Development Of Language Skills in High School Children in Ecuador

This research report presents the findings of a study conducted on the problems and difficulties observed in children regarding language skills. The study focused on assessing the performance of high school students during Language and Literature classes, specifically in storytelling and legends, identifying the issues, and proposing the use of a puppet theater as a solution strategy. The report begins with a review of the existing literature on the variables, followed by a detailed description of the methodology used in the study. It presents a study with a quantitative-qualitative approach involving a group of children from the high school level at the Carlos Cisneros Educational Unit, located in the Riobamba canton, Chimborazo province. The evaluation of the language skills of the high school students revealed concerning results, showing significant difficulties in listening comprehension, oral expression, reading, and writing, such as problems understanding verbal instructions, expressing ideas clearly, and reading and comprehending simple texts. These issues could affect their academic performance and effective communication. The report concludes by proposing the strategy "Magic through Puppet Theater," a technique that teachers could apply in their future classes, considering it a valuable pedagogical tool for early childhood education, as it promotes the development of language skills, empathy, creativity, and social interaction.