AN INVESTIGATION OF THE PROBLEM OF TEACHING ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN SECONDARY SCHOOL IN KUJE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF FCT ABUJA
ABSTRACT
The study investigates is An investigation of the problem of teaching English language in secondary school in some secondary schools in Kuje Localgovernment Area, FCT Abuja . A sample of 100 students was drawn from nine schools in the local government area. The instrument used for the data collection was the questionnaire, The result of the study revealed among others that lack of qualified teachers, inadequate classrooms for the teaching of enlish language, teachers attitude contribute to Students academic performance in Secondary schools, teachers punctuality in class encourage Students to learn, teachers method of teaching. In other to eliminate these problems, suggestions one made for the government school authority, parents and the student.
Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are made: Parents should be encouraged to be active in Parent Teacher Associations as well as in other activities of the schools. Their involvement would make them aware of the problems and issues affecting the Students, teachers and the schools in general. In this way, parents would be able to provide suggestions that may lead to the provision of a better teaching and learning environment to improve upon the academic performance in the state. Teachers’ with high qualification, good experience of teaching and qualify attitude should be recruited and allowed to teach the Students. Abdullahi (2013).
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Tile page
Certification ii
Dedication i
Acknowledgement iv-v
Abstract vi-vii
Table of contents viii-x
CHAPTER ONE
Introduction 1
Background of the study
Statement of the Problem
Objective of the study
Research Questions
The study area
The significance of the study
Limitation to the study
Definition of Terms
CHAPTER TWO
Literature Review
CHAPTER THREE
Research methodology
Research design
Population and sampling procedure
Research instruments
Administration of instruments
Data Analysis
CHAPTER FOUR
Result of Findings and Discussions
CHAPTER FIVE
Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations
Summary of Finding
Conclusion
Recommendations
REFERENCES
QUESTIONNAIRE
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Teaching is the process of attending to English is the language of education in people’s needs, experiences and feelings, and Nigeria. It is the language of instruction intervening so that they learn particular things, from upper primary education, through and go beyond the given. In much modern secondary and tertiary education in Nigeria. usage, the words ‘teaching’ and ‘teacher’ are The state of English as a Second Language wrapped up with schooling and schools. One in Nigeria coupled with the numerous roles way of approaching the question ‘What is it plays, compels every Nigerian citizen to teaching?’ is to look at what those called learn and to speak it Malu and Obiakor, ‘teachers’ do, and then to draw out key 2018). qualities or activities that set them apart from others. The problem is that all sorts of + things are bundled together in job descriptions or roles that may have little to do with what we can sensibly call teaching.
English language in Nigeria is very essential. Its importance is such that a credit in the Language including four other subjects at the Western African School Certificate offers one a space in the job market and is a prerequisite to vie for Nigeria elections. English is the major language of commerce, international relations, politics, science and technology. English is now the world’s language and it is spoken by one in five of the world’s population. It is the language of international commerce, population culture, the internet and holds an unassailable position among world’s major languages. Nigeria has over four hundred ethnic languages, the need for a Lingua Franca, the language that every citizen can understand when spoken has actually heightened the need for English language.
The English language is a prerequisite for admission to universities and is also compulsory for all first year students in the universities as specified by National Universities Commission (NUC). It becomes very pertinent that secondary school teachers who are English experts should teach this all important language efficiently and effectively to produce a transparent change in the students. The 1982 education ordinance which declared English as the language of instruction in schools came in the wake of the observation made by the first inspector of schools in West African, Reverend M. Senter. According to him, the natives should know how to speak and write English Language because it is not only the language of commerce but also a vehicle for communication in all fields of human endeavour. Apart from the above assertion, right from the colonial period, English Language has been playing a leading role in Nigeria.
Efficiency in the use of the language both in the oral and in the written forms attaches a sort of prestige to an individual both among the learned and the unlearned, unfortunately, few people have acquired this ability to perform well in the use of the language. A good mastery of the English Language helps students to perform better in other subjects; hence a credit pass in the English language in the West African Secondary School Certificate is a necessary requirement of admission into the universities and other tertiary institutions.
In this regard, Ayo (2008) a well known Nigerian teacher and scholar, emphasising the importance of the English Language states as follow:
“...of all the heritage left behind in Nigeria by the British at the end of the colonial administration, probably non is more important than the English language. This is now the language of government, business and commerce, education, the mass media, literature and much of internal as well as external communications.”
The present inadequate knowledge of English by the Nigeria students in secondary schools present an impediment to attainment of the nation’s educational goals. If the nation will progress along the lines mapped out by its leaders, it seems reasonable, therefore, to attempt to eliminate major factors that militate against the effective study of the English Language.
Generally, it is observed that the standard of the English Language is rapidly falling in our schools, especially in the post-primary schools, unlike in the yester-years when a standard six pupil was able to speak and write good English. Many studies have shown that despite the emphasis placed on teaching and learning of the English language; it is alarming to observe that secondary school students are unable to communicate in the language. They can neither make sentence in simple correct English nor write well constructed essays. They mix English with their native language and make a lot of grammatical errors such as syntactic errors, phonological errors and semantic errors.
The above problems were first observed during the teaching practice when they researcher noticed with dismay that there was a low level of performance in the English language among students. She also observed that there was a low level of understanding among even students in the senior secondary classes, and further noted from assignment given to them that they give direct translation of words and sentences and use slangy expressions. These discoveries have been a great concern to teachers, the public as well as the researcher.
English is not only use as an official language in many nations, but also influence on many different cultures in a large number of countries; it is the central language of communication in the world-wide (Susanna, 2007). It is clearly present when a lot of people in a country speak English as the first language such as in the United States of America, Canada, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and others (Braine, 2005; crystal, 2006). The expansion of the English language has rapidly increased the needs to gain better communication English throughout the world because the aptitude to use English is very much needed for further studies, journeys in other countries as well as for social and professional global contacts of different kinds (Hashemi, 2011; Susanna, 2007). A study carried out by Ton & Pham (2010), identify that the English language is generally used as an international language for communication among people from different language backgrounds in all parts of the world.
In the same vein, English language is a global language which can be used for communication with native-speakers and non-native-speakers in the worldwide, especially in the education section, all university students need it for their studies in order to search information and obtain knowledge; therefore, a lot of the universities throughout the world need to include English language as one of their educational tool requirements (Khader & Mohammad, 2010). English is often used as the medium of instruction in higher education (Murray & Christison, 2010). On the other hand, obviously the fact of the day-to day the process of teaching and learning of the English language also related to many interrelated with social and political uses (Ronald & David, 2001). People’s demands toward English in International Journal of English Language Education many countries in the world make English language is key factors and became the
international language that spreads quickly (Carlo, 2012; Hessein, Demirok, & Uzunboylu, 2009; Richards, 2001; Wozniak, 2010).
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The teaching and learning of English language in Secondary schools has received much attention of late in the Nigerian educational system. It is pertinent to understand that the so – called academic performance of Secondary schoolStudents is a Cankar worm that has eaten deep into the fabrics of our Secondary school today. However, in environment where such an ugly situation is found, tention, conflict and anarchy dictate the tone of relationship between Students, the teachers for a smooth and effective school management. Since the end of the Nigeria Biafra Civil War in 1970, academic excellence has been on the decline. This appears to be more pronounced in the Secondary schools. Poor academic performance has constituted a big problem not only for schools but the dynamic Nigeria society. The Secondary schools in Kuje Localgovernment have been faced with the problem, which is mostly reflected in common Entrance Examination Results. Millions of Naira being pumped into education in Nigeria in general and in FCT Abuja in particular not withstanding this issue of poor performance in education has continued to persist.
The question therefore is what are the factor militating against effective teaching and learning of English language in Kuje Localgovernment area of FCT Abuja . Is the fault entirely that of teachersorStudents or both of them? Is it that Students of today are non-achievers because they have low intelligent quotient and a good neutral mechanism to be able to act purposefully, think rationally and deal effectively with academic tasks? Or is it because teachers are no longer putting in much commitment as before? Or is it in teachers’ method of teaching and interaction with Students? Or is the poor performance of Students caused by parents’ neglect, separation and poverty? The present study therefore sought to find out the factors militating against effective teaching and learning of English Language in some Secondary schools in Kuje Localgovernment area
Objective of the Study
The broad objective of this study is to analyes the problem facing teaching and learning of English Language in some Secondary schools in Kuje Local government area
To be able to achieve this objective the following specific objective are considered:
Ø To determine the major problems responsible to Studentspoor performance in English language
Ø To determine if teacher attitude have effect in teaching and learning of English Language
Ø To determine whether teacher qualification have effect in teaching and learning of English Language
Ø To also determine whether use of instructional material affect teaching and learning of English language
Researcher Question
This study thus attempts to find answers to the under mentioned research questions and find out where the problem lies:
1. What are the major problem responsible to Students performance in Secondary schools?
2. What effect does teachers attitude have on the teaching and learning of English Language?
3. To what extent does teacher qualification , teaching environment affect Students poor performance in English Language?
4. To what extent does availability and uses of teaching and learning materials have effect in teaching and learning of English language?
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study would be of immense help to the present and prospective policy makers of the Nigeria educational system in the areas of planning and effective utilization of resources. The study is knowledge and therefore would be of help topupil and other researchers who might be interested in this and or other related areas of this study.
The findings of this study shall be beneficial and of immense help in identifying the possible factors responsible for this educational problem. From the study appropriate recommendations, answers to the issue of poor academic performance will be provided. Educational planners and Administrators, parents, the school and the Secondary school child who is directly involved will realize the appropriate roles they have to play for this issue of poor academic performance to stop.
Scope of the Study
This study is design to analaysis the problem facing teaching and learning of English language. Five selected Secondary schools and 25 student each from the selected schools will be used for the study.
LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The research were confronted with a number of obstacles during the course of this study. Some of these limitations are discussed below:
Ø Respondents: Some of the respondents exhibited negative
character. Some bluntly refused to full our questionnaire or
answers basic questions posed on them. Some of them reluctantly accepted to respond with some reservations and maintained that they were not in the best position to respond when actually they were.
Ø Finance: There was a problem of inadequate finance to
transport the researchers from their houses to places and the schools were information could be obtained. Inadequate finance restricted the researchers from obtaining certain necessary and useful resource materials. Thus, for a successful research work, money is a motivator.
Ø Programme of Getting Accurate Statistical Data: It was
difficult on the researchers to get accurate statistical data since there were different levels of teachers with diverse work experience from different fields and endeavours of life, and in different categories in positions from the selected Secondary schools.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Ø Education: is defined as the aggregate totality of all the
process by which a child or the young adult develop his ability, attitude, knowledge, skills, competencies and other forms of behavior which are of positive value to the society in which he lives.
Ø Monitoring: is the act or a relationship where one person
(teacher) guides the other (student) in developing a philosophy of or a way of life.
Ø Performance: is the act of achievement. It is a process
where the student carryout the activities they have been taught and have been guided on what to do normally by the teacher.
Ø Examination: is a device adopted for measuring and
evaluation learners success in the teaching learning process etc.
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