University of San Jose- Recoletos

Magallanes St. Cebu City

ENGLISH PROFICIENCY 1

Name: MARY RUTH J. CAÑAS Professor: IAN JARABELO, LPT, MAEd

Course Title: English Proficiency 1 Email: canasmaryruth@[Link]
Units: 3 Class Schedule: TTH-1:30-3:00 P.M.

EP 1: Asynchronous activities for two weeks

Interview Questions:

1. What were your initial expectations of the EP 1 course, and how did the reality
compare?
2. What specific challenges did you face in improving your speaking skills during EP
1?
3. Did you find any particular lessons or activities in EP 1 difficult? If so, which ones
and why?
4. What strategies did you use to overcome difficulties in listening comprehension?
5. How did your confidence in speaking English change throughout the semester?
6. Which resources or activities (e.g., group work, practice exercises, presentations)
helped you the most in improving your English proficiency?
7. Was there enough support from the instructor when you encountered difficulties in
the course?
8. What aspects of EP 1 did you enjoy the most and why?
9. What changes or improvements would you suggest to make EP 1 more effective
for future students?
[Link] what ways do you feel better prepared for future English proficiency courses
after completing EP 1?
Part I. Interview

PARTICIPANT 1

Question 1: As the name EP class suggest, my initial thought was that it would be a public speaking-focused
course - which a part of it indeed was. However, contrary to what I had mind, it did not solely focus on that
aspect, rather, the course focuses on building literary foundation for public speaking.

Question 2: Primarily, stage fright was the thing I struggled the most - to talk to a good amount of people
was not really my expertise. I have little confidence in speaking activities as I can affirm to myself that I
am lacking vocabulary-wise.

Question 3: To name one, listening exercises was a fun lesson yet at the same time a lesson that was difficult
to learn. As this lesson really challenges how you can rely upon your hearing in order to grasp a situation.

Question 4: First and foremost, a good teacher really makes a difference. To have a good instructor is to
learn a difficult lesson without worries. Talking about listening comprehension, focusing is really the key
whilst also learning self-control in order not to get distracted easily.

Question 5: I really thank my professor and my classmates in EP 1 as they drastically lessened my worries
towards speaking in a crowd. I have gained a strong mindset which allows me to really focus on my output
rather than worrying about what others may perceive.

Question 6: In this course, consistent foundational knowledge at the same time having application activities
really helped me in enhancing my literary skills.

Question 7: Fortunately, I have the best EP teacher I could ask for, Ms. Galia. She was a very carefree
instructor - she was not strict to us; she did not give a hard time; was willing to help and give the support
she could offer.

Question 8: What makes EP distinct from other courses i have taken is that there is an interactive
environment. To have EP class is to not only learn something about speaking or English but to also build
relationships by enhancing communication skills.

Question 9: I believe that having an easygoing atmosphere in an EP class does have an impact towards
learning the subject. To be able to learn and do activities without pressure is what would make the subject
something you can learn a lot from whilst having fun.

Question 10: Learning foundational literary knowledge in EP 1 is something I am confident that I

would be able to apply in the further EP courses that I would enroll.
 PARTICIPANT 2

Question 1: My initial expectation to this subject is that this would be difficult since my English
skills are not good, but in comparison to the reality, I still face difficulties but having a great teacher
it doesn't sound that difficult.

Question 2: Specific challenges I've encountered is having grammatical errors when constructing
sentences.

Question 3: Yes, those activities involving listening comprehension. I found it difficult because of
the accent used and unknown words.

Question 4: To overcome this challenge, I spent enough time in watching English movies and
reading English books.

Question 5: Throughout the semester, my confidence in English speaking improved since I was
able to learn it during this sem.

Question 6: Activities that helped me improve my English proficiency are those activities where
we write essays and listening activities.

Question 7: Yes, since our instructor is not that strict to us and we we're able to ask things that
needs clarification.

Question 8: The aspect I enjoy the most is that when we have fun learning this subject.

Question 9: I believe that maintaining a relaxed atmosphere in an EP class positively influences learning.
When students can engage in activities without feeling pressured, it creates an environment where they can
enjoy the subject while effectively absorbing information.

Question 10: I have strengthened my foundational skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking, which
are essential for advanced courses.
PARTICIPANT 3

Question 1: However, it turned out to be more balanced, focusing equally on both speaking
and listening skills.

Question 2: I often hesitated, fearing I would make mistakes. The group discussions were
challenging because I had to keep up with my classmates' responses while contributing my
thoughts in real time.

Question 3: I started watching English shows and listening to English podcasts daily to get
used to different accents and speeds of speech.

Question 4: Group work was particularly useful because it allowed me to interact and
practice speaking with my classmates regularly.

Question 5: At the beginning, I was nervous and hesitant, but as the course progressed, I became
more comfortable, especially during group work.

Question 6: Group work was particularly useful because it allowed me to interact and
practice speaking with my classmates regularly.

Question 7: Yes, the instructor was very supportive. Whenever I struggled with a concept,
they provided additional resources.

Question 8: I enjoyed the group discussions the most because they gave me a chance to
interact with my classmates and practice speaking in a more relaxed setting.

Question 9: I would suggest more interactive activities, like debates or role-playing, to

enhance speaking confidence.

Question 10: I feel more confident in my ability to express myself in English, both in
writing and speaking, which will be useful for future courses.
PARTICIPANT 4

Question 1: I thought EP 1 would mostly focus on grammar, but it included various

practical activities, which made learning more interactive than I had anticipated.

Question 2: I had difficulties with pronunciation and maintaining fluency, especially when
discussing complex topics.

Question 3: I found the listening comprehension exercises quite hard, particularly when
speakers had different accents.

Question 4: I practiced taking notes while listening to audio exercises in the course, which
helped me focus on key points.

Question 5: At the beginning, I was nervous and hesitant, but as the course progressed, I
became more comfortable, especially during group work.

Question 6: Group work was particularly useful because it allowed me to interact and
practice speaking with my classmates regularly.

Question 7: I believe there was enough support, especially during speaking exercises where
the instructor gave constructive feedback.

Question 8: The presentations were my favorite because they allowed me to apply what I
learned in a practical way and see my improvement over time.

Question 9: Increasing the number of listening exercises with various accents would help
students prepare better for real-world conversations.

Question 10: EP 1 gave me a strong foundation in listening comprehension, and I now feel
more prepared to tackle more advanced listening tasks.
PARTICIPANT 5

Question 1: I expected to struggle with the course since I had limited experience speaking
in English. In reality, the supportive environment made it easier to progress.

Question 2: The pace of the speaking exercises was sometimes too fast, making it difficult
for me to think and respond in English.

Question 3: timed presentations were tough as I tend to get nervous speaking in front of a
crowd, which affected my delivery

Question 4: I used online platforms like YouTube to practice with videos that had subtitles,
gradually reducing the use of subtitles as I improved.

Question 5: I realized that making mistakes was part of the learning process, which helped me
build confidence in speaking

Question 6: The practice exercises, especially those focused on pronunciation and

vocabulary, were the most helpful for building my language skills.
Question 7. The instructor was approachable and willing to offer help, particularly when I had
trouble with listening comprehension tasks.
Question 8: I really enjoyed the multimedia resources like videos and audio clips that made
learning more engaging.
Question 9: I think adding more one-on-one speaking sessions with the instructor would allow
students to get more personalized feedback
Question 10: After EP 1, I’m more comfortable participating in discussions and presentations,
which will help in any future English courses that require speaking skills
II. Critical Analysis
The experiences shared by students in the English Proficiency 1 course provides useful insights
that can improve my learning. Many students experienced great improvements by working in
groups and speaking activities. This shows that joining discussions and grouping up with
classmates will enhance my speaking abilities; being able to work with others is a practice of
speaking in a friendly setting where I am more relaxed. To become exposed to various accents and
ways of speaking, I will also get different English videos or listen to podcasts. Of course, this will
make my listening ability quite good, and I shall realize different pronunciations, which makes me
communicate with people easily.
At times, I feel highly confident speaking in English, but still inside me there is something that
frightens or scares me, like if I have to present to the class. Surely enough many other students
might be having the same feelings and are in the same situation, which gives me a feeling that not
alone. To get better I intend to practice speaking daily also, say when communicating with friends
or family, in order to build my confidence. I should not fear to share my thoughts since mistakes
are part of the learning curve. Asking help from the teacher in case I do not understand will also
come in handy. It shall definitely clarify my questions and will be useful in the boosting of my
learning.
Lastly, practice is the key to improve my English skills. Through class activity and more extra
practice at home, it will prove to be very efficient in my learning. I will take every opportunity to
participate in discussions, ask questions, and seek feedback on my progress. By being active in the
course and asking for help when needed, I believe I can overcome the challenges of English
Proficiency 1.
III. Materials
Dear Students,
As part of our English Proficiency in Speaking and Listening course, we are tasked to conduct interviews
with five high EP 1 students in the previous semester who are done with their EP 1 to gather insights on
their speaking and listening skills experiences. The objective of this activity is to understand the challenges
and opportunities they face in speaking and listening.

STUDENTS’ DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE

Instructions: Provide the following information below.
Section 1: Demographic Information
1. Age:
o 10-12 years old
o 13-15 years old
o 16-18 years old
o 19-21 years old ( 3 participants )
o 22 up ( 2 participants )

2. Gender:
o Male ( 2 participants )
o Female ( 3 participants )
o Non-binary
o Prefer not to say

3. Family Income (Monthly):

o 10,000-15,000
o 16,000-25,000(1 participant)
o 26,000-35,000 (2 participants)
o 36,000-50,000 ( 1 participant)
o 50,000 up ( 1 participant )
Informed Consent Form
 DOCUMENTATIONS

The 2 participants that I interviewed didn’t want to disclose their identity.