Assessment Of The Use Of Language Techniques That Promote Creative Writing Among Secondary School Students: A Case Of Tunduru Distric

ABSTRACT

This study entitled “Assessment of Use of Language Techniques that Promote Creative Writing among Secondary School Students: A Case of Tunduru” was guided by four specific objectives which were: to explore the techniques and approaches that English language teachers used to promote creative writing among secondary school students; to identify the self-motivated techniques that students used to develop creative writing and thereby enrich their mastery of the English language; to evaluate the role of the teacher in developing language techniques and approaches that promoted creative writing; and to identify the challenges teachers and students faced in actual teaching and learning of creative writing in secondary schools; and to suggest appropriate ways to minimize the difficulties. The study employed mixed research approach using embedded case study design. Interview and questionnaire survey were used as methods of data collection. Questionnaire, interviews, classroom observation, and document review were used as tools for data collection. The data collected were analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative techniques whereby the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 21) was used for data management and analysis. The findings revealed that English teaching in most secondary schools were examination oriented; where students were drilled on activities related to the examination format, neglecting understanding and self-expression. It was also found that in the writing process, much emphasis was put on grammar, spelling, and sentence structures than on original contribution and creativity. Moreover, the findings depicted that most secondary schools lacked writing programs, where the students only duplicated the writing tasks provided by their teachers and they never wrote of their own initiative and interest. In conclusion, the findings indicate the urgent need to train teachers in teaching and learning of creative writing. Accordingly, based on the analysis of the results of the study, recommendations for improvement of teaching/learning creative writing have been provided to all the stakeholders and recommendations for further research have also been suggested.