Teaching and learning English in a second language situation: The case of some Igbo Teachers and students

Abstract

The English language, which is studied as a second language in Nigeria, is indispensable in all spheres of human endeavours. It is the language of government, education, the judiciary and indeed every aspect of national life. All ethnic groups in the country, the Igbo inclusive, embrace this all-important language for their various activities. Because this significant language is not a mother tongue in the Igbo environment, some students of English in a second language situation encounter problems because some learners study it against the background of their mother tongue in which they have attained a reasonable degree of competence. Again, teachers on their own part contribute to the problem owing to their pedagogical incompetence, lack of instructional materials, language interference, etc. To this end, this paper looks at the concept of teaching and learning English in a second language situation with a focus on the problems encountered by the Igbo teachers and learners as regards imbibing the intricacies of the language and possible solution. To get about this, fifty Year one Sandwich students of Department of English Language and Literature, Nnamdi Azikiwe University and their lecturers were directly observed in a classroom situation. It was discovered that they have interference problem amongst other problems inherent in studying English as a second language.