Assessment of speaking efficiency of the Igbo second language (L2) learners in selected colleges of education in Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed the speaking efficiency of the Igbo second language (L₂) learners from Colleges of Education located in the Northern, Western and Southern parts of Nigeria. It compared the mean achievement score of Igbo L₂ learners in speaking based on the location of their colleges. It also compared the Igbo L₂ male and female students' mean achievement score in the speaking test. A sample of 68 participants was drawn by purposive sampling technique (24 from the North, 22 from the West and 22 from the South). The instrument used for data collection was the speaking test developed by the author. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, t test, and one-way ANOVA. The results of data analyses showed that neither location of the colleges nor sex influenced the speaking achievement of the Igbo L₂ students. Recommendations that would facilitate development of communicative competence among the Igbo L₂ learners were made.

Keywords: Assessment, Speaking, Efficiency, Second language