English Language Teaching and Learning in Secondary Schools in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State: Problems and Prospects

Abstract

This paper studied the problems of teaching and learning English as a second language in junior school certificate examination in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State. The study sought to establish the extent to which students in Junior Secondary School and teachers should value English as the language of instruction. The framework adopted is the behaviorist theory of bilingualism. The simple percentage method of data analysis was employed to analyze data. The population comprised students in junior secondary schools in Ozoro precisely the students of Opute Grammar School, Ozoro and Heroes Group of Schools, Ozoro both in Delta State of Nigeria. The sample size was 100, and the instrument for data collection was the questionnaire which was tested and retested on some other students to ensure that it was reliable. It was found out that the majority of the students consider the English language a difficult subject because of their inability to understand every aspect, which the English language entails. It was also found out among others that the level of infiltration of mother tongue into the respondents’ English is very high. This research recommended that good reading habits should be developed in the students and also well-equipped libraries should be provided in the schools and communities in order to improve better performance in their study of English language. It concluded that the problems of teaching and learning English as a second language is as a result of the impact of mother’s tongue, inadequate textbooks, poor language background and lack of professional growth and development of teachers. If these discovered factors are not checked there will be a drastic decline in standard of education.