Teaching Internship Programme’s Impact on English Language Teaching Skills: Evidence from Student-Teachers in Ghana’s Universities and Colleges of Education (Published)
Diverse opinions on the value of student internships in Ghana are expressed in the literature. This study examined the effects of the teaching internship program on the English language teaching abilities of student teachers. The Experiential Learning Theory (ELT) was used in the study. The research is a descriptive survey that was conducted in Ghanaian universities and Colleges of Education (CoEs). We used a basic random sampling procedure to select a sample of 286 respondents. A closed-ended questionnaire with an excellent internal consistency and a reliability coefficient of 0.75 was used to obtain the data. Frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation were used to analyze the data. The results of the study showed improvements in all areas assessed, including the capacity to explain English language concepts, employ a variety of communication techniques, involve students in class discussions, give constructive criticism, answer questions from students with assurance, and convey lesson objectives. The findings also revealed positive effects across all measured domains including improvements in the ability to maintain classroom discipline, manage time during lessons, deal with disruptive behaviors, create an engaging and inclusive learning environment, organise classroom activities and assignments, and use positive reinforcement to manage student behavior. The study concludes that the teaching internship meme is highly effective in developing communication and managerial skills of interns essential for successful English language instruction in Ghanaian classrooms. It was recommended that the institutions should enhance the teaching internship program by integrating advanced communication techniques, comprehensive classroom management training, and increasing mentorship and resources for lesson planning. Introduce regular evaluations and reflective practices to improve student-teachers’ skills. Additionally, management should promote collaboration between the University of Education, Winneba, and affiliated CoEs to standardize effective teaching practices.
Keywords: Effects, English Language, communication, internship programme; student-teachers, teaching skills
An Investigation into Undergraduates’ Errors in the Use of the Indefinite Article at Omar Al-Mukhtar University (Published)
The purpose of this study was to examine the use of English articles as well the errors made by the students at Omar Al-Mukhtar University. The research objectives consists of : To identify the types and sources of errors made by Libyan EFL Undergraduates at Omar Al-Mukhtar University in the use of the indefinite article during their written composition, To determine the major types of errors in which larger numbers of errors have been committed by the students in their written composition. Based on previous studies, A qualitative method of data collection represented by an essay-writing composition is implemented in this study. Moreover, they were asked to write essay writing composition of the following topics “Discuss The Problems You Face In Learning English Language?” The results provide of this study, reporting the information collected from Compositions and analyzed by using descriptive statistical percentages in terms of errors numbers and percentages of errors occurrences under their major types, which enabled the researchers to put these in an order of their occurrences. In other words, data were organized using categories given to each of these errors. Regarding the length of compositions, a total of (2194) English words were written by the students across their university levels. Freshmen wrote a total of (1193) words which represents (54.37%) whereas sophomores wrote (1001) words which represents (40.62%). These research also suggest that there is a significant and negative impact of the use of English Articles. Since majority of students agreed that the English Articles are important, and we should look at the importance of English language as well as how students improve their proficiency in English articles towards mastering the use of English language.
Keywords: Articles, English Language, Grammar, Language Acquisition, Morpheme, communication, writing
Meaning and Context-Three Different Perspectives. (Published)
This paper involves exploring the link between meaning and context in the linguistic context from three different perspectives: communication, teaching and translation. Communicators, teachers and translators find it obviously crucial to observe the link which will serve as a significant indicator of enhancing their performance. For communicators, meaning and context go side by side to result in successful relationship with whom they address. For teachers, teaching vocabulary, reading and grammar requires intense concentration on meaning and context. For translators and interpreters, meaning and context are a key element in translation. This paper concludes that context considers a major factor at addressing meaning and meaning occupies an integral role at establishing context.
Keywords: Context, Meaning, Teaching, communication, translation
THE ROLE OF GENDER IN INFLUENCING PUBLIC SPEAKING ANXIETY (Published)
This study investigates the role of gender in influencing public speaking anxiety. Questionnaire survey was administered to the samples of the study. Technique of correlation and descriptive analysis will be further applied to the data collected to determine the relationship between gender and public speaking anxiety. This study could serve as a guide to identify the effects of gender differences on public speaking anxiety and provide necessary advice on how to design a way of coping with or overcoming public speaking anxiety.
Keywords: Across Culture., English Language Competence, Gender, Speaking Anxiety, communication