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DETERMINANTS OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF LANGUAGES OF THE IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT AND THE ACQUISITION OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS FOR LEARNING AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS

ABSTRACT

The study was carried out to investigate the relationships between languages of the immediate environment and the acquisition of productive English Language Skills for learning among primary school Pupils in Rivers East Senatorial District of Rivers State. Five research objectives were raised which were translated into research questions and hypotheses. The Correlational Research Design was utilized. A total of 5,947 teachers in 359 public primary schools in the study area constituted the population of the study out of which 576 teachers were sampled. The instruments used for data collection was a researcher designed questionnaire and inventory. The questionnaire was titled: “Questionnaire on Language of the Immediate Environment and Acquisition of Productive Language Skills among Primary School Pupils (QLIEAPLSPSP)".This was used to elicit information on the prevalent languages of the immediate environment while the inventory focused on the English language productive skills. The test-retest method was used to ascertain the reliability of the instruments and an index of 0.76 and 0.68 were obtained. The research questions and the null hypotheses were tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) at 0.05 alpha level of significance. The results of the study indicated a significant relationship between mother tongue and the acquisition of productive English language skills among the pupils. There was also a positive relationship between prevalent indigenous language and the acquisition of productive English language skills among pupils. It was therefore, recommended that teachers incorporate mother tongue into teaching primary school pupils for ease of assimilation as enshrined in the National Policy on Education. Pupils should be allowed to express themselves freely in their indigenous language by allowing them use the language when they could not get the appropriate English words while in school and at home without fear of punishment from parents and teachers. The use of slangs in public primary schools should be discouraged by the teachers and parents as this affects the proficiency of the pupils in English language.

KEYWORDS: English Language Skills, Acquisition, Immediate environment and Primary school Pupils.

GODFREY-KALIO, I. A AND OWUSHI, J.N.

GASPRO INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EMINENT SCHOLARS, VOL. 12 NO. 3