Enhancing the Grade 7 Students’ Mastery of Collocations Through Motor Imaging Technique

Abstract

This study was conducted to enhance the ability of Filipino Grade 7 learners to master English Collocations using the Motor Imaging technique, implemented in two schools of Ilocos Norte: Pinili National High School (PNHS)-Class A, and Mariano Marcos State University-Laboratory High School-Batac Campus (MMSU-LHS)-Class B, during the second semester in the Academic Year 2023-2024. A total of sixty-five (65) students participated in this study, thirty-four (34) from Pinili National High School and thirty-one (31) from MMSU-LHS Batac Campus. Motor Imaging conceptualized by Manzo and Manzo in 1985 was utilized by this study as an intervention for mastering collocations. It is a technique specifically designed to develop word meanings by using movements related to the key attributes of a word. This intervention is deemed fitting in enhancing the mastery on collocation for Grade 7 students. Authentically, the quantitative results of this study showed that the respondents’ mean score for pre-test is Class A=10.62 or average and Class B=15.35 or average. The post-test results, on the other hand, showed that Class A obtained a mean score of 18 or above average while Class B achieved a mean score of 23.81 or excellent. This numeric data cites an evident improvement in mastering collocations corroborated by qualitative results through pre and post questionnaire and unstructured interviews. Thus, the intervention is effective for this population in mastering collocations. As a result, this study recommends that teachers are encouraged to employ Motor Imaging as a pedagogical strategy as it caters to most of learning styles and substantially engages learners for active participation.