ESL Learners and the English Language Diphthongs: A Case of Major and Minor Languages in Nigeria

Olayinka M Iyekekpolor ,Josephine Uzo Akabogu

doi:10.7176/jlll/72-07

Abstract

The English language has come to stay in Nigeria; it is the language of education, commerce and unity, importantly, a global language. Learners of English as Second language (ESL) in Nigeria today go beyond the shores of the country in search for job opportunities and better livelihood. Inability to speak the English language intelligibly definitely will lead to frustration in the new environment and can hinder achievement of future goals in career step. The paper is an attempt at exploring dynamic ways of teaching the English language diphthong with the goal of awakening interest of students in the learning of speaking skill. The focus is on English language diphthongs with particular emphasis on the closing diphthongs. The paper has attempted to discuss the importance of speaking skill in the drive toward proficiency in the English language. The differences in the indigenous languages in Nigeria and the English language are explained. Influence of native speaker’s language on the learning of English language is not left out of the discourse while the role of access to native speaker pronunciation is emphasised. Hopefully the identification of the discrepancies in the major and minor languages in Nigeria vis a vis the English language will stir up in the teachers in Nigerian schools to efficiently and effectively prepare students for life beyond the shores of Nigeria It is hoped that if English language teachers in Nigeria device new ways of teaching the oracy skill, learners will move towards competence in English language. Keywords: English language diphthongs, indigenous languages, dialects, Mother Tongue (MT), Second language (SL), Second language learner, target language, Interference, Skills of English language, poor performance. DOI: 10.7176/JLLL/72-07 Publication date: October 31 st 2020

Highlights

The English language commands a great pre-eminence in Nigeria when compared to indigenous languages in the country and other languages of the world
The process of learning a second language differs from how the mother tongue is acquired
The mother tongue is acquired naturally, while the second language is learnt through artificial process[3]

Summary

Introduction

The English language commands a great pre-eminence in Nigeria when compared to indigenous languages in the country and other languages of the world. A second language is that language that is not native to the speaker; a language that is learned in addition to the language a person first learned as a young child It is a language different from the mother tongue (MT) which an individual or the community uses. Second language learners have problem arising from prior pronunciation instruction and insufficient knowledge of English language speech sounds and the differences that exist between English language sounds and sounds of other languages[10] The consequence of this defect is the exchange of sounds learners are familiar with in their Mother tongue to replace seemingly similar sounds in English language; thereby leading to poor pronunciation and exhibition of poor speaking skill. An attempt at teaching the diphthongs of the English language at the Senior Secondary will facilitate improvement in the speaking skill of the English language learner before gaining admission to the university

The English language diphthongs

Recommendations

Conclusion