Modern language acquisition, a panacea for accelerating indigenous education in Nigeria

Abstract

Contemporary issues in relation to global politics and modernisation have necessitated that urgent attention be accorded to Second Language Acquisition, (SLA). Globalization, military and economic strengths of the world’s great powers like the United States of America, Russia, Germany, Italy among others, particularly since the 19th century, have made many developing nations on the African continent to espouse foreign policies and relations with the developed countries within the international context.
From the foregoing, it is deducible that many developing countries, especially Nigeria, have encountered several setbacks in their dealings with some of the developed countries of the world significantly, the non-English speaking ones as a result of language barrier. The cause of this, is not farfetched. From available literature, it has been discovered that second language acquisition has not been properly implemented and instituted within the confines of Indigenous Education System in Nigeria.
Thus, this paper seeks to interrogate Modern Language Acquisition, its challenges in the Nigerian Education System, remedies as well as the significance of Modern Language Acquisition in providing solutions to the several issues within the frontiers of the Nigerian Indigenous Education System.
In order to achieve a veritable solution, this study employs a review of related academic literature on language, linguistics, language teaching and learning, as well as second language acquisition. The Language Acquisition Theory forms the theoretical basis for the research. In conclusion, it becomes obvious that the relevance of learning foreign languages in the Indigenous Education cannot be over emphasised for the plethora of benefits this can afford developing nations, particularly, Nigeria.