The English Language Proficiency Level of First Year Students in Dilla University

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess the current status of the English proficiency level of freshman students in Dilla University. The population of the study included all freshman students who joined Dilla University in 2014/15. A total of 368 subjects were selected and all of them took a proficiency test. Based on their test scores, the subjects were classified into three proficiency levels. Then, 9 subjects representing the proficiency levels were selected for an oral proficiency test. Besides, the subjects’ EnLa 1011 scores were collected to compute correlation coefficients with proficiency test scores. Percentages, correlation coefficients, and coefficient of determinations were used to analyze the data. The findings suggested that the majority of the subjects (81.5%) had low proficiency level; some of them (16%) had average proficiency level; and quite a few of them (1.6%) were found to have high proficiency level. Regarding their reading competence, the majority (81%) were found to be at frustration reading level; some (16%) were at instructional reading level; and quite few (3%) attained independent reading level. As a result, recommendations were suggested that the Ministry of Education and Dilla University should put their efforts together in order to alleviate the prevailing problem.