English Language In Nigeria Research Articles

An Enquiry into the Nigerianism in Nigerian English

This study seeks to examine the Nigerianism in Nigerian English in order to gain a better understanding of the English language in Nigeria. Specifically, it will investigate how Nigerian English has developed and what aspects of Nigerian language and culture have influenced it. In doing so, it will provide insight on the role of Nigerian English in the larger Nigerian context, as well as the broader international context. It will also review the sociolinguistic features of the Nigerian varieties of English in the area of phonology. The findings of this research are expected to provide a deeper understanding of the English language in Nigeria and its functionality within the Nigerian context. It is hoped that the results of this study can be used to inform and guide the development of future language policies in Nigeria. This study will also provide a valuable contribution to the existing body of research into the development of English and language in general.

The Use of Online English Language Learning Platforms by Undergraduate Students of Federal College of Education (Technical) Gusau

The status of the English language in Nigeria has made it the most widely used language. People of various backgrounds aspire to speak the language and become competent in it. With technological advancement, which led to the social media invention, various means of teaching the English language are made available on different platforms. Therefore, this paper aims to find out the online English language learning platforms by undergraduate students of Federal College of Education (Technical) Gusau. Three objectives were formulated to guide this study. These are, to find out the students’ awareness of the vast online platforms for learning the English Language, to find out the aspect of the English language the students have an interest in studying and to determine the benefit of engagement in the chosen aspect. Rogers’ (2003) Diffusion of Innovation theory was adopted as the theoretical framework- The population of the study consists of 1,417 Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria-affiliated undergraduate students of various fields of study. Purposive sampling was used to select level two English language students. Focus group discussion was used for data collection and thematic analysis of the data was conducted. The finding is by Roger's (2003) Diffusion of Innovation theory which emphasises that “getting a new idea adopted, even when it has obvious advantages, is difficult” Hence, the availability of more user satisfaction, compatibility, simplicity, triability, and observability make the Innovation-Diffusion process faster. Therefore, the present study concludes that the use of these vast materials by the students is very low. However, the participants who employ its use agreed on its enormous benefits and have tagged it as a priority.

Use of Electronic Devices in the Teaching and Learning of the English Language in Oyo State Senior Secondary Schools

Purpose: The dwindling standard of Nigerian students’ performances in SSCE English language has become worsened. As a result, this study will focus at employing electronic approach in language teaching called Computer Assisted Language Teaching (CALL) to improve the learners’ poor performances in WASSCE, NECO and UTME and other English language external examinations. Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) is a novel electronic approach to language pedagogy being introduced in 1980s in Deakin University, USA was used in this research as a theoretical tool.
 Methodology: This research used Brade’s (2007) teleconferencing and Sussaine Herring’s (2001) Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) as theoretical framework for the study. Coupled with this, questionnaires was administered among 360 students and 36 teachers from 18 purposively selected senior secondary schools in Oyo State. Stratified randomly sampling approach was used in selecting the respondents. Besides, electronic tools like projector and other power-point gadgets down-linked equipment gadgets that are used in electronic language teaching called tele-conferencing was purchased for teaching the respondents. A lecture room was furnished for keeping the gadgets purchased and for using video or tele-conferencing in language teaching in teaching the respondents.
 Findings: The findings revealed that this electronic approach to English language in Nigeria has improve the poor standard of students’ performances in external examinations like WASSCE, NECO and also improve students’ communicative and linguistic competence in English language in Oyo State.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The government and educational authorities in Oyo State should prioritize investments in digital infrastructure, including providing schools with an adequate number of electronic devices and ensuring reliable internet connectivity. This will facilitate seamless integration of technology into the teaching and learning process.

Pronunciation Challenges in English Language Among Undergraduate Students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria

This study investigated pronunciation challenges among undergraduates among undergraduate students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria, as case study. The descriptive survey design was used for the study. The sample of the study was One Hundred (100) respondents, selected from five (5) different Departments using simple random sampling technique. The study used a structured self-constructed questionnaire for data collection. Obtained data were analysed through frequency counts and percentages. Findings of the study revealed that Mother Tongue plays a significant, but negative role, in the phonological acquisition of a second language learner. Again, Language in contact, like pidgin and creole can cause wrong pronunciation of English words among undergraduates. A detailed description of English sounds, intonation and stress as well as teaching of English words are imperative to reducing the problem of wrong pronunciation among undergraduates and second language learners of English Language in Nigeria. Based on the findings, it was recommended that stakeholders of university education should ensure that phonetics and phonology are taught and enough textbooks on each, should be provided by government and which should be effectively used by lecturers and students, in the concerned departments.

A Study of the English Language Varieties, the Syllabus and the Classroom Instruction Realities in Nigerian Secondary Schools

The teaching of English Language in Nigeria has always been modeled after British English (BE) being a former British colony which is the supposed ideal despite the reality of other varieties such as Nigerian English and American English while the examination bodies in Nigeria also remain very strict on the British English. This study investigates the variety of English being taught in Nigerian secondary schools using Ekiti state as a sample. The main objective of this study is to examine the variety of English recommended by the syllabus for teaching in Secondary schools vis a vis the variety being taught and used by the teachers and the effectiveness of the teachers as models of proficiency in the target variety of English being taught The total number of 100 secondary schools distributed across the 16 local government areas of Ekiti State, Nigeria were selected for this study. As such 100 teachers of English were selected randomly as source of data. Classroom observation and questionnaire together with a designed variety checklist were used to elicit information from the respondents. The result revealed evident discrepancy between claimed proficiency, preferred English variety, and actual classroom instruction practices. The findings of the study present a complex and intriguing scenario regarding teacher proficiency, classroom instruction, and the use of different English varieties. The study concludes that the standard stipulated by the syllabus seems to be unrealistic because the teachers don’t have the proficiency in such variety to serve as role models and that there is need for acknowledging and integrating diverse English varieties, including Nigerian English, into syllabi and instructional strategies to better cater for the linguistic needs of students.

English Language and Communication in Christian Assemblies

Language, the medium through which people communicate their thoughts, feelings and aspirations to one another, is regarded as the most intimate possession of man as well as the most important form of communication and interaction employed by humans. The advent of the English language in Nigeria was championed by the Church Missionary Society and other Christian missions. The need to propagate the gospel to the nook and crannies of Nigeria effectively necessitated the introduction of literary education (ability to read and write), which was conducted in English. The products of these schools served, inter alia, as interpreters in the Churches, facilitating the propagation of the Christian religion in Nigeria which has about 522 local languages. Today, the common practice is for the main preacher to speak in English while another interprets the message into the local language of the Church members. Against this background, this paper examines the use of the English language in Christian assemblies in Nigeria.

The Use of ICT for the Teaching and Learning of English as a Second Language in Nigeria: The "What", "Why", and "How"

In language teaching, the use of computers has been on since before the coming of the internet. Later computer assisted language learning (CALL) developed and concerned itself with the pedagogical applications of the technology. Information Communication Technology (IT) which is an offshoot of science through its internet and computer-mediated communication (CMC) has gone beyond science to broaden the lexical inventories of the English language. It is against this backdrop that this paper tends to conduct a study on computer-mediated communication with a focus on the teaching and learning of the English language in Nigeria. The study aims to bring to the fore the issues and challenges associated with this new normal. The study also examines the benefits associated with the use of this technology in the teaching and learning of the English language. The study also employs Direct Participatory Observation and a questionnaire as means of gathering data for the research. Famous Mclunnham’s Technological Determinism Theory was employed as the theoretical framework of analysis. On the whole, the paper discovered among other things that the use of CMC made students confident and gives them the zeal of being online and wanting to discover and learn via the medium of computer-mediated communication. The study concludes that the use of this method of teaching and learning English in Nigeria has to be encouraged for efficiency and exactness for both in the teaching and learning of English in Nigeria. Solutions and recommendations were proffered to ameliorate the challenges associated with the use of these technological devices.

English: The Linguistic Alpha and Omega in Nigeria

This paper observed the dominant role of English language in Nigeria. Various factors responsible for the spread and domination of the language in Nigerians’ lives were observed. These include; the multilingual nature of the country; the inability of the country to select a national language from the three indigenous languages (Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba) or other minor languages; influence of the Western culture and attitudes of Nigerians towards the English language. The paper also discussed the various roles English language plays in Nigerian societies which make it dominates the indigenous languages in the country. English is both the official and the National language in Nigeria. It is the language of education, law, commerce and religion in the country. It is the language in which most activities are carried out. The writer concluded by recommending that the indigenous languages, especially the “three big”, should be promoted to the status of National language. A credit pass at O level in the indigenous languages should be made a criterion for admission into higher institutions of learning in the country. Otherwise, the values attached to the indigenous culture and traditions will be eroded; the incoming generation will have no indigenous languages to inherit but the English language.

Academic Interest and Self-esteem as Correlates of Secondary School Students’ Academic Achievement in English Language in Nigeria

Aims: This study examined academic interest and self-esteem as correlates of secondary school students’ academic achievement in English language in Nigeria.
 Study Design: Correlational survey
 Place and Duration of Study: Anambra State, Nigeria, conducted between December 2021 and March 2022.
 Method: The accessible population for this study comprises 18,297 senior secondary school two SS2 students from 261 secondary schools situated in the six education zones in Anambra state, the sampling technique adopted was the proportionate stratified random sampling technique. This was use to select 2,160 SS 2 students. The instruments adopted for data collection are: students’ academic interest scale, self-esteem scale and students’ academic achievement scores in English language. Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Multiple Regression Analysis were statistical tools adopted for data analysis.
 Results: Table 1, 2 and 3 revealed a moderate positive relationship between secondary school students’ academic interest, self-esteem jointly with their academic achievement in English language. Similarly, hypothesis in Table 4, 5 and 6 reports that at 0.05 level of significance and 2158df, the t-test statistic value 15.95 with a Pvalue of 0.00 is less than 0.05, hence the second hypotheses is rejected. This implies that the relationship existing between self-esteem and academic achievement of secondary school students in English language in Anambra State is significant. Furthermore, at 0.05 level of significance 3df numerator and 2045df denominator, the F statistics value 314.12, with Pvalue of 0.00 is less than 0.05, the third null hypothesis is rejected. This goes to show that the relationship existing among secondary school students’ academic interest and self-esteem jointly with academic achievement in English language is significant.
 Conclusion: This study concludes that the joint relationship existing among academic interest, self-esteem jointly with the academic achievement of secondary school students in English language was reported to be moderate and also positive. This implies that the coefficient was close to 1.00 (perfect relationship). Justifying this, it could be likened to the fact that students only spend 45 to 90 minutes per day in school with each teacher, so it is nearly impossible for them to unconsciously transmit all of the knowledge they need to get to them within that time frame. So therefore, there is need for parents as well to fulfil their first job, which is to be a teacher to their children. In the same vein, the relationship existing among secondary school students’ academic interest and self-esteem jointly with academic achievement in English language is statistically significant.

Influence of Mother-Tongue On English Language Use Selected Mother-Tongue Factors Affecting English Language Usage, A Case Study of Ikom Local Government Area

Over the years, English Language has been accorded a very high prestige in Nigeria.The status and functions given to English in Nigeria has made it become imperative for every Nigerian citizen to learn how to speak, read and write the language. This is as a result of the pluralistic linguistic situation of Nigeria which has made it impossible for national language. This accounts for why English has been allotted prestigious domains of use in Nigeria. This study was undertaken to investigate and shed more light on the effect that mother-tongue influence has on spoken English in Nigeria. The focus of this study is on selected mother-tongue factors affecting English language in Nigeria. In order to manipulate variables properly to achieve tenable results, this study will focus on the phonetic and phonological levels of mother-tongue interference. 150 Ikom learners/users of English were sampled from SSS3 students selected from three secondary schools in Ikom Local Government Area, Cross-River State, where Ikom is their native language. Tape recorders and smart recorders were instruments of data collection alongside (phonetic) articulation tests. The technique employed in the analysis of data was descriptive and quantitative. The sources of data were relevant textbooks, magazines, journals, libraries (online and offline) and the internet. The findings revealed that, the mother-tongue of Ikom learners/and users of English negatively influences their spoken English, significantly in their articulation of English consonants, vowels and consonant clusters; and suprasegmentals such as stress and intonation.

Pidgin Language at Present: The Alternative Language for Nigerian Contemporary Performing Artists

Pidgin language (PL) is cardinal o many Nigerians especially in the South-South region, where the language is mostly used. The pidgin language is mostly employed to solve the issues of language difficulties in terms of usage. This is because of the enormous population of illiterates in Nigeria. The pidgin language is for everybody: the educated, uneducated, rich, poor, etc. The way it is used in Nigeria and elsewhere does not require one going to school to study it before one can actually speak it. It is a fast-growing language in Nigeria. New lexical items are brought into the province of the language daily especially by Nigerian musicians from the Niger-Delta and Lagos areas. The pidgin language that has been frowned at decades ago is now a contemporary communicative instrument used by different people and for different purposes. This paper, therefore, seeks to demonstrate that pidgin language plays a prevailing role than English Language in Nigeria these days. The paper goes further to state that in the absence of the pidgin language, disseminating messages through songs will not get to the actual target.

Exploring the Roles of Language as a Panacea for Contemporary Socio-economic Challenges in Nigeria

This paper examines how English language can be used to overcome the contemporary socio-economic challenges in Nigeria considering the pivotal roles in the functioning of the Nigerian society. Using the theoretical view of Stubbs, the paper discusses the functions of language in human society before examining the functions of English language in Nigeria against the indigenous languages. It x-rays the contemporary socio-economic challenges facing the country and observes that the English language is better positioned as the language of overcoming the nation’s socio-economic challenges. However, low proficiency level in its use by Nigeria’s second language (L2) users is a major bane in this quest. To overcome this deficiency, the paper recommends among others, a paradigm shift in the method of teaching English language in our schools from rote learning of the linguistic rules to that of improving learner’s overall communicative abilities in the four skills of English language and a task-based instruction (TBI) method in Nigerian schools.

Fostering the Teaching of English Language in Nigeria Primary Schools: the Need for Teachers’ Continuous Professional Development and Training

This article highlights how English language teachers professional development and training programmes fosters teachers’ professional competences in the teaching of the subject. English Language is vital in developing communication and social skills in learners as it does empower learners to compete favorably with their peers around the world. The ex-post factor approach of the survey design was adopted in the study. A random sampling technique was used to select twenty primary schools in Oyo state, Nigeria, with 168 English teachers who were currently undergoing the SUBEB/UBEC teacher professional development programme (2018). Two instruments: Teacher Teaching Competence Scale (TTCS) with Cronbach’s Alpha reliability coefficient of 0.68 and the Teachers Checklist Observation Scale (TCOS) with Scott Pi reliability coefficient of 0.71 were used for data collection. The data collection lasted for a period of fourteen weeks. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and correlation at 0.05 level of significance. Results revealed that teacher’ attendance and exposure to a professional development and training programme; does enhance their professional teaching competences. It is therefore expedient that stakeholders in the education sector; especially governmental agencies, sponsor and encourage practicing primary teachers in attending and participating in professional development programmes; incentives should also be given to these teachers. This will go a long way at ensuring that these teachers look forward to attending such programmes at any time in the future

Students’ Perception on the Indices of Teaching Effectiveness Among Some Senior Secondary School ESL Students in Ibadan Metropolis

The teaching of English language in Nigeria is a herculean task given the fact that models and students operate in a second language environment with its many disadvantages. Many teachers do not seem to understand what is involved in teaching effectiveness as many have different conceptions of teaching. The result is that many evade the intricacies of teaching, to the detriment of students’ achievement in the subject. This paper investigated students’ perception on the indices of teaching effectiveness of ESL in Ibadan metropolis. The descriptive design of the ex post facto type was adopted for the study. Through multi-stage sampling procedure, a total of 500 Senior Secondary School two students was drawn from six co-educational institutions. A self-structured questionnaire – questionnaire on indices of teaching effectiveness (QOITE) (r=.79) was used to collect data. Three research questions and one hypothesis were raised. Descriptive statistics of frequency counts, percentages, mean and standard deviation were used to analyse the data collected. T-test statistic was used to test the only hypothesis stated at 0.05 level of significance.Findings revealed that students perceived the indices of teaching effectiveness to include revision of previous topics, teachers’ friendly disposition, use of instructional materials and take-home assignments. The study however revealed that the most commonly perceived indices of teaching effectiveness are teachers’ knowledge of subject matter (65.8%) and teachers’ ability to provide detailed explanation (57.8%). In addition, more female students perceived that revision of previous work was needed for effective teaching than their male counterparts.The study recommended, among other things, that teachers should make revision of previous work a regular practice and teachers of ESL should exhibit high level of friendliness in class. Keywords: ESL, Ibadan , English language, Teaching effectiveness DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-23-08 Publication date: August 31 st 2020

Teacher Instructional Management Strategies, Classroom Management Effectiveness and Learners’ Academic Achievement in English Language in Nigeria

Teacher Instructional Management Strategies, Classroom Management Effectiveness and Learners’ Academic Achievement in English Language in Nigeria

Attitude of Military and Paramilitary Officers towards the Role of Arabic Language in Addressing Security Issues in Nigeria

This study addresses security issues in Nigeria through Arabic Language Education. Arabic Language is one out of the international languages, it is a member of the Semitic family of language and perhaps the only one among them that has gallantly stood the test of the time. It gains wide range of currency and leaves an indelible mark on the course of world history, culture and civilization. The language has played a significant role in security challenges. It has the ability to solve problems between groups of people by ensuring atmosphere for understanding and peaceful co-existence. The study was a descriptive survey type. The population consisted of all Nigerian military and paramilitary officers using stratified random sampling technique, 50 officers were selected from each of the Nigerian Army, Air force, Police, and Civil Defence corps in the North-east totaling 200. A questionnaire titled “Arabic Language Education and National Security Questionnaire” was designed for the data collection. Test re-test method was employed for the reliability with 0.76 coefficient. One research question and one hypothesis guided the study. Percentage was used to answer the research question and ANOVA was used to test the hypothesis at 0.05significance level. The findings reveal that there was a significant difference in the understanding of Arabic Language among Nigerian security officers. Significant difference was found in addressing insecurity through Arabic than in other languages. It was recommended among others that, the government should recognize Arabic Language as a medium of communication/instruction and of the equal rank with English language in Nigeria. The Language should be incorporated into in-house training for the security officers.
 Keywords: Nigeria, Security, Arabic Language, Role

Challenges Facing the Nigerian Teacher of English Language.

This paper sets out to investigate the challenges facing the Nigerian teacher of English language in order to boost effective teaching and learning of the language. The importance of English language in our Nigerian society is glaring and the teacher of English is an important agent in the achievement of proficiency in the spoken and written English. The teacher encounters a lot of challenges in the process of imparting knowledge to English language learners in a second language environment. This study also examines the place of English language in Nigeria, the expected roles of the teacher and proffers some recommendations to these challenges facing the Nigerian teacher of English language.

Teaching ESL through SMS: Prospects and Problems in Nigeria Idegbekwe, Destiny

There is a growing call for English as a second language teachers to explore different learning environments and teaching options to spice up the traditional ‘boring’ English language classes. The onus has been on language teachers to discover these innovative platforms and implement same in their classes. It is against this background that the present study presents the prospects and problems of using the SMS on mobile phones for teaching the English language in Nigeria knowing fully well that at least 15.5 million Nigerians of different ages own at least one mobile phone. The study reveals that most English language teachers do not recognise the cheap, exciting and handy nature of the SMS learning environment. The study also discovers that amongst all the network providers in the country, only MTN provides an SMS based ESL class that is mainly focused on grammar tips. The study examines some problems associated with the SMS learning environment; chief amongst them being the restricted text typing environment of SMS and the inability to take pictures for illustrations. However, the study recommends that despite the short comings, the SMS platform still provides an efficient and cheap learning environment.

The Usage of Spatial Prepositions in the Headlines of Major Nigerian Newspapers

English language in Nigeria has the status as an official language that is used in local and international correspondences. One aspect of English grammar that is very hard for second language users including Nigerians to master is prepositions. Not only that English prepositions difficult, they are also the most frequently used items in newspapers that play an important role to signal political and cultural discourses. This study aims to describe the usage and communicative functions of spatial prepositions “in, on and at” in the headlines of four major Nigerian newspapers. Primarily, to achieve that the present study adopted Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics. Data were collected through the analyses of 21 headlines from four selected major Nigerian newspapers. The findings revealed that Vanguard, a major Nigerian newspaper, has the highest percentage of the usage of target prepositions (26.86%), seconded by Punch (24.92%), followed by the Sun (24.27%), and lastly the lowest percentage, The Nation (23.95%). Also, it was revealed from the study that newspaper editors preferred to use preposition “at” (indicating specific location) but replaced it with preposition “in” (indicating broader location). Moreover, despite the frequent usage of preposition “in” in replacement of preposition “at”, they also preferred the forward position that expresses uncertainty compared to mid-ward and backward positions. This study concludes that people can be united ideologically especially on issues that foster nationalism through the use of newspaper headlines since newspaper headline is a new form of discourse that may initiate, sustain, and shape the political and other national agenda.

Verbal hygiene and ethnic politics in Nigeria: a study of selected newspaper print and online publications

The work investigates verbal hygiene as fundamental towards achieving unity, conflict resolution and sustainable development in a linguistically, ethnically, culturally and politically diversified Nigerian society. It tries to establish a connection between verbal hygiene and persistent implosion of ethnic conflicts in Nigeria and the debilitating consequences of such on virtually all strata of national development. Data were collected using purposive sampling technique from select Nigerian newspapers and other textual sources like television and social media broadcast that showcase the speeches of opinion leaders from different ethnic groups in Nigeria. The collected data were textually analyzed through the lens of Politeness Theory of Brown and Levinson. It was found that a strong relationship exists between poor verbal hygiene, hate speech, electoral violence and ethnicity in Nigeria. This work also found out that the speeches of most opinion leaders analysed in this work are impolite and verbally unhygienic and as such impede the positive face of people from opposing ethnic groups, this constitutes serious threat to inter-ethnic relation and cohesion. The researchers recommend that every user of the English language in Nigeria must strive to use language consciously to achieve mutual understanding and peaceful co-existence.