CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study:
English language, not being indigenous to Nigeria, coexists with numerous local languages, often referred to as mother tongues. In the context of Nigeria, where various ethnic groups have distinct native languages, the role of English becomes crucial as a lingua franca for communication and education. Language, as a human invention, is fundamental to trade, government, family life, regional interactions, and the arts.
While English serves as a unifying language, it is not without challenges, especially for students whose mother tongue is different. The mother tongue, or native language, is an integral part of one's cultural and linguistic identity. It plays a significant role in clarifying difficult concepts or unfamiliar vocabulary, aiding in comprehension when the meaning cannot be inferred from the context.
The use of translation into the mother tongue is seen as a helpful tool, allowing students to better grasp concepts that might otherwise be challenging. This approach provides a bridge between the foreign language (English) and the students' native language, making the learning process less intimidating. Research suggests that linking new concepts in a foreign language to the mother tongue can enhance understanding, especially in professional and technical fields.
Some argue that students comprehend a foreign language (L2) more effectively when it is connected to their mother tongue (L1). Mother tongue-based, multilingual education (MTB-MLE) is considered a successful model, particularly for marginalized children. This model aims to engage students through their native language, promoting better understanding and learning outcomes.
Statement of the Problem:
This research addresses the influence of the mother tongue on the academic performance of technical students in Akwa Ibom State. The problem at hand is the potential language barrier faced by students when dealing with technical subjects in English, which may not be their mother tongue. The study aims to explore how incorporating the mother tongue can positively impact the academic performance of technical students in the state. The goal is to provide insights into the use of the mother tongue as a supportive tool in education, particularly in technical fields, where the understanding of foreign terminologies is crucial for effective learning.
Top of Form
Bottom of Form
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The main concern here is to investigate the relationship between mother tongue and academic performance of technical education students in Akwa Ibom State.
1.4 Significance of the Study
The importance of the mother tongue in the education of a child cannot be over emphasized. The finding of this study will be of benefit to students, teacher’s school administrators, educational evaluator’s government and the society at large.
The finding of this study will enables student’s learning effectiveness to improve through the clarifications of technical concepts and also enables them to enroll and succeed in school.
The finding of this study will improve flexibility, innovation and creativity on teacher’s preparation and also the teachers’ teaching effectiveness.
The findings of this study will enable educational evaluators and curriculum planners to measure and evaluate instructional curriculum and school system effectively
The findings of this study will provide reliable data to guidance counselors for vocational guidance of the students.
The government and the society will benefit from the findings of this study as they will easily identify their potentials and develop them. This could subsequently lead to improved services, reverse the deteriorating trend in the society and salvage our educational system from total collages.
1.5 Research Question
The research question would focus on the following is there any relationship between mother tongue translation module and academic performance of technical education students in Akwa Ibom State? Is there any relationship between mother tongue terminologies and academic performance of technical education students in Akwa Ibom State? Is there any relationship between students/teachers mother tongue interaction and academic performance of technical education students in Akwa Ibom State? Is there any relationship between mother tongue based bilingual programme and academic performance of technical education students in Akwa Ibom State.
1.6 Research Hypotheses
The following null hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance to direct the study.
Ho1 Thereis no significant relationship between mother tongue translation module and academic performance of technical Education students in Akwa Ibom State
Ho2 There is no significant relationship between mother tongue terminologies and academic performance of technical education students in Akwa Ibom State.
Ho4 There is no significant relationship between mother tongue based bilingual programme and academic performance of technical education students in Akwa Ibom State.
1.7 Scope of the Study
The research on this work has a limited scope it will be to some technical colleges in Akwa Ibom State has six (6) dialects. This research work solely based on mother tongue Ibibio on the relationship influence of the academic performance on technical Education system in Akwa Ibom State.
1.8 Limitations of the Study
- The study was limited to Ibibio speaking students in technical college.
- The study was limited to studying only one dependent variable.
- The study was confined to only the students pursuing technical courses (Electrical).
- If you cannot understand, how can you learn, learning slow is if teaching is conducted in a language other than the one used at home by the children.
- If you talk to a man in the language he understands, it goes to his head but if you talk to him in his mother tongue that goes to his heart (Nelson Mandela).
- The language we speaks shapes the way we think ppl who speaks different languages will pay attention to different thing s depending on what their language usually requires them to do
A gives the opportunity to ask
“why do I think the way that I do?”
“How could I think, differently?”
And also “what thoughts I wish to create?”
- We are urable to think about things we don’t have words for
- The language we speak play a role in shaping how we see the world
- If we cannot understand, how can we learn
