SU SHS teachers present classroom-based research at PALT 2025 International Conference
Four Senior High School teachers from Silliman University’s Communication Arts, Languages, and Literature Cluster showcased their research at the Philippine Association for Language Teaching (PALT) 2025 International Conference, held from November 27 to 29, 2025 at the Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Building of the University of Santo Tomas, Manila.
The gathering marked PALT’s 65th founding anniversary and brought together language educators and researchers from across the country under the theme “Upskilling and Upscaling: Moving Up with the 8Ms of Language Teaching.”
John Edgar C. Rubio and Assistant Professor Deo Mar E. Suasin presented two studies focusing on language learning challenges and classroom communication practices. Their first paper, “Unpacking Structure and Meaning in Student Writing: A Syntactic-Semantic Error Analysis of Pre-University EFL Learners,” examined the grammatical and semantic patterns found in the essays of international students enrolled in Silliman’s English Orientation Program. The study identified recurring issues such as subject–verb disagreement, word order errors, vague phrasing, and collocational misuse, underscoring the need for grammar instruction integrated with meaning-oriented writing tasks.
Rubio and Suasin also presented “Exploring Politeness and Power: A Register Analysis of Request Emails by Campus Journalists,” which analyzed authentic email requests written by student journalists of The Weekly Sillimanian. Using Brown and Levinson’s politeness framework and Halliday’s register theory, the study revealed a predominant use of negative politeness strategies—hedging, honorifics, and elaborate justifications—especially when addressing higher-ranking university officials. The findings highlight the importance of strengthening pragmatic and professional communication training among journalism students.
Two additional papers by Rica Angela B. Taub and Honey Grace C. Tiongco contributed to the conference strand on classroom research and learner engagement. Their study, “Reflective Practices in Grade 10 English Language Learning: The Role of Exit Tickets in Dumaguete City Public High Schools,” evaluated the use of structured exit ticket strategies such as “See, Think, Wonder” and “3-2-1” among 199 Grade 10 students. Results showed that exit tickets enhanced student engagement, encouraged critical thinking, and supported real-time instructional adjustments. Both teachers and students recommended clearer prompts, more variety, and gamified formats to sustain reflective practice.
Taub and Tiongco also co-authored “Combating the English Language Speaking Anxiety of Grade 10 Students Using the Jigsaw Method of Cooperative Learning,” a quasi-experimental study conducted at Dumaguete City National High School. Through focus group discussions and the modified Public Speaking Class Anxiety Scale, the study revealed that speaking anxiety stemmed from external pressures—such as fear of judgment—and internal factors, including low confidence. Statistical results showed significant improvement among students exposed to the Jigsaw Method, affirming its effectiveness in reducing speaking anxiety and promoting collaborative learning.
As PALT celebrates 65 years as the country’s oldest professional language teachers’ association, SU’s participation highlights its continued commitment to advancing classroom research, fostering innovation, and contributing to national conversations on language teaching and learning.
