Influence of Mother Tongue Interference on Academic Performance of Secondary School Students in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State

Thesis Overview

<p></p><p><b>1.0 INTRODUCTION</b></p> <p><b>1.1&nbsp; Background to the Study</b></p> <p>Language is a creation which every human being is endowed with or blessed; a unique gift of language is used naturally as one tool of expression consisting of different sub skills. </p> <p>Historically, the advent of the British colonialist in Nigeria brought about the introduction of English Language in the country. Following this, Nigeria has become one of the African countries that embrace the use of English for communication. Also the introduction of western education in the country facilitated and aided the general acceptance of English language in Nigeria. In Nigeria today, English language has not gained prominence but it is dominating other languages in the country. In fact, it has become the “lingua franca” of the country.</p> <p>Meanwhile, English language has several stipulated functions and purposes which it serves. This function includes verbal communication, which encompasses inter-personal communication and mass communication. Another function is written communication and personal interaction with other people. This becomes obvious that with the realization of these functions and purposes of English language it has been observed that mother tongue interferes tremendously in the use of the language (Baker 2001).</p> <p>&nbsp;Mother tongue is one’s native language. A language besides being the major distinguishing phenomenon between man and other creatures is evidently the most enduring of every people’s cultural heritage. It reflects the culture of a people and it is in extricable bound up with it (Wikipedia, 2016).</p> <p>Mother tongue also means the language that one first learns to speak as a child. According to Ugwu (2003) “the mother tongue interferes in English language in two areas that is in the sound and intonation respectively. He stressed that when one is spoken to through the medium of a particular language or reads what has been printed on paper in a particular language, he or she only makes meaning out of what he or she has heard or read, so, the hearer or reader shares knowledge of the same language with the speaker or writer”. &nbsp;On the other hand, it is observed that in our everyday discussion, the voice of the people spoken to and every of our responses usually go up and down as we combine the vowels and consonants in our communication. These voice patterns help us to appreciate or disapprove of what we have heard or spoken. Therefore, these two factors, which make the voice pattern, reveal meaning of the spoken words to the hearer in the areas where the mother tongue interferes with English language. Hence, the voice pattern which is intonation of both the English and mother tongue vary and there is interference.</p><p></p><p>It is therefore the above and other reasons that the researcher is interested in find out the influence of mother tongue on academic attainment of secondary school students in Ogbadibo local government area of Benue state. </p> <p><b>1.2 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Statement of the Problem</b>.</p> <p>English language, if properly taught and mastered could serve as effective and efficient means of communication and interaction between an individual and the masses. It is expected to be the official language for communication and interaction among the people, which will enable them to live in unity and co-exist harmoniously. We find out that teaching of English language in the educational institutions today is expensive and above all inadequate and has many setbacks such as the interference of first language in the teaching and learning of English language. The Idoma language which is a language of communication of the Idoma people of Benue state also has some interference with the teaching and learning of English language which poses a problem to the effective academic performance of secondary school students in Ogbadibo local government area of Benue state. </p> <p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; However, the problem of learning English language and its setbacks purely depends on the lack or need or functions of English language in our everyday communication, and also proper motivation of education policy makers. You cannot teach or learn English language without basic facilities.</p><p>The learner and teacher of English language are required to be properly motivated and mobilized towards realizing the basic objectives of communication development. To successfully enhance better learning and understanding of English language means that the psychology of the people &nbsp;(students in the study area, who are &nbsp;Idoma native speakers) should be improved and a better communication report will be enhanced between the teacher and learners of English language respectively. This could be achieved by overhauling the teaching and learning system of the language. It is therefore the pre-occupation of this research work to find out how mother tongue (Idoma native language) has interfered with English language and the efforts made so far by the education planners to reverse the trend. &nbsp;</p> <p><b>1.3 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Purpose of the Study</b></p> <p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The main concern of this research work is to find out the influence of mother tongue interference on the academic attainment of secondary school students in Ogbadibo local government area of Benue state. While its specific objectives are;</p> <p>1. &nbsp; &nbsp; To find out the level at which mother tongue can interfere in the learning of English language in secondary schools.</p> <p>2. &nbsp; &nbsp; To find out if there are qualified teachers who can teach English language effectively in secondary schools in Ogbadibo local government area. </p> <p>3. &nbsp; &nbsp; To identify peculiar areas of problems posed by Idoma dialect to English language.</p> <p><b>1.4 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Research Questions </b></p> <p>1. &nbsp; &nbsp; How does mother tongue actually interferes in the learning of English language in secondary school?</p> <p>2. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Are there qualified English language teacher who can effectively teach English language in secondary schools in the study area­­?</p> <p>3. &nbsp; &nbsp; What are the problems posed by Idoma dialect to English language?</p> <p><b>1.5 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Hypotheses </b></p> <ol> <li>Mother tongue does not significantly interfere in the learning of English language. </li> <li>There are no qualified English language teachers who can effectively teach English language in the study area. </li> <li>Idoma dialect does not significantly pose any problems to the teaching and learning of English language of students in Ogbadibo local government area.</li> </ol> <br><p></p> <br><p></p>