Enhancing Primary ESL Learners’ Simple Sentence Construction Using the PPT PiWoCa Technique in the Form of Bubble Map—A Literature Review

Winson Eng Wei Siang,Yong Hua Ying,Maslawati Mohamad

doi:10.4236/ce.2021.127111

Abstract

Society of today signifies how English, as a global language, has attained a universal pedestal compared to others. Thus, it is highly demanding and challenging for one to be a proficient and effective language user. In Malaysia, teachers of English as a Second Language (ESL) tend to face umpteenth challenges in developing primary ESL learners’ language abilities, especially in the scope of writing. Some of the problems include deprivation of vocabulary, lack of motivation, lack of reading and the influence of multimedia language. Consequently, ESL teachers have to opt for different strategies and approaches to tackle primary ESL learners’ writing skills, particularly in simple sentence construction. Therefore, this study presents a literature review on the use of PowerPoint Picture-Word Card (PPT PiWoCa) technique in the form of bubble map to enhance primary ESL learners’ simple sentence construction. In this study, social constructivist theory and the visual-spatial element in Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences theory reveal that the PPT PiWoCa technique allows primary ESL learners to brainstorm ideas and construct knowledge in authentic contexts. Similarly, the use of visual representations such as PPT, pictures, word cards and bubble map is able to capture primary ESL learners’ attention in the recognition of words, grammatical functions and sentence structure based on a guided sample of simple sentence construction. With the presence of visual aids, primary ESL learners are able to model the sample given in order to produce meaningful simple sentences.

Highlights

Having known that many language empires have come and gone across the counterpart of human history, Bennett and de Barros (2017) articulate that none of them have attained a universal pedestal enjoyed by English in the current age
The use of visual representations such as PPT, pictures, word cards and bubble map is able to capture primary English as a Second Language (ESL) learners’ attention in the recognition of words, grammatical functions and sentence structure based on a guided sample of simple sentence construction
With the presence of visual aids, primary ESL learners are able to model the sample given in order to produce meaningful simple sentences

Summary

Introduction

Having known that many language empires have come and gone across the counterpart of human history, Bennett and de Barros (2017) articulate that none of them have attained a universal pedestal enjoyed by English in the current age. The ability to teach writing effectively on primary ESL learners is of paramount importance among English language teachers. On this pertinent accord, a great number of ramifications leading to primary ESL learners’ poor academic performance can be observed if their foundation in writing has not been firmly established (Moses & Maslawati, 2019). Some researchers on similar studies have examined that good writing skills are prerequisites for primary ESL learners to fulfil their educational requirements, and employability at large (Khusnul, 2020; Moses & Maslawati, 2019; Durga & Rao, 2018). This paper aims to provide a literature review on enhancing primary ESL learners’ simple sentence construction using the PPT PiWoCa technique in the form of bubble map

Literature Review

Emphasis on Writing Skills

Challenges Faced by Primary ESL Learners in Writing

Underpinning Theories

Conclusion and Implications