The Problems and Prospect of Teaching English Language in Secondary School
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The major aim of this study is to determine the problems facing the teaching and learning of the English Language in the Secondary Schools in Enugu South Local Government Area and possible prospects to that specifically, the study indented to:
(i) Identify and classify these problems
(ii) Determine the magnitude of these problems
(iii) Make recommendation for more language.
(iv) To ascertain the problems of teaching English language in secondary school
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
Problems simply mean factors affecting the teaching of English, or factors militating the teaching of English. It could also, be define as factor hindering or disturbed the teaching of English. Prospects mean future optimistic of teaching profession especially the teaching of English language in Secondary Schools. If we compared and juxtapose the two words “Problems and prospects” we could simply deduced that, we are going to discuss in this project the problems that arises in the teaching of English language, on the part of teachers who is to teach, and learner’s students who are to receive instructions from instructors. The problems does not limits to these two people alone. It could cut across the role of the government societies, parents, non-governmental organization communities, and other international bodies like UNESCO, National University Commission (NUC), publics and private schools, sandwich progammes and other societies affiliated to education. In the case of prospects for teaching profession, it is highly optimistic that if some measures are taken into considerations, there is a great prospect for teaching profession in the areas of English language and other subjects. In the first instance let’s discuss factors responsible for the problems of teaching of English language in schools either private or publics in Ife Central local government of Osun State. A state without education is a novice society, a society that is stagnant not ready to move forward in term of development, science and research. It is estimated in UNESCO research that countries that has enough resources like oil, and other mineral resources could not develop in the areas of human resources management and personnel development, because attention and orientation will be shifted from educating the children, in the country to mining of these natural resources to give immediate money as IGR to the country. That is why most oil producing countries does not have enough or adequate man power and human resources management. That reminds me of one of the factor that affects the teaching of English in our societies. As we all know that English is a lingua Franca the language of communication in ministries and parastatals, we need to take the teaching of English to be more effective and efficient in our secondary schools be it public and private. In addition since English language is use to teach other subjects in the school either science, commercial. Arts and technology we need to make it effective in secondary schools. Our orientation in Nigerian societies has been shifted from learning to grabbing of National Cake, The idea of getting rich quick syndrome, couples with negative attitude to reading culture in our societies due value orientation to join politics and make money quickly has cause havoc in the effective teaching and learning of English in our societies. Charity begins at home. An average Briton often starts teaching his child how to speak good English at an early stage. English language should start at the elementary schools. I mean, from pre-nursery, primary gradually to secondary schools. The inability of pupils to learn how to speak English at an early stage will affect them in secondary and tertiary schools.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to the problems and prospect of teaching English language in secondary school
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in getting information the problems and prospect of teaching English language in secondary school. 200 staff of select secondary schools of Enugu south local government in Enugu state was selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
DATA ANALYSIS
The data collected from the respondents were analyzed in tabular form with simple percentage for easy understanding.
A total of 133(one hundred and thirty three) questionnaires were distributed and 133 questionnaires were returned.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain the problems and prospect of teaching English language in secondary school
In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of the problems and prospect of teaching English language in secondary school
Summary
This study was on the problems and prospect of teaching English language in secondary school. Five objectives were raised which included: Identify and classify these problems, determine the magnitude of these problems, make recommendation for more language, to ascertain the problems of teaching English language in secondary school. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 staff of selected secondary schools in Enugu south local government of Enugu state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made up principals, vice principals administration senior staff and junior staff were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
Nigeria as a nation is lucky to be a colony of the British nation the original owners of English Language which is the most widely spoken language in the world and the language of Information Communication Technology used throughout the world. Already the nation is involved in language globalization, so what is needed now is how to broaden our national language teaching curriculum to fall in line with the global standard and global trend by incorporating the modern science and technologies into the curriculum. Moreover, the use of Information Communication System in schools should be considered by the educational planners and administrators so as to expose the teachers and students to new methods of teaching and knowledge acquisition. Proper teaching and learning of the language will bring growth in science and technology to the nation since all the text books used in teaching all the subjects in our secondary and tertiary institutions are written in English Language. Effective interpretation of scientific thoughts will lead to the acquisition of western technology and the development of indigenous technology also.
Recommendations
(a) The National, State and Local Government should give prominence to the teaching and learning of English Language by supporting language education programmes.
(b) Regular conferences, seminars and workshops should be organized for English Language teachers so as to update their knowledge about latest developments and vocabularies incorporated into the language because of scientific inventions and new technology.
(c) New practical teaching approaches should be adopted by teachers of the language through the introduction of new skills to encourage the teachers in the practical usage of the language. This would enhance communicative competence of the learners.
(d) Government at all levels of education should recruit more English Language specialists from the Colleges of Education and the Universities to fill the existing gaps in schools. Non-English Language graduates should not be allowed to teach the subject because they are incompetent.
(e) Government should provide Standard English language text books to all pupils and students at the primary and secondary schools levels because these schools are the bedrock of education.
REFERENCES
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- Faniran, A.O (2011). “The English Language for Empowerment in Nigeria. In English Language Teaching Today: Proceedings of the Annual ELTT Conference, Volume 5 2011, ISSN 1119-0426.
- Greene, H. A., Loomis, K. A., Biedenharn, N.W., Davis, C.P. (1979). Basic Language: Messages and Meanings. New York: Harper and Row, Publishers, Inc.
- Mgbemena, J. A. and Ewurum, R (2011). “The Use of English in Global Communication: An Assessment of the Communicative Competence of Undergraduates in Written Discourse” In English Language Teaching Today: A Journal for Teachers of English and Communication Skills. Vol 8, 2011.
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