A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PERFORMANCES OF MALE AND FEMALE STUDENTS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN IKERE-EKITI
TABLE
OF CONTENT
Title page
Table of content
Abstract
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
Statement of the
Problem
Purpose of the Study
Significance of the
Study
Scope of the Study
Research Questions
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
Research Design
Population for the Study
Sample and Sampling Technique
Research Instrument
Validity of the Instrument
Reliability of the Instrument
Administration of the Instrument
Data Analysis
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS
AND DISCUSSION
Results
Discussion
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Summary
Conclusion and Recommendation
REFERENCES 38-39
APPENDIX
ABSTRACT
Language
gives a unique distinction to a person, a sex, a group (as in different
professions, assemblies etc) and a nation. The focus of this project is on the
performances of male and female students in English language. Investigations
were carried out in the area of English language performance between male and
female. Through questionnaire was adopted to determine the performance of male
and female students in English language. The sample for the work consisted of
100 students of Senior Secondary School. Twenty five students were selected
from each four schools selected and purposive random sampling techniques were
used in the process of data collections.
The
data collected were subjected to both descriptive statistics of frequency
counts and simple percentages. The outcome of investigation in this work
revealed that male and female (gender) had no significant influence on
students’ performance in English language. It is therefore recommended that
both sexes should be given equal opportunity in any language programme. The
uninformed belief that one sex can naturally perform better than the other
should be discountenanced. Both sexes should be given equal exposure to the
right method for good performance in any language programme.
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
English language
was introduced in Nigeria
in the early 19th century by the British colonial administration. Although
English language is a foreign language to Nigeria, in the sense that is not
indigenous but widely used in Nigeria as the second language. Ever since it was
introduced in Nigeria, it has survived many decades and still survives to date
as it assumes a more vital status in Nigeria. Bamgbose (2005) sees English
language in Nigeria as one of the leagues of colonial administration, which has
succeeded in eliminating the problems of multiple language in Nigeria.
English language has
played a major role in Nigeria which could be seen in our education,
government, business, commerce, mass media and most of internal and external
communication. Above all, English language has played the role of the language
of political unity.
In
recent time, English has been rated as the world most popular language which is
characterized by active communication from one continent to another, especially
by the indigenous owner of the language. Formal education in Nigeria today is a
product of English language. Without English, there is the possibility that
there may not be anything more than the elementary formal education in Nigeria.
Despite the importance of English language, the performance of students over the
years, has been on a down world, trend. Media reports show that the performance
of students in written, reading and spoken English is not encouraging.
Obayan (2006), was of
the opinion that “spend and gender (sex) have a lot to do with the performance
of students in English language. He also said that females tend to be more
favourably disposed to the study of English language and other linguistics
courses than the male gender.” Doglas (2001) discovered that male children
perform better than their females counterparts in the study of science.”
Although gender has
been said to be the major determiner of the level of proficiency of students in
English language by many scholars and grammarians, but there are several other
factors that could under mind the performance of students in English language
such as background of students, teachers, interest, government and attitude
towards academic works. It is very important to emphasize here that the
qualification of English teachers whose sole responsibility is to teach English
language, will enhance good or poor performance of students. In order to ensure
for accuracy, create motivation and interest, a good qualified English teacher
should be placed in charge to teach the students. Government negligence and
failure to provide the necessary teaching aid, has also contributed to the poor
performance of students in English language; ethnic groups with over 450
languages, English serves as a second language. It is the responsibility of the
government to provide the necessary instructional materials to help in the
teaching of the language to students of various levels of education. This
should be done, so as to avert the influence of mother tongue on English.
The
various problems have come to be as a result of poor performance of students in
English which has given rise to what it called varieties of English language.
It is the intention of the researcher to investigate whether gender has an
influence on students performance in English language studies and also
prospects of problems affecting the performance of secondary schools students
in English language. The performance of students in English language basis on
gender is another essential part of this study. Admittedly is the fact that
women are hypercorrect in speech, they (women) also use succulent words while
their male counterparts are coarse and husky.
As
observed by Nwobia (2007) “The differences between male and female are
visualized in varied ways. For instance, the male exhibit verbal skills which
are different from the female: likewise the voice pitch of the females are
usually higher than that of the males.” She also examines that “in reading
ability, females tend to read better and more fluent than males; this could be
socio-culturally conditional as there is no proof that males are less
intelligent than females.”
In
the view of Wardaugh (1998) “captures the view of various authors (like De
Klerk 1992 and Hughes 1992, baron 1986) on the distinctiveness of male and
female speeches, but summarized that such claims lack solid evidential report,
hear him “any view too that women’s speech is trivial … gossip-ladden, corrupt,
illogical, idle, euphemistic, or deficient is highly suspect; nor is it
necessarily nor precise cultivated, or stylish or even less profane than men’s
speech.”
Wardaugh (1998) notes
that “phonological differences exist between the speeches of men and women in
some languages.
Statement of the Problem
Many
people have stressed the place of male and female students’ performance in
English language. As argued by Obayan (2006) that females tend to be favourably
disposed to the study of English language and other linguistic courses than the
male gender. This is contrary to the African belief that male children are more
superior to female children, which has equally been extended to the classroom
learning situations, where the boys are assume to perform better than their
female counterpart. The argument goes further that male children perform
excellently well in other subjects than English and that the females are more
brilliant.
Therefore, this study
is undertaken to find out whether male children perform better than their
female counterpart in English language or in the study of English language.
Purpose of the Study
The
study tends to compare the performance of gender in English language at
secondary school level. For a long time now, the general opinion has been that
female gender performed better in English language and other arts subjects than
male counterparts. The study will specifically, determined:
i. The gender effect on
the performance of students in English language.
ii. The influence of
availability of teaching aid and material on students’ performance in English
language
iii. The influence of
teachers’ qualification on students’ performance in English language.
iv. The influence of
teachers teaching method on student’s performance in English language.
Significance of the Study
On
completion of this study, it would have been determined from the analysis of
data collected that if the main independent variable considered in the study of
gender determines the dependent variable performance.
Therefore, the result
of this study will be beneficial to teachers, parents, students, curriculum
planners, such as administration e.t.c.
1. It would bring to the
notice of teachers how best to teach the students.
2. It would bring to
the notice of parents how best to assist their children academically.
3. It would also bring
to the notice of curriculum planners how best to help the students’ from
opposite sex.
4. This research work
will help the administrators to know the differences in performance between
female and male students.
Scope of the Study
This research has its
focus on Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti State. The study is aimed at
finding out the performances of male and female students in English language.
Research Questions
1. To what extent does
gender affect the performance of students in English language?
2. How does the
availability of teaching aid and material affect the performance of secondary
school student s in English language?
3. To what extent does
the teacher, method of teaching affect the students’ performance in English
language?
4. To what extent does
the qualification of teacher affect the students’ performance in English
language?
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
This
aspect of research is aimed at reviewing the following based on what has said
previously on the importance and performance of students in English language.
They include:
1 English language in
the curriculum
2 Importance of English
Language
3 The Concept of Gender
4 Gender Difference and
Performance
5 Performance of
Secondary School in English Language Examination
6 Factors responsible
for students’ poor performance in English language
7 Appraisal of Literature
