening comprehension, reading comprehension, grammar knowledge, and writing. The test was a multiple-choice format, including a listening comprehension section where respondents listened to audio clips and then selected their answers. Data were analyzed using frequency, mean, percentage, standard deviation, ANOVA, and Least Significant Difference tests to examine the English proficiency and its relationship with variables such as year level (first to fourth year) and specialization (English, Filipino, Mathematics, Social Science, and Science). The study finds significant variation in the English proficiency of BSEd students in both variables of year level and specialization. In general, the English proficiency of BSED students is classified as "Developing," which means they can communicate in English. However, vocabulary and grammar hinder their ability to fully express complex ideas. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on language education reform and enriches empirical information to guide policy and practice of teacher education. Based on the findings, the study proposed the formation of a Student Enhancement Activity Material (SEAM), which consists of worksheets designed to improve reading comprehension, listening comprehension, writing proficiency, and sentence structure where they have been found lacking, and aimed to better equip future educators with the necessary English language skills.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Afalla, B., & Fabelico, F. (2020). Pre-service teachers' pedagogical competence and teaching efficiency. Journal of Critical Reviews 2020. Retrieved from https://ssrn.com/abstract=3655150

Almudibry, K. (2022). Students’ attitudes towards using English as a medium of instruction in scientific disciplines: Challenges and solutions. Kıbrıslı Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi, 17(8), 2760- 2770. https://doi.org/10.18844/cjes.v17i8.7522

Alshehri, A. (2023). Correspondence between the textbooks of the Intensive English program and students’ language proficiency at King Khalid University. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 13(9), 2323–2330. https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1309.19

Banagbanag, R. A. (2020). ESL teachers’ attitudes and competence on communicative language teaching (CLT) methodology. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 8(7), 2883–2889. https://doi.org/10.13189/ujer.2020.080715

Bautista, R.A. & Del Valle, J.M. (2023). Communicative competence and oral language usage of Filipino learners in English. International Journal of Educational Management and Development Studies, 4(1), 1-23. https://doi.org/10.53378/352957

Beca, J. M., Chan, K. K. W., Naimark, D. M. J., & Pechlivanoglou, P. (2021). Impact of limited sample size and follow-up on single event survival extrapolation for health technology assessment: a simulation study. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-021-01468-7

Business World. (2024, November 17). Filipinos still ‘highly proficient’ in English language. Business World Online. Retrieved from https://tinyurl.com/BusinessWorldOnline2024 Danoch, A., Michaelan, R., Danoch, R., & Kela-madar, N. (2023). Investigating the relationship between the initial English reading skills of newly enrolled engineering undergraduates and

their academic success-a case study. International Journal of Engineering Education, 39(2), 488-496. https://doi.org/10.52131/pjhss.2021.0903.0156

Du Plessis, C. (2016). Inferences from the test of academic literacy for postgraduate students (TALPS). Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, 34(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.2989/16073614.2015.1108206

Foody, G. M. (2009). Sample size determination for image classification accuracy assessment and comparison. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 30(20), 5273–5291. https://doi.org/10.1080/01431160903130937

Francisco, A. (2019). Read and spell: The communicative competence of the English language teachers and the teaching of English as a second language. Asian EFL Journal Research Articles, 23(3.4), 277-292. Retrieved from https://tinyurl.com/Francisco2019A

GMA News. (2018, February 20). English proficiency of Pinoy students, teachers lagging — survey. GMA News Online. Retrieved from https://tinyurl.com/GMANews2018

Hadi, A. (2019). Exploring preparation of pre-service teachers' English proficiency and pedagogy: Stories from an EFL teacher education program. The Qualitative Report, 24(8), 1946-1966. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2019.3771

Jung, C., & Choe, H. (2024). Professional identity of Filipino English teachers teaching international students in a global city in the Philippines. English Teaching, 79(2), 3-31. http://doi.org/10.15858/engtea.79.2.202406.3

Kim, S., Brutt‐Griffler, J., & Park, M. K. (2024). Enhancing EMI pedagogical curricula to prepare pre‐service English teachers for socioculturally diverse classrooms. International Journal of Applied Linguistics, 34(2), 728-745. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijal.12529

Kourieos, S., & Diakou, M. (2019). Pre-service English language teacher education and the first years of teaching: Perspectives from Cyprus. The New Educator, 15(3), 208-225. https://doi.org/10.1080/1547688X.2019.1628558

Lavy, V. (2015). What makes an effective teacher? Quasi-Experimental evidence. CESifo Economic Studies, 62(1), 88–125. https://doi.org/10.1093/cesifo/ifv001

Lei, P., & Zhao, Y. (2011). Effects of vertical scaling methods on linear growth estimation. Applied Psychological Measurement, 36(1), 21–39. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146621611425171 Lingan, L. (2019). Prospective teachers’ level of communicative competence as basis for English program enhancement. Asian EFL Journal, 21 (2), pp. 306 - 314. Retrieved from

https://tinyurl.com/Scopus85065076702

Magno, J. M., Indal, R. S., Chavez, J. V., Garil, B. A., & Reyes, R. B. D. (2024). Alternative teaching strategies in learning Filipino language among dominant English speakers. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 6(4), 404–419. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v6i4.6742

Mante-Estacio, M. J., Valdez, P. N., & Pulido, D. (2018). Effective teaching of the macro-skills: Reflections from Filipino teachers of English. Reflective Practice, 19(6), 844–854. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623943.2018.1539662

Ng, C.F. & Ng, P.K. (2013). Teaching strategies and their impacts on the English proficiency of young Malaysian learners. Frontiers of Language and Teaching. 4. 186-195. https://tinyurl.com/NgAndNg

Onn, L. P. (2024, July 16). Digital autocratisation and electoral disinformation in the Philippines. ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. Retrieved from https://tinyurl.com/YusofII Ozawa, S. (2018). A cross-sectional survey on Japanese English-major university students' confidence in the TOEIC can-do list. TESL-EJ, 21(4), n4. Retrieved from

https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1172548

Qureshi, S. F., & Waller, S. K. (2022). An examination of factors predicting the academic success of undergraduate second-language learners in the United Arab Emirates. Athens Journal of Education, 9(4), 711–724. https://doi.org/10.30958/aje.9-4-10

Regidor, A., Vesmanos, A., & Deguito, P. 2024. The impact of supportive learning environment on student learning motivation of senior high school students. Asian Journal of Education and Social Studies 50 (7):558-71. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajess/2024/v50i71487.

Rodrigues, B., Cadime, I., & Ribeiro, I. (2023). Cognitive and metacognitive strategy use in poor comprehenders: An exploratory study. Australian Journal of Learning Difficulties, 28(2), 139–153. https://doi.org/10.1080/19404158.2023.2287611

Salomone, R. (2023). In pursuit of sustainable educational development: The Philippines and the English dilemma. In: McEntee-Atalianis, L.J., Tonkin, H. (eds) Language and Sustainable Development. Language Policy, vol 32. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-24918-1_7

Santos, A., Fernandez, V., & Ilustre, R. (2022). English language proficiency in the Philippines: An overview. International Journal of English Language Studies, 4(3), 46-51. https://doi.org/10.32996/ijels.2022.4.3.7

Shafaghi, M., & Yousefi, S. H. (2023). The effect of university students’ motivation and attitude on test performance: Construction and validation of an instrument on English Proficiency Test. International Journal of Educational Reform. https://doi.org/10.1177/10567879231205263

Soruc, A., Altay, M., Curle, S., & Yuksel, D. (2021). Students’ academic language-related challenges in English medium instruction: The role of English proficiency and language gain.

System, 103, 102651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2021.102651

Vidal, K., & Jarvis, S. (2018). Effects of English-medium instruction on Spanish students’ proficiency and lexical diversity in English. Language Teaching Research, 24(5), 568–587. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168818817945

Vega-Abarzúa, J., Morales, M., Olivo, C., Rubilar, F., & Gutiérrez-Turner, E. (2025). Preservice teachers’ perceptions of C1 English proficiency in a Chilean teacher education program.

Profile: Issues in Teachers Professional Development, 27(1), 133–150. https://doi.org/10.15446/profile.v27n1.115643

Velasco, Y. P. (2019). The Kachruvian Connection and English Language Teaching in the Philippines. World Englishes, 38(1-2), 294-302. https://doi.org/10.1111/weng.12374 Weber, E. J., & Hoo, Z. H. (2018). Why sample size estimates? Emergency Medicine Journal, 35(12), 755–756. https://doi.org/10.1136/emermed-2018-207763

Yau, A. H. Y., Fung, D., & Tsang, A. (2024). Effects of supplementary and mainstream education on the secondary–tertiary transitional challenges in English medium higher education.

Educational Research for Policy and Practice, 23(2), 289–311. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10671-024-09368-5

Zhang, J. (2023). The impact of the learning environment on English language learning. Journal of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, 23, 69-72. https://doi.org/10.54097/ehss.v23i.12737

Downloads

Published

2025-05-19

How to Cite

Samillano , A. J., & Pastolero, G. (2025). English Proficiency Profile of BSEd Students: Implications for Student Enhancement Activity Material (SEAM). Journal of Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 3(6), 268–276. https://doi.org/10.69569/jip.2025.126