A Diagnostic Study on English Spelling Errors Among the Elementary School Children in India

Abstract

Learning the four skills of the English language is a requirement for pupils to utilize the language effectively, given the importance of learning it for both school and profession. Spelling – an important part of writing skill – is considered to be fundamental for written texts. The real meaning of a piece of writing can be changed by spelling mistakes, making it more challenging to understand. In India, teaching spelling is frequently overlooked while teaching English as a second language. The research attempts to determine the current level of spelling proficiency among Indian primary school students as well as the gaps and issues they encounter when spelling English words. The research approach used for this investigation was a form of descriptive survey. Children attending Jalpaiguri Municipal Corporation's elementary school in West Bengal, India, served as the study's sample. Normal probability curves and Ogive were created to analyze the frequency distribution of the English Diagnostic Test results. Central tendencies of the sample and sub-samples were studied. According to the study, spelling proficiency among elementary school students differs significantly depending on whether they attend government or non-government schools, even though there is no statistically significant difference between them based on gender and the medium of instruction they receive.