Problems Facing Learners of English in Nigeria
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Indeed, English language is the official language in Nigeria. It is
the language used in learning, administration and business. However,
it remains a second language in Nigeria. Learning a second language is
never easy, especially if you are learning it outside of its native
land. This is why you will find that many Nigerians find it difficult
to learn the language or speak it correctly.
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Nigeria is language diversified country with about 500 native
languages. The English language then has to be learned and mastered as
a second language. The problems with learning English language does
not only have to do with speaking and writing. Over the years, there
are quite a number of students who fail English language in the West
African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination in school. This
article discusses the problems facing learners of English language in
Nigeria.
Problems Facing Learners of English in Nigeria
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Read on below:
Accent and placement of stresses in spoken English
Many second language learners of the English language in Nigeria have
a problem with the use and placement of stress in English words. You
cannot blame them because unlike the native English speakers who
acquire the correct pronunciation and placement of accents naturally,
Nigerians have to learn it. The English language is melodious because
of the rise and falls intones, however, most of the Nigerian languages
are flat in tone. It takes extra cautiousness to achieve the proper
accent and intonation of the English language.
Late learning
Most English learners in Nigeria do not start learning the English
language at an early stage. Hence, by the time most Nigerians start to
learn the language, they cannot catch up easily and then have problems
with pronunciations and use of the language. Also, since they have
already mastered their own mother tongue at this time with almost no
introduction to the English language, it then becomes difficult to
master the English language equally. This accounts for the problem of
poor pronunciation and improper use of the English language. A
solution to this problem is that Nigerians should be tutored right
from an early stage on the use of English and phonetics. It is easier
for a second language learner to learn the rudiments of a language at
an early stage than when they are way older.
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Native language Interference
As mentioned earlier, Nigeria has about 500 languages and each of
these languages have their own peculiarities. Let us take the three
major languages as an example; The Igbo language, the Hausa language
and the Yoruba language. For example, the Igbo diction uses the sounds
/l/ and /r/ interchangeably so a word like ‘rod’ is pronounced
‘lod’, ‘london’ is then pronounced as ‘rondon’.
The Yoruba language has some sounds which are absent in its
vocabulary, one of which is the /h/ sound. So, a word like ‘hair’
will be pronounced ‘air’ and ‘hungry’ will be pronounced as
‘Ungry’. With the Hausa language, the sounds /f/ and /p/ are used
interchangeably, so the word ‘pipe’ /paip/ is pronounced as
/faif/. The interference of the native languages affects the correct
pronunciation of the English words.
Lack of qualified teachers of English language
Many English language teachers in Nigerian schools are not competent
themselves in the use of English language. When the teachers do not
have a good command of the language, the students are likewise bound
to a wrong understanding of it. The problem of qualification of
teachers does not have to do with those teaching the English language
only, but teachers of other subjects too. When the students have to
learn under other teachers who cannot communicate well in the English
language, they do not learn well or pick up the wrong use of the
language. It is very important that all teachers (both for the English
language and others) are properly trained to be efficient speakers of
the English language. Educational policies should be put in place to
ensure English teachers, in particular, receive proper and adequate
training/certification in the English Language.
Faults in the curriculum and educational program
The gaps and faults in school curriculum taught in schools also adds
up to the difficulty and inability of most Nigerians to learn English
language effectively. In Nigeria, most schools use outdated
curriculums and do not train the learner to world standard. Policies
need to be put in place by the government to mandate schools to teach
with updated English curriculum.
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Non-English-speaking environment
As mentioned earlier, although English language is the official
language in Nigeria, it is still not the most common language. English
language is used in formal settings such as schools, offices, banks,
etc. But you will find that English language is not commonly used in
markets places, homes, social and religious gatherings or
neighborhoods. While it is essential that learners do not lose their
mother tongue, this still poses a problem to the effective learning of
English language for a second language learner in Nigeria. Most
Nigerians, after learning in schools do not have an environment to
practice what they have been taught.
Lack of reading culture in Nigeria
Most Nigerians lack an effective reading culture. Many are not trained
to read while growing up and even after they have begun learning, do
not continue reading. This negatively affects their learning capacity
as reading helps the retention of learners.
Peer pressure from peer groups
In most Nigerian environments, the use of English language regarded as
a neglect of the native culture. If a person is trying to speak the
English language properly, you will find them being ridiculed or made
fun of. This is also rampant among teenagers in Nigeria. You will find
many speaking what is known as ‘broken English’ because they want
to feel like they belong to the streets. ‘Pidgin English’ is
considered trendy and gives an air of bravado while people who have a
good command of the English language are considered naïve and nor
street smart.
Lack of Learning materials
In order to learn the English language as a second language properly,
learners need more than just books. Audio materials are also
necessary. Audio materials especially help with intonation and proper
pronunciation of words. When a learner sees a word in written form, he
or she can have a correct pronunciation through an audio material.
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Indeed, English language is the official language in Nigeria. It is
the language used in learning, administration and business. However,
it remains a second language in Nigeria. Learning a second language is
never easy, especially if you are learning it outside of its native
land. This is why you will find that many Nigerians find it difficult
to learn the language or speak it correctly.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Nigeria is language diversified country with about 500 native
languages. The English language then has to be learned and mastered as
a second language. The problems with learning English language does
not only have to do with speaking and writing. Over the years, there
are quite a number of students who fail English language in the West
African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination in school. This
article discusses the problems facing learners of English language in
Nigeria.
Problems Facing Learners of English in Nigeria
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Read on below:
Accent and placement of stresses in spoken English
Many second language learners of the English language in Nigeria have
a problem with the use and placement of stress in English words. You
cannot blame them because unlike the native English speakers who
acquire the correct pronunciation and placement of accents naturally,
Nigerians have to learn it. The English language is melodious because
of the rise and falls intones, however, most of the Nigerian languages
are flat in tone. It takes extra cautiousness to achieve the proper
accent and intonation of the English language.
Late learning
Most English learners in Nigeria do not start learning the English
language at an early stage. Hence, by the time most Nigerians start to
learn the language, they cannot catch up easily and then have problems
with pronunciations and use of the language. Also, since they have
already mastered their own mother tongue at this time with almost no
introduction to the English language, it then becomes difficult to
master the English language equally. This accounts for the problem of
poor pronunciation and improper use of the English language. A
solution to this problem is that Nigerians should be tutored right
from an early stage on the use of English and phonetics. It is easier
for a second language learner to learn the rudiments of a language at
an early stage than when they are way older.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Native language Interference
As mentioned earlier, Nigeria has about 500 languages and each of
these languages have their own peculiarities. Let us take the three
major languages as an example; The Igbo language, the Hausa language
and the Yoruba language. For example, the Igbo diction uses the sounds
/l/ and /r/ interchangeably so a word like ‘rod’ is pronounced
‘lod’, ‘london’ is then pronounced as ‘rondon’.
The Yoruba language has some sounds which are absent in its
vocabulary, one of which is the /h/ sound. So, a word like ‘hair’
will be pronounced ‘air’ and ‘hungry’ will be pronounced as
‘Ungry’. With the Hausa language, the sounds /f/ and /p/ are used
interchangeably, so the word ‘pipe’ /paip/ is pronounced as
/faif/. The interference of the native languages affects the correct
pronunciation of the English words.
Lack of qualified teachers of English language
Many English language teachers in Nigerian schools are not competent
themselves in the use of English language. When the teachers do not
have a good command of the language, the students are likewise bound
to a wrong understanding of it. The problem of qualification of
teachers does not have to do with those teaching the English language
only, but teachers of other subjects too. When the students have to
learn under other teachers who cannot communicate well in the English
language, they do not learn well or pick up the wrong use of the
language. It is very important that all teachers (both for the English
language and others) are properly trained to be efficient speakers of
the English language. Educational policies should be put in place to
ensure English teachers, in particular, receive proper and adequate
training/certification in the English Language.
Faults in the curriculum and educational program
The gaps and faults in school curriculum taught in schools also adds
up to the difficulty and inability of most Nigerians to learn English
language effectively. In Nigeria, most schools use outdated
curriculums and do not train the learner to world standard. Policies
need to be put in place by the government to mandate schools to teach
with updated English curriculum.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Non-English-speaking environment
As mentioned earlier, although English language is the official
language in Nigeria, it is still not the most common language. English
language is used in formal settings such as schools, offices, banks,
etc. But you will find that English language is not commonly used in
markets places, homes, social and religious gatherings or
neighborhoods. While it is essential that learners do not lose their
mother tongue, this still poses a problem to the effective learning of
English language for a second language learner in Nigeria. Most
Nigerians, after learning in schools do not have an environment to
practice what they have been taught.
Lack of reading culture in Nigeria
Most Nigerians lack an effective reading culture. Many are not trained
to read while growing up and even after they have begun learning, do
not continue reading. This negatively affects their learning capacity
as reading helps the retention of learners.
Peer pressure from peer groups
In most Nigerian environments, the use of English language regarded as
a neglect of the native culture. If a person is trying to speak the
English language properly, you will find them being ridiculed or made
fun of. This is also rampant among teenagers in Nigeria. You will find
many speaking what is known as ‘broken English’ because they want
to feel like they belong to the streets. ‘Pidgin English’ is
considered trendy and gives an air of bravado while people who have a
good command of the English language are considered naïve and nor
street smart.
Lack of Learning materials
In order to learn the English language as a second language properly,
learners need more than just books. Audio materials are also
necessary. Audio materials especially help with intonation and proper
pronunciation of words. When a learner sees a word in written form, he
or she can have a correct pronunciation through an audio material.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
jQuery(document).ready(function( $) { $.post(
'https://nigerianfinder.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php', {action:
'mts_view_count', id: '290978'}); });
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