The Difficulties of Learning English As Perceived By a Group of International Students: A Case Study (Published)
This study investigated the challenges of learning English encountered by a group of international students while learning in an intensive English program at a large Midwestern American university. One tenet underpinning this study is that social learning plays a crucial role in L2 learning because it enables learners to be actively engaged in the language learning process. Twenty students (9 graduate and 11 undergraduate), were chosen randomly from the intensive English program to take part in this study. Their ages ranged between 19-26 years, and they came from different countries, including Saudi Arabia, China, Pakistan, India, Jordan, Ghana, Nigeria and Algeria. The study used information gathered by means of the qualitative research method of interviewing. The findings of the study showed that social interaction is one of the major difficulties confronting international students learning English. Difficulties in terms of oral production, comprehension, pronunciation and using the correct lexicon.
Keywords: Education, English, International student, Language, Learning
Problems of Learning Foreign Languages in Colleges of Education and Universities in Nigeria: A Comparative Study of English and French Languages (Published)
In this study, an attempt has been made to vividly unveil some areas that serve as barriers to easy and effective learning of French and English languages Colleges of education and Universities in Nigeria. It is evident that the teaching and learning of foreign languages in Nigeria, a country of diverse ethnic groups, are hard hit by series of problems. It is hoped that through various researches that highlight different aspects of the learners difficulties, their trauma will be greatly reduced. In view of this, we have made a comparative analysis of the problems and proffered possible solutions to help the teacher as well as the learners. Be it English as a second language or French as a second official language in Nigeria, both are foreign and must be considered as much. Pedagogical approaches are proposed in the paper to enhance the teaching of these languages in Nigeria.
Keywords: Colleges Of Education, English, French Languages, Learning Foreign Languages, Nigeria, Universities
THE INFLUENCE OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN A MULTILINGUAL AND A MONOLINGUAL ENVIRONMET – A COMPARATIVE APPROACH” (Published)
The study focuses on the influence of English language in Macedonia, which is a multilingual, multicultural, and multiethnic country, situated in Southeast Europe. More precisely, the study investigates and compares the role of English inside and outside the classroom in two different environments. Firstly, in Tetovo as a multilingual place where quite a lot of people very easily shift from the local languages in use (Albanian, Macedonian and Turkish) and English when necessary, and secondly, in Prilep, as a mainly monolingual place, where from the local languages, mostly Macedonian is used. The study uses both quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative data collection includes learners’ questionnaires. The qualitative data phase includes descriptive research by using interviews. Finally, the study identifies several important issues regarding the positive and negative influence of English and compares the participants’ attitudes towards the role and the influence of English in a multilingual vs. monolingual environment. The findings of the study are expected to be of use to policy makers in the country and wider, the local government, educational institutions, current and future English teachers and students.
Keywords: Classroom, English, Environment, Influence, monolingual, multilingual