Students' poor performance in speaking in English

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Authors

Udeh, Bethel Uzochukwu

Issue Date

2023

Educational Level

ISCED 2: Lower secondary education

Curriculum Area

Geographical Setting

Nigeria

Abstract

Context: At the Federal Government Girls' College Bwari, Abuja, Nigeria, students aged 13-15 struggle with speaking English fluently due to their reliance on native languages and Pidgin English at home.

Aims: To improve students' English speaking skills by addressing pronunciation, vocabulary, and use of tenses, overcoming their indifference towards making errors in spoken English.

Methods: Focus group discussions, peer observations, and reflective journals were used to gather insights on students' speaking challenges and perceptions of teaching strategies.

Findings: Students demonstrated a lack of concern for correct English usage, attributing it to a cultural belief that fluency in English does not correlate with success. Interventions such as debates, impromptu speaking, and retelling stories improved engagement, vocabulary, and pronunciation.

Implications: Incorporating engaging and interactive activities like debates and storytelling can enhance students' speaking skills, motivation, and confidence.

Description

Keywords (free text)

english as a foreign language , code-mixing , exploratory action research

Permanent link to cite this item

Link to Original Source

License