The use of Iconic Signs to Improve Secondary School Pupils’ Speaking and Writing skills: A Case Study of Third-Form Pupils in Goma.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47941/jep.3761Keywords:
Iconic Signs, Speaking, Writing, Pupils and Goma.Abstract
Purpose: The objective of this study is to prove the effectiveness of teaching English through using Iconic Signs in Goma secondary schools.
Methodology: In order to carry out the research, the study employed field work for data collection, using the triangulation method to ensure greater scientific rigor and obtain enriched data. Questionnaires were used to gather teachers’ perceptions regarding the use of iconic signs, while the interviews were conducted during both the pre-test and post-test phases. During the distribution of the questionnaires, the participants included six hundred and thirty-six learners and fifteen teachers. In the experimental phase, one hundred and fifteen participants took part from the beginning to the end of the experiment. Finally, the experimentation was carried out in the year 2025.
Findings: The study found that icons were not consistently integrated into English language teaching. Their use was concentrated mainly in the presentation stage, accounting for 40% of vocabulary lessons and 53.33% in reading comprehension lessons, whereas the practice and production stages received limited attention. Icons were particularly underutilized in grammar, pronunciation, and composition writing lessons, where many teachers reported not using them at all. Although this integration was limited, the findings indicated that learners’ language abilities benefited from the use of icons. These results highlight the pedagogical value of icons and the need for their greater integration into classroom instruction, particularly beyond the presentation stage.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: This study, through experimentation, demonstrated the potential of icons in improving pupils’ speaking and writing skills. The study specifically sought to examine the extent to which nonverbal communication can support the verbal communication through various activities based on the use and exploitation of iconic signs.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Byamungu Kanyamihigo Dieudonné MEd, Tembue Zembele Wa Ololo, PhD, , Mbokani Kambale Bulambo, PhD. , Bapolisi Bahuga Paulin, PhD
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