The Problem of Oral Expression in English Language. Some Selected Secondary Schools in Oredo Local Government Area, Benin City, Edo State
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
To find out or discover some of the factors responsible for the poor performance of students in English language in these schools. There can be different reasons why researcher undertakes in carrying out certain studies and this in view that of this study include the following;
To create learning situation in which non-native speakers can gain proper insight into how a particular language is used for living, social interaction and communication. It also expresses ones experience in such a way that it can be made meaningful to others.
Moreover, it is to enable student’s acquire the vital structural meaning of words over and over, it is to place a strong emphasis upon the spoken language in record and foreign language teaching. It will also help teachers to learn the best way of exposing learners to the skills of English language.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
This chapter is a review of various related works of different research carried out on the topic; poor performance in English language in its educational context. The Nigerian government like every other developing country has identified education as the key to national development and as English language is the medium of instruction/primary communication tools is not an over statement for one to say that English language is the bedrock of education in Nigeria on the premises that it is a medium of instruction all through the school system.
Linguists through research findings have posited that the general consensus is that English language is the most uniquely human of humanity. It enables individuals to link their minds in such a way that a common social mind is formed as people communicate their experiences, thoughts needs, feelings and insights etc. Lee and Rubin (1979) says English language is possible because we can think symbolically and so it becomes a medium of learning and expressing one’s self.
- A. Hall (1968) sees English language as the vocal sender to receiver in the process of communication and interaction. One of the most important facts about English language is that there is in general no connection between words and the situation in which they are used such that occurrence of particular words is predictable, as habitual behaviour is predictable form the situation themselves.
Chomsky’s definition concerning English language has been quoted here largely for the contrast that it provides with the other both in style and in content. Its purpose is to focus attention upon the purely structural properties can be investigated from a mathematically precise point of view. The very art of expressing a developing idea to someone else through English language to ourselves thus synthesized new concepts and advances our knowledge of the world. English becomes an almost infinitely expandable medium, of human communication. We can use it to deal only with the families but also with new experiences never encountered by humanity before and above all, English language is the medium of expression of human personality oral or written expression.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This chapter presents for description the method adopted in carrying out the study putting into consideration in the population of the study. Sample and the instrument used for data analysis and the procedures.
GOALS OF STUDY
The goals of this study is to create learning situation in which the non-native speakers of English can have some insight into how efficiently the language is used for living and learning. It also aims at assisting teachers to adopt appropriate methods of exposing the skills of English language to learners.
POPULATION
The population of this study is drawn from all secondary schools in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State with five of such including Emotan Secondary School I, II, and III, Idia College and Benin City all with an estimated population of 25 teachers and 125 students which gave the total of 150. However twenty five students (25) are selected in each school yielding one hundred and twenty five (125) students. Five teachers in each school was sampled totally twenty five (25) teachers.
CLASS SAMPLED
The sampled used was taken from the above schools JSS 3 each with twenty five students and 5 teachers were selected.
SAMPLING TECHNIQUES
The stratified random sampling technique was used in the sample size. The position was determined and every 29th persons were chosen, this was done after the list of the students and teachers has been collected.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION AN D ANALYSIS OF DATA
This chapter present the data obtained for carrying out the study. Research question formulated in chapter one to guide the study were placed side by side relevant variable factor for analysis and interpretation for a desired result.
Research question 1: is there any relationship between teaching method delivery of lesson and student performance.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
SUMMARY
This study was undertaken to examine the problem of oral expression in English language, in some selected Junior Secondary Schools in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. from the result presented as analyzed in chapter four tables on data, it is observed that attitude of students towards English language in the selected schools is not encouraging. Most of them find it difficult to write and express themselves with good English as a result leads to inability to effectively communicate in their immediate environment situations of usage.
As well is found out that the time allocated to English language teaching is not adequate implying that less concern is shown to English language study. Also the students are not engaged by teachers with at least 70% of English assignments so as to habituate to written expression.
CONCLUSION
As the problems of oral expression in English language in the randomly selected secondary schools is the cause for concern it was observed in most of the schools visited that the students have very poor level of expressing themselves orally, owing to mother tongue interference.
Another thing is that teachers do not organize debate for adequately enough for the students practice in good oral expression. To sum it up, parents, not encouraging their wards to read at home after school hours is not helping matters at all.
RECOMMENDATION
The following were made in the course of this study;
Parents should develop the habit of encouraging in their children reading their books and more so to provide them with required text books.
English language as generally accepted a language should not be overlooked considering its importance in the school and the society as a whole. Students should always ask questions during and after teaching sessions.
Enough time should be allocated for the teaching of English language. Students should have a solid foundation of the English language right from childhood.
If some of, or all these recommendations are implemented there would no doubt be a great rise in the standard of English language and the problems of oral expression in English language will definitely be minimized.
REFERENCES
- Asemota, H. E. (2006) Applied linguistics. Patcel global resources, Benin City.
- Chomsky, N. (1965). Aspects of the theory of syntax M. I. T. Press, Cambridge
- Drake, H. B. (1975). The oxford English course for secondary school and sec. teachers notes. Oxford University Press, London.
- Hall, R. A. (1968). An essay on English language university press, Cambridge
- Lee and Rubin (1979). Language development in the child learning. Wadsworth publishing company, California.
- Rubin, A. (1984). Art of art therapy. Rutledge/Taylor and Francis group. New York.
- Ukeje, B. O. (1986). School and society in Nigeria fourth dimension publishers. Enugu, Nigeria.
- Williams, D. A. (1974). Second language teaching methods spectrum book ltd. Nigeria