Abstract
It has been observed that many users of English in Nigeria do not possess the required level of competence in the language despite its second language status, with its attendant high functional load. This paper seeks to discover the role of literature in achieving proficiency in the use of the English language. To this end, it is targeted at exploring literature in English as a veritable resource in achieving the required proficiency among Nigerian users of English as a second language. The study population consists of final year students of the Department of English language and Literature of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka in Nigeria. Questionnaires and participant observations were adopted as the instruments for data collection. It was discovered that students who have more exposure to literary works are more proficient in using the English language. It, therefore, concluded that making students read literary works, listen, dramatize, and recite them will acquaint them with the comprehensible input they need to achieve the requisite competence in the language.
Highlights
English enjoys a very prominent status as the most widely spoken language in the world. Hornby 2013, for instance, observes that “one in five of the world’s population speaks English with some degree of competence (R 91), and according to Veghese 1989 “it is the most international of languages” (3)
This study argues that if Nigerian learners of English begin to pay more attention to the study of literature in English, they will have the opportunity of encountering the language in its context of use, that is, in the literary pieces they read, and naturally, pick up the language from them
4.1 Research Question I Are English as a Second Language (ESL) Learners exposed to literature in English?
Summary
English enjoys a very prominent status as the most widely spoken language in the world. Hornby 2013, for instance, observes that “one in five of the world’s population speaks English with some degree of competence (R 91), and according to Veghese 1989 “it is the most international of languages” (3). English enjoys a very prominent status as the most widely spoken language in the world. It is taught and spoken as a second language in the former British colonies and in many countries in Europe and as a foreign language in Japan, China, Dubai, and some other countries in Asia and Latin America. English is the language of international diplomacy and political propaganda, trade, international sports commentaries, music and entertainment industries, communication, science and technology, and lots more (Onuigbo and Eyisi 2009, Ugwuanyi and Omeje 2013). As a second language in the country, English is the language of administration, legislation, trade and commerce, politics, sports, the law. For this reason, a reasonable degree of proficiency in the language is essential for a successful educational career in the country
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