Factors behind Female Students' Low Performance in English Language Classroom of Ambo Secondary School: Grade 9 in Focus, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study focuses on factors behind female students' low participation in English classrooms with special reference to Ambo secondary school of grade 9 in the year 2017. The main objective of this study is to investigate the factors that affect female students' participation in English classrooms and then to give some suggestions that enable these groups to improve their participation in English language classrooms. The methodology that the researcher used to conduct a research was questionnaires and observation. To conduct the study, data was collected from students and teachers of grade 9 at Ambo secondary school. Concerning the students, 450 total female students of grade 9, 120 students were selected using simple random sampling technique. Similarly, all 18 teachers were involved using availability sampling technique. The data were analyzed and interpreted in terms of percentage. It was concluded that different factors like self concept, parents attitude towards women education, teachers attitude towards their female students, expectation from boys and afraid  of being criticized by other students and others limited students' participation in English classroom. The researcher also recommended suggestions for the removal or minimization of those factors.