Assessing Female Students' English Performance: The Case of Ambo, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was conducted in Oromia Regional State and focuses on major problems that hinder female students' performance in English classes with special reference to three secondary schools of grade 9 at West Shoa Zone. The main objective of this study is to investigate factors that affect female students' low performance in English language classes and then to forward some suggestions that may enable them to improve their performance in the mentioned target language. The methodologies used by the researcher to conduct the research were questionnaire, interview and observation. For the study purpose, data were collected from students, and teachers of grade 9 of the three respective secondary schools using questionnaire. In addition, vice directors of the three respective secondary schools were also involved in the interview part of data collection instrument. Concerning students, 5,817 were the total population of the study of which 3,139 were male and 2,678 were female students of grade nine; 2008 E.C. entry in focus. 358 were selected as sample of the study using Yamane's formula. All concerned bodies should give due attention for female students through utilizing different mechanism so that they can get different exposure to different situations through which they can get better chance to attend their education at large and their English language classrooms at particular.