Level of Vocabulary Knowledge Depth and Reading Comprehension of Senior High School: Basis for Reading Intervention Program

This study assessed the level of vocabulary knowledge depth (VKD) and reading comprehension (RC) skills of 223 Grade 11 student-respondents from Sun Valley National High School enrolled in Reading and Writing Skills for school year 2023-2024, aiming for the development of a suitable reading enhancement program. The study utilized a questionnaire-checklist to gather demographic data, reading habits, English language exposure, VKD, and RC level of the senior high school (SHS) student-respondents. It also used frequency and percentage distribution, weighted mean, one-way ANOVA, t-test for independent sample, and Pearson correlation coefficient to determine the averages, measure the differences and analyze the correlations among students' demographics, reading habits, English language exposure, VKD and RC. The study found that vocabulary knowledge depth varied among the student-respondents based on age, reading frequency, purpose, English language exposure, and Word Associates Test (WAT) score. However, no significant difference was found in RC levels based on age, sex, strand, reading materials, or English language exposure. It also found a significant relationship between VKD, reading habits, reading materials, reading purpose, exposure to English language at home, friends, media, WAT scores, and RC levels. However, no significant relationship was found for critical, literal, interpretive, media, or media exposure levels. Finally, VKD and RC of SHS student-respondents had a significant positive relationship although it was a very low positive or weak correlation. To address these, the researcher offers a reading enhancement program that would provide student-respondents with relevant reading skills and exercises to help improve their VKD and RC levels.