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EDU 687 Unit 8 Portfolio
Citation preview
Running head FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 1
Factors Affecting Studentsrsquo Second Language Acquisition (SLA)
at Greenoak International School Port Harcourt Nigeria
Elisabeth Clapp
Post University
2016
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 2
Abstract
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 3
Problem Statement
Teaching English in Nigeria is a challenging experience even though the official language
in Nigeria is English Most people speak one of over five-hundred indigenous languages in
addition to English English is the only language used in the primary through secondary schools
for reading writing and speaking identifying the language learners as bilinguals Most of the
problems affecting students learning English arise from the inadequate training of teachers and
the teachers not being native English speakers UNESCO (2015) states ldquoonly two-thirds of
current teachers in Nigeria have the minimum qualificationsrdquo (p 41) As a result students find
it difficult to learn English as a subject and to use it as a medium of academic instruction Ariyo
(2010) describes Nigerian studentrsquos written and spoken English as ldquogenerally poorrdquo with
grammatical mistakes apparent in their work (p 433) UNESCO (2015) reports after four years
of schooling less than one in ten children emerge literate and after six years less than thirty
percent of the students will be able to read a sentence (p 24) These findings are expected to
continue and the rate of illiteracy is expected to increase if the crisis occurring with SLA is
allowed to continue
Problems occurring with SLA are apparent in both the public and private schools in
Nigeria A private (K-12) school in Port Harcourt currently is experiencing a shortage of skilled
English as a second language (ESL) teachers As a result the students mimicking or parroting of
English is undetected and misdiagnosed Students can speak write and define subject matter
terms so the teacher mistakenly assumes the student is performing poorly in the subject area
rather than experiencing a problem with SLA According to Tamunobelema (2015) ESL teachers
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 4
need an in-depth knowledge of theoretical and applied linguistics to be able to assess student
performance and enhance learning (p 69)
The majority of the research available is from the perspective of non-native English
speaking educators The study will research the problem from a native English speakerrsquos
perspective providing insight according to training in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of
Other Languages) and will address the following question
1 How can teachers properly detect diagnose and remedy a problem with second language
acquisition (SLA) when the student is exhibiting mimicking and parroting strategies
rather than displaying cognitive processing
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 5
References
Ariyo K S (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoiorg103923pjssci
2010433436
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights The role in the teachinglearning of English in
Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender Studies 4(1)
httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
UNESCO (2015) EFA global monitoring report 2015 education for all 2000-2015
Achievements and challenges [Report] Retrieved from httpunesdocunescoorg
images0023002325232565epdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 6
Literature Review Outline
Review of the Literature on The Effect Non-native English-Speaking Teachers (NNESTS) Have on Second Language Acquisition (SLA) in Nigeria
a The teachers of a private international K-12 school in Port Harcourt are non-native English-speaking teachers (NNESTs)
b Ineffective teacher-centered methods such as teacher-talk (lecturing) and the use of rote memorization
c Rote memorization by the students has manifested into what Haynes (2007) refers to as ldquoparrotingrdquo (p 29-30) Parroting has masked language acquisition as the possible problem and mistakenly shifted the blame to the content area
d What effects do NNESTs have on student SLA in Nigeria
Defining Non-native English-Speaking Teachers (NESTs)
a Some English as a second language (ESL) students naively subscribe to the native-speaker fallacy that the ideal English teacher is a native English speaker
b Braine (2011) explains that this belief derived from the frustration resulting from incompetent non-proficient English teachers
c Over 80 of the English teachers in the world are non-native English speakers (Braine 2011 Moussu amp Llurda 2008)
d The literature estimates that NNESTs outnumber their counterparts by three to one according to Braine (2011)
Education
a Only two-thirds of the teachers in Nigeria are qualified to teach and even fewer are qualified to teach English (Ajibola 2010 Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
b Ajibola (2010) states many teachers have been learning ldquoon-the-jobrdquo (p 101) and do not receive any professional development
c Okpe and Onjewu (2015) observed that some teachers accepted English teaching positions as a last resort believing a misconception that anyone can teach English Some teachers assume arriving at the classroom is all that is required to teach English (Ajibola 2010)
d English teachers must acquire in-depth knowledge of linguistics to be able to assess student performance and enhance learning (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015 Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 Tamunobelema 2015)
e Linguistic competence does not automatically conclude that someone is a good teacher (Florence Ma 2012)
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 7
Pedagogy
a Teacher-talk (lecture method) recitation and initiation-response-feedback (IRF) models dominate the classroom instruction (Adeyemi 2011 Agbatogun 2014)
b The continued use of the General Purpose English approach to language teaching appears to have failed (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 200)
c The literature suggests that collaborative learning is emerging in Nigeria to replace the lack of interaction among the students and between the teacher and the students (Agbatogun 2012)
d Research indicates technology will transform classrooms from being teacher-centered to being student-centered (Agbatogun 2012)
e Consider a transition point to next Theme An interactive learning environment through the use of clickers is thought to improve student proficiency in English (Agbatogun 2014)
f If teachers do not change pedagogical strategies it is unrealistic to assume that technology will have any impact
Parroting
a Research addressing the topic of parroting was sparse b Lantolf and Thorne (2006) examine the cognitive process of SLA through Vygotskyrsquos
theories versus those of BF Skinnerrsquos behaviorist theories which does resemble parroting
c Second language acquisition is a cognitive activity d Further research is necessary to provide insight into why the Port Harcourt students
solicit this strategy and support evidence as to how best to correct it
Possible Effects on Student SLA
a Ariyo (2010) describes Nigerian studentrsquos written and spoken English as ldquogenerally poorrdquo with grammatical mistakes apparent in their work (p 433)
b The literature identifies English language teachers as the main factor responsible for student performance with the potential to mislead the learner (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015 Tamunobelema 2015)
c Two and three teachers are required to proof studentrsquos work submitted and not all errors are corrected
Resources strategies and curriculum
a The majority of stories contained in English Language textbooks are of foreign cultures (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 8
b Teaching strategies are ldquoun-innovative and fossilizedrdquo (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 202) and not appropriate choices for studentrsquos differing needs (Tamunobelema 2015 Usman amp Mustafa 2014)
c The curriculum structure is according to the culture education and history of the British who colonized the area (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
d Little attention is devoted to English as a subject (Olanipekun et al 2014) e The literature suggests that NNESTs must be supported and motivated to employ
innovative teaching strategies and implement technology into the classrooms
Mother tongue
a The literature states a desire for indigenous languages to appear in education (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013)
b With over five hundred indigenous languages interference of the mother tongue combined with unqualified teachers and limited relevant teaching materials would further contribute to the challenges already facing NNESTs (Akabogu amp Mbah 2013 Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Usman amp Mustafa 2014)
c The literature suggests that the mother tongue has no effect on academic performance There is no correlation between the English language and the mother tongue for interference to occur (Olanipekun Atteh Zaku amp Sarki 2014)
d As a result of the number of indigenous languages it is probable that the NNEST does not speak the studentrsquos L1 (native language)
Conclusion
a According to Chomsky (1965) linguistic theory traditionally considered native English speakers as the preferred teachers of English However according to the literature the ideal teacher of English is not necessarily a native speaker There is a lack of substantial evidence to support whether NESTs are better teachers than NNEST (Florence Ma 2012) Researchers have concluded that without adequate teachers and resources language learners cannot effectively learn a second language
b The literature provided an overwhelming amount of information supportive of Nigerian students being exposed to multiple language learning strategies and that no single strategy can meet all of the studentrsquos needs According to the literature teachers in Nigeria need to employ modern teaching methods and be exposed to professional development in addition to supplementing their academic qualifications
c A weakness found in the literature is that the authors unanimously appear to be non-native English-speakers from non-western countries and cultures Some of the literature displayed certain biases toward the English language and native English language speakers as well
d With the majority of Nigerian educational systems using similar teaching methods and materials in the classroom very little literature was found regarding parroting and cognitive processes as a result of the strategies Nigerian teachers employ
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 9
e As a result the next step will be to research further SLA and cognition to discover pedagogy that correlates to address the issue of parroting observed in the Port Harcourt schools A survey will be conducted to identify better the NNESTs in the schools and the results will be analyzed to determine the teacherrsquos strengths weaknesses and areas professional development can address Regardless of the differing authorrsquos opinions a common theme in the literature examined is that the teacher is ultimately responsible for their studentrsquos performance
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 10
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach An intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning Clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria Cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 11
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers Research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers Student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners How educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
History and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 12
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria A choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights The role in the teachinglearning of
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 13
Review of the Literature on Factors Affecting Studentsrsquo Second Language Acquisition
(SLA) at Greenoak International School Port Harcourt Nigeria
Introduction
English is the language of instruction since the British colonization of Nigeria The
teaching of English continues to pose unique challenges to teachers as discovered through the
TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) lens of an American educator in
Nigeria The non-native English speaking teachers (NNESTs) of a private international K-12
school in Port Harcourt are not all certified to teach The requirements for a teacher in Nigeria
are not as stringent as those for an American teacher All that is required is for teachers to have
earned a Bachelors degree in their field None of the teachers on staff are trained to teach
English as a second language Teachers display inconsistencies in their knowledge of English as
their second language (L2) Due to the number of indigenous languages in Nigeria it cannot be
assumed the teacher speaks the studentsrsquo mother tongue (L1) Since teaching credentials are a
secondary qualification essential exposure to teaching methods is omitted in their training As a
result ineffective teacher-centered pedagogy such as the inherited British-style of lecturing
ldquochalk-talkrdquo and the use of rote memorization dominates classroom instruction (Woolman
2001) Rote memorization has manifested into what Haynes (2007) refers to as ldquoparrotingrdquo (p
29-30) Parroting poses a perplexing dilemma for the American educator and causes NNESTs to
doubt their studentsrsquo abilities to perform academically Parroting has masked language
acquisition as the possible problem and mistakenly shifted the blame to the content area
Exploring the teachers and the implementation of the Cambridge Curriculum are the basis
for this study and attempts to answer the question What factors are affecting student SLA in
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 14
Nigeria It is necessary to examine the literature to determine the education NNESTs receive
the pedagogy and materials they use and the curriculum they have been following to answer the
question
Teachers
Non-Native English-Speaking Teachers (NNESTs)
English as a second language (ESL) students have naively subscribed to the native-
speaker fallacy that the ideal English teacher is a native English speaker Braine (2011) explains
that this belief derived from the frustration resulting from incompetent non-proficient English
teachers Over 80 of the English teachers in the world are non-native English speakers (Braine
2011 Moussu amp Llurda 2008) The literature estimates that NNESTs outnumber their
counterparts by three to one according to Braine (2011)
Education
Only two-thirds of the teachers in Nigeria are qualified to teach and even fewer are
qualified to teach English (Ajibola 2010 Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) Ajibola
(2010) states many teachers have been learning ldquoon-the-jobrdquo (p 101) and do not receive any
professional development Okpe and Onjewu (2015) observed that some teachers accepted
teaching positions as a last resort believing a misconception that anyone can teach As a result of
the British requirements for teaching some teachers assume arriving at the classroom is all that
is required (Ajibola 2010)
SLA Training
English teachers must acquire in-depth knowledge of linguistics to be able to assess
student performance and enhance learning (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015 Owolabi amp Bankole 2013
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 15
Tamunobelema 2015) However linguistic competence does not automatically conclude that
someone is a good teacher (Florence Ma 2012) Ariyo (2010) describes Nigerian studentrsquos
written and spoken English as ldquogenerally poorrdquo with grammatical mistakes apparent in their
work (p 433) The literature identifies English language teachers as the main factor responsible
for student performance with the potential to mislead the learner (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015
Tamunobelema 2015) In Port Harcourt teachers are not trained in SLA and it is necessary for
two or three of them to proof the studentrsquos work and still and errors still go detected
Mother Tongue
The literature states a desire for indigenous languages to appear in education (Owolabi amp
Bankole 2013 Woolman 2001) With over five hundred indigenous languages interference of
the mother tongue combined with unqualified teachers and limited relevant teaching materials
would further contribute to the challenges already facing NNESTs (Akabogu amp Mbah 2013
Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Usman amp Mustafa 2014) There is no correlation between the
English language and the mother tongue for interference to occur (Olanipekun Atteh Zaku amp
Sarki 2014) Also with the number of indigenous languages it is highly probable that the
NNEST does not speak the studentrsquos L1 The literature reviewed suggests that the mother tongue
has no effect on academic performance
Cambridge Curriculum
British-Style Exam-Driven
The curriculum structure is according to the culture education and history of the British
who colonized the area (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) The majority of stories
contained in English Language textbooks are of foreign cultures (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 16
Woolman (2001) states the use of external sources of textbooks curriculums and teachers that
cannot translate into culturally relevant forms of education should be abandoned (p 43)
Abandoning external forms of education contradicts what the Port Harcourt school is attempting
to accomplish Teaching strategies are ldquoun-innovative and fossilizedrdquo (Owolabi amp Bankole
2013 p 202) and not appropriate choices for studentrsquos differing needs (Tamunobelema 2015
Usman amp Mustafa 2014 Woolman 2001 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006) Differentiated
instruction is neither expected or common The teachers in Port Harcourt however do not face
the same challenges elsewhere in Nigeria
Teacher-Centered Pedagogy
Chalk-talk recitation and initiation-response-feedback (IRF) models dominate the
classroom instruction (Adeyemi 2011 Agbatogun 2014 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
The continued use of the General Purpose English approach to language teaching appears to
have failed (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 200) The literature suggests that collaborative
learning is emerging in Nigeria to replace the lack of interaction among the students and
between the teacher and the students (Agbatogun 2012)
Technology
Research indicates technology will transform classrooms from being teacher-centered to
being student-centered (Agbatogun 2012) Port Harcourt is in the processing of installing smart
boards in every classroom beginning with the first grade An interactive learning environment
through the use of clickers is thought to improve student proficiency in English (Agbatogun
2014) If teachers do not change pedagogical strategies it is unrealistic to assume that
technology will have any impact The literature suggests that NNESTs must be supported and
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 17
motivated to employ innovative teaching strategies and implement technology into the
classrooms (Kalejaiye Fabunmi amp Adeoye 2011 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
Parroting
Research addressing the topic of parroting is sparse Lantolf and Thorne (2006) examine
the cognitive process of SLA through Vygotskyrsquos theories versus those of BF Skinnerrsquos
behaviorist theories which does resemble parroting Second language acquisition is a cognitive
activity It is the hope that the literature will provide insight into why the Port Harcourt students
solicit this strategy and support evidence as to how best to correct it
Conclusion
According to Chomsky (1965) linguistic theory traditionally considered native English
speakers as the preferred teachers of English However according to the literature the ideal
teacher of English is not necessarily a native speaker There is a lack of substantial evidence to
support whether NESTs are better teachers than NNESTs (Florence Ma 2012) Researchers
have concluded that without adequate teachers and resources language learners cannot
effectively learn a second language
The literature provided an overwhelming amount of information supportive of Nigerian
students being exposed to multiple language learning strategies and that no single strategy can
meet all of the studentrsquos needs According to the literature teachers in Nigeria need to employ
modern teaching methods and be exposed to professional development in addition to
supplementing their academic qualifications A weakness found in the literature is that the
authors unanimously appear to be non-native English-speakers from non-western countries and
cultures Some of the literature displayed certain biases toward the English language and native
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 18
English language speakers as well With the majority of Nigerian educational systems using
similar teaching methods and materials in the classroom very little literature was found
regarding parroting and cognitive processes as a result of the strategies Nigerian teachers
employ
As a result the next step will be to research further SLA and cognition to discover
pedagogy that correlates to address the issue of parroting observed in the Port Harcourt schools
A survey will be conducted to identify better NNESTs in the schools and the results will be
analyzed to determine the teacherrsquos strengths weaknesses and areas professional development
can address Regardless of the differing authorrsquos opinions a common theme in the literature
examined is that the teacher is ultimately responsible for their studentrsquos performance
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 19
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach an intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Aduwa-Ogiegbaen S amp Iyamu E (2006) Factors affecting quality of English language
teaching and learning in secondary schools in Nigeria College School Journal Publisher
40(3) 1-9 Retrieved from httpwwwfreepatentsonlinecomarticleCollege-Student-
Journal150965814html
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 20
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners how educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Kalejaiye O Fabunmi A amp Adeoye A (2011) Role of school media centres in technology
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 21
integration in Nigerian schools an exploration Annals of Library and Information
Studies 58 211-218 Retrieved from httpnoprniscairresinbitstream
123456789128414ALIS20582832920211-218pdf
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
history and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria a choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights the role in the teachinglearning of
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 22
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
Woolman D (2001) Educational reconstruction and post-colonial curriculum development a
comparative study of four African countries International Education Journal 2(5)
27-46 Retrieved from httpciteseerxistpsueduviewdocdownload
doi=10114915399amprep=rep1amptype=pdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 2
Abstract
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 3
Problem Statement
Teaching English in Nigeria is a challenging experience even though the official language
in Nigeria is English Most people speak one of over five-hundred indigenous languages in
addition to English English is the only language used in the primary through secondary schools
for reading writing and speaking identifying the language learners as bilinguals Most of the
problems affecting students learning English arise from the inadequate training of teachers and
the teachers not being native English speakers UNESCO (2015) states ldquoonly two-thirds of
current teachers in Nigeria have the minimum qualificationsrdquo (p 41) As a result students find
it difficult to learn English as a subject and to use it as a medium of academic instruction Ariyo
(2010) describes Nigerian studentrsquos written and spoken English as ldquogenerally poorrdquo with
grammatical mistakes apparent in their work (p 433) UNESCO (2015) reports after four years
of schooling less than one in ten children emerge literate and after six years less than thirty
percent of the students will be able to read a sentence (p 24) These findings are expected to
continue and the rate of illiteracy is expected to increase if the crisis occurring with SLA is
allowed to continue
Problems occurring with SLA are apparent in both the public and private schools in
Nigeria A private (K-12) school in Port Harcourt currently is experiencing a shortage of skilled
English as a second language (ESL) teachers As a result the students mimicking or parroting of
English is undetected and misdiagnosed Students can speak write and define subject matter
terms so the teacher mistakenly assumes the student is performing poorly in the subject area
rather than experiencing a problem with SLA According to Tamunobelema (2015) ESL teachers
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 4
need an in-depth knowledge of theoretical and applied linguistics to be able to assess student
performance and enhance learning (p 69)
The majority of the research available is from the perspective of non-native English
speaking educators The study will research the problem from a native English speakerrsquos
perspective providing insight according to training in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of
Other Languages) and will address the following question
1 How can teachers properly detect diagnose and remedy a problem with second language
acquisition (SLA) when the student is exhibiting mimicking and parroting strategies
rather than displaying cognitive processing
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 5
References
Ariyo K S (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoiorg103923pjssci
2010433436
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights The role in the teachinglearning of English in
Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender Studies 4(1)
httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
UNESCO (2015) EFA global monitoring report 2015 education for all 2000-2015
Achievements and challenges [Report] Retrieved from httpunesdocunescoorg
images0023002325232565epdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 6
Literature Review Outline
Review of the Literature on The Effect Non-native English-Speaking Teachers (NNESTS) Have on Second Language Acquisition (SLA) in Nigeria
a The teachers of a private international K-12 school in Port Harcourt are non-native English-speaking teachers (NNESTs)
b Ineffective teacher-centered methods such as teacher-talk (lecturing) and the use of rote memorization
c Rote memorization by the students has manifested into what Haynes (2007) refers to as ldquoparrotingrdquo (p 29-30) Parroting has masked language acquisition as the possible problem and mistakenly shifted the blame to the content area
d What effects do NNESTs have on student SLA in Nigeria
Defining Non-native English-Speaking Teachers (NESTs)
a Some English as a second language (ESL) students naively subscribe to the native-speaker fallacy that the ideal English teacher is a native English speaker
b Braine (2011) explains that this belief derived from the frustration resulting from incompetent non-proficient English teachers
c Over 80 of the English teachers in the world are non-native English speakers (Braine 2011 Moussu amp Llurda 2008)
d The literature estimates that NNESTs outnumber their counterparts by three to one according to Braine (2011)
Education
a Only two-thirds of the teachers in Nigeria are qualified to teach and even fewer are qualified to teach English (Ajibola 2010 Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
b Ajibola (2010) states many teachers have been learning ldquoon-the-jobrdquo (p 101) and do not receive any professional development
c Okpe and Onjewu (2015) observed that some teachers accepted English teaching positions as a last resort believing a misconception that anyone can teach English Some teachers assume arriving at the classroom is all that is required to teach English (Ajibola 2010)
d English teachers must acquire in-depth knowledge of linguistics to be able to assess student performance and enhance learning (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015 Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 Tamunobelema 2015)
e Linguistic competence does not automatically conclude that someone is a good teacher (Florence Ma 2012)
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 7
Pedagogy
a Teacher-talk (lecture method) recitation and initiation-response-feedback (IRF) models dominate the classroom instruction (Adeyemi 2011 Agbatogun 2014)
b The continued use of the General Purpose English approach to language teaching appears to have failed (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 200)
c The literature suggests that collaborative learning is emerging in Nigeria to replace the lack of interaction among the students and between the teacher and the students (Agbatogun 2012)
d Research indicates technology will transform classrooms from being teacher-centered to being student-centered (Agbatogun 2012)
e Consider a transition point to next Theme An interactive learning environment through the use of clickers is thought to improve student proficiency in English (Agbatogun 2014)
f If teachers do not change pedagogical strategies it is unrealistic to assume that technology will have any impact
Parroting
a Research addressing the topic of parroting was sparse b Lantolf and Thorne (2006) examine the cognitive process of SLA through Vygotskyrsquos
theories versus those of BF Skinnerrsquos behaviorist theories which does resemble parroting
c Second language acquisition is a cognitive activity d Further research is necessary to provide insight into why the Port Harcourt students
solicit this strategy and support evidence as to how best to correct it
Possible Effects on Student SLA
a Ariyo (2010) describes Nigerian studentrsquos written and spoken English as ldquogenerally poorrdquo with grammatical mistakes apparent in their work (p 433)
b The literature identifies English language teachers as the main factor responsible for student performance with the potential to mislead the learner (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015 Tamunobelema 2015)
c Two and three teachers are required to proof studentrsquos work submitted and not all errors are corrected
Resources strategies and curriculum
a The majority of stories contained in English Language textbooks are of foreign cultures (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 8
b Teaching strategies are ldquoun-innovative and fossilizedrdquo (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 202) and not appropriate choices for studentrsquos differing needs (Tamunobelema 2015 Usman amp Mustafa 2014)
c The curriculum structure is according to the culture education and history of the British who colonized the area (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
d Little attention is devoted to English as a subject (Olanipekun et al 2014) e The literature suggests that NNESTs must be supported and motivated to employ
innovative teaching strategies and implement technology into the classrooms
Mother tongue
a The literature states a desire for indigenous languages to appear in education (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013)
b With over five hundred indigenous languages interference of the mother tongue combined with unqualified teachers and limited relevant teaching materials would further contribute to the challenges already facing NNESTs (Akabogu amp Mbah 2013 Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Usman amp Mustafa 2014)
c The literature suggests that the mother tongue has no effect on academic performance There is no correlation between the English language and the mother tongue for interference to occur (Olanipekun Atteh Zaku amp Sarki 2014)
d As a result of the number of indigenous languages it is probable that the NNEST does not speak the studentrsquos L1 (native language)
Conclusion
a According to Chomsky (1965) linguistic theory traditionally considered native English speakers as the preferred teachers of English However according to the literature the ideal teacher of English is not necessarily a native speaker There is a lack of substantial evidence to support whether NESTs are better teachers than NNEST (Florence Ma 2012) Researchers have concluded that without adequate teachers and resources language learners cannot effectively learn a second language
b The literature provided an overwhelming amount of information supportive of Nigerian students being exposed to multiple language learning strategies and that no single strategy can meet all of the studentrsquos needs According to the literature teachers in Nigeria need to employ modern teaching methods and be exposed to professional development in addition to supplementing their academic qualifications
c A weakness found in the literature is that the authors unanimously appear to be non-native English-speakers from non-western countries and cultures Some of the literature displayed certain biases toward the English language and native English language speakers as well
d With the majority of Nigerian educational systems using similar teaching methods and materials in the classroom very little literature was found regarding parroting and cognitive processes as a result of the strategies Nigerian teachers employ
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 9
e As a result the next step will be to research further SLA and cognition to discover pedagogy that correlates to address the issue of parroting observed in the Port Harcourt schools A survey will be conducted to identify better the NNESTs in the schools and the results will be analyzed to determine the teacherrsquos strengths weaknesses and areas professional development can address Regardless of the differing authorrsquos opinions a common theme in the literature examined is that the teacher is ultimately responsible for their studentrsquos performance
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 10
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach An intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning Clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria Cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 11
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers Research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers Student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners How educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
History and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 12
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria A choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights The role in the teachinglearning of
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 13
Review of the Literature on Factors Affecting Studentsrsquo Second Language Acquisition
(SLA) at Greenoak International School Port Harcourt Nigeria
Introduction
English is the language of instruction since the British colonization of Nigeria The
teaching of English continues to pose unique challenges to teachers as discovered through the
TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) lens of an American educator in
Nigeria The non-native English speaking teachers (NNESTs) of a private international K-12
school in Port Harcourt are not all certified to teach The requirements for a teacher in Nigeria
are not as stringent as those for an American teacher All that is required is for teachers to have
earned a Bachelors degree in their field None of the teachers on staff are trained to teach
English as a second language Teachers display inconsistencies in their knowledge of English as
their second language (L2) Due to the number of indigenous languages in Nigeria it cannot be
assumed the teacher speaks the studentsrsquo mother tongue (L1) Since teaching credentials are a
secondary qualification essential exposure to teaching methods is omitted in their training As a
result ineffective teacher-centered pedagogy such as the inherited British-style of lecturing
ldquochalk-talkrdquo and the use of rote memorization dominates classroom instruction (Woolman
2001) Rote memorization has manifested into what Haynes (2007) refers to as ldquoparrotingrdquo (p
29-30) Parroting poses a perplexing dilemma for the American educator and causes NNESTs to
doubt their studentsrsquo abilities to perform academically Parroting has masked language
acquisition as the possible problem and mistakenly shifted the blame to the content area
Exploring the teachers and the implementation of the Cambridge Curriculum are the basis
for this study and attempts to answer the question What factors are affecting student SLA in
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 14
Nigeria It is necessary to examine the literature to determine the education NNESTs receive
the pedagogy and materials they use and the curriculum they have been following to answer the
question
Teachers
Non-Native English-Speaking Teachers (NNESTs)
English as a second language (ESL) students have naively subscribed to the native-
speaker fallacy that the ideal English teacher is a native English speaker Braine (2011) explains
that this belief derived from the frustration resulting from incompetent non-proficient English
teachers Over 80 of the English teachers in the world are non-native English speakers (Braine
2011 Moussu amp Llurda 2008) The literature estimates that NNESTs outnumber their
counterparts by three to one according to Braine (2011)
Education
Only two-thirds of the teachers in Nigeria are qualified to teach and even fewer are
qualified to teach English (Ajibola 2010 Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) Ajibola
(2010) states many teachers have been learning ldquoon-the-jobrdquo (p 101) and do not receive any
professional development Okpe and Onjewu (2015) observed that some teachers accepted
teaching positions as a last resort believing a misconception that anyone can teach As a result of
the British requirements for teaching some teachers assume arriving at the classroom is all that
is required (Ajibola 2010)
SLA Training
English teachers must acquire in-depth knowledge of linguistics to be able to assess
student performance and enhance learning (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015 Owolabi amp Bankole 2013
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 15
Tamunobelema 2015) However linguistic competence does not automatically conclude that
someone is a good teacher (Florence Ma 2012) Ariyo (2010) describes Nigerian studentrsquos
written and spoken English as ldquogenerally poorrdquo with grammatical mistakes apparent in their
work (p 433) The literature identifies English language teachers as the main factor responsible
for student performance with the potential to mislead the learner (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015
Tamunobelema 2015) In Port Harcourt teachers are not trained in SLA and it is necessary for
two or three of them to proof the studentrsquos work and still and errors still go detected
Mother Tongue
The literature states a desire for indigenous languages to appear in education (Owolabi amp
Bankole 2013 Woolman 2001) With over five hundred indigenous languages interference of
the mother tongue combined with unqualified teachers and limited relevant teaching materials
would further contribute to the challenges already facing NNESTs (Akabogu amp Mbah 2013
Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Usman amp Mustafa 2014) There is no correlation between the
English language and the mother tongue for interference to occur (Olanipekun Atteh Zaku amp
Sarki 2014) Also with the number of indigenous languages it is highly probable that the
NNEST does not speak the studentrsquos L1 The literature reviewed suggests that the mother tongue
has no effect on academic performance
Cambridge Curriculum
British-Style Exam-Driven
The curriculum structure is according to the culture education and history of the British
who colonized the area (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) The majority of stories
contained in English Language textbooks are of foreign cultures (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 16
Woolman (2001) states the use of external sources of textbooks curriculums and teachers that
cannot translate into culturally relevant forms of education should be abandoned (p 43)
Abandoning external forms of education contradicts what the Port Harcourt school is attempting
to accomplish Teaching strategies are ldquoun-innovative and fossilizedrdquo (Owolabi amp Bankole
2013 p 202) and not appropriate choices for studentrsquos differing needs (Tamunobelema 2015
Usman amp Mustafa 2014 Woolman 2001 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006) Differentiated
instruction is neither expected or common The teachers in Port Harcourt however do not face
the same challenges elsewhere in Nigeria
Teacher-Centered Pedagogy
Chalk-talk recitation and initiation-response-feedback (IRF) models dominate the
classroom instruction (Adeyemi 2011 Agbatogun 2014 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
The continued use of the General Purpose English approach to language teaching appears to
have failed (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 200) The literature suggests that collaborative
learning is emerging in Nigeria to replace the lack of interaction among the students and
between the teacher and the students (Agbatogun 2012)
Technology
Research indicates technology will transform classrooms from being teacher-centered to
being student-centered (Agbatogun 2012) Port Harcourt is in the processing of installing smart
boards in every classroom beginning with the first grade An interactive learning environment
through the use of clickers is thought to improve student proficiency in English (Agbatogun
2014) If teachers do not change pedagogical strategies it is unrealistic to assume that
technology will have any impact The literature suggests that NNESTs must be supported and
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 17
motivated to employ innovative teaching strategies and implement technology into the
classrooms (Kalejaiye Fabunmi amp Adeoye 2011 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
Parroting
Research addressing the topic of parroting is sparse Lantolf and Thorne (2006) examine
the cognitive process of SLA through Vygotskyrsquos theories versus those of BF Skinnerrsquos
behaviorist theories which does resemble parroting Second language acquisition is a cognitive
activity It is the hope that the literature will provide insight into why the Port Harcourt students
solicit this strategy and support evidence as to how best to correct it
Conclusion
According to Chomsky (1965) linguistic theory traditionally considered native English
speakers as the preferred teachers of English However according to the literature the ideal
teacher of English is not necessarily a native speaker There is a lack of substantial evidence to
support whether NESTs are better teachers than NNESTs (Florence Ma 2012) Researchers
have concluded that without adequate teachers and resources language learners cannot
effectively learn a second language
The literature provided an overwhelming amount of information supportive of Nigerian
students being exposed to multiple language learning strategies and that no single strategy can
meet all of the studentrsquos needs According to the literature teachers in Nigeria need to employ
modern teaching methods and be exposed to professional development in addition to
supplementing their academic qualifications A weakness found in the literature is that the
authors unanimously appear to be non-native English-speakers from non-western countries and
cultures Some of the literature displayed certain biases toward the English language and native
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 18
English language speakers as well With the majority of Nigerian educational systems using
similar teaching methods and materials in the classroom very little literature was found
regarding parroting and cognitive processes as a result of the strategies Nigerian teachers
employ
As a result the next step will be to research further SLA and cognition to discover
pedagogy that correlates to address the issue of parroting observed in the Port Harcourt schools
A survey will be conducted to identify better NNESTs in the schools and the results will be
analyzed to determine the teacherrsquos strengths weaknesses and areas professional development
can address Regardless of the differing authorrsquos opinions a common theme in the literature
examined is that the teacher is ultimately responsible for their studentrsquos performance
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 19
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach an intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Aduwa-Ogiegbaen S amp Iyamu E (2006) Factors affecting quality of English language
teaching and learning in secondary schools in Nigeria College School Journal Publisher
40(3) 1-9 Retrieved from httpwwwfreepatentsonlinecomarticleCollege-Student-
Journal150965814html
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 20
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners how educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Kalejaiye O Fabunmi A amp Adeoye A (2011) Role of school media centres in technology
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 21
integration in Nigerian schools an exploration Annals of Library and Information
Studies 58 211-218 Retrieved from httpnoprniscairresinbitstream
123456789128414ALIS20582832920211-218pdf
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
history and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria a choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights the role in the teachinglearning of
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 22
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
Woolman D (2001) Educational reconstruction and post-colonial curriculum development a
comparative study of four African countries International Education Journal 2(5)
27-46 Retrieved from httpciteseerxistpsueduviewdocdownload
doi=10114915399amprep=rep1amptype=pdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 3
Problem Statement
Teaching English in Nigeria is a challenging experience even though the official language
in Nigeria is English Most people speak one of over five-hundred indigenous languages in
addition to English English is the only language used in the primary through secondary schools
for reading writing and speaking identifying the language learners as bilinguals Most of the
problems affecting students learning English arise from the inadequate training of teachers and
the teachers not being native English speakers UNESCO (2015) states ldquoonly two-thirds of
current teachers in Nigeria have the minimum qualificationsrdquo (p 41) As a result students find
it difficult to learn English as a subject and to use it as a medium of academic instruction Ariyo
(2010) describes Nigerian studentrsquos written and spoken English as ldquogenerally poorrdquo with
grammatical mistakes apparent in their work (p 433) UNESCO (2015) reports after four years
of schooling less than one in ten children emerge literate and after six years less than thirty
percent of the students will be able to read a sentence (p 24) These findings are expected to
continue and the rate of illiteracy is expected to increase if the crisis occurring with SLA is
allowed to continue
Problems occurring with SLA are apparent in both the public and private schools in
Nigeria A private (K-12) school in Port Harcourt currently is experiencing a shortage of skilled
English as a second language (ESL) teachers As a result the students mimicking or parroting of
English is undetected and misdiagnosed Students can speak write and define subject matter
terms so the teacher mistakenly assumes the student is performing poorly in the subject area
rather than experiencing a problem with SLA According to Tamunobelema (2015) ESL teachers
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 4
need an in-depth knowledge of theoretical and applied linguistics to be able to assess student
performance and enhance learning (p 69)
The majority of the research available is from the perspective of non-native English
speaking educators The study will research the problem from a native English speakerrsquos
perspective providing insight according to training in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of
Other Languages) and will address the following question
1 How can teachers properly detect diagnose and remedy a problem with second language
acquisition (SLA) when the student is exhibiting mimicking and parroting strategies
rather than displaying cognitive processing
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 5
References
Ariyo K S (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoiorg103923pjssci
2010433436
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights The role in the teachinglearning of English in
Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender Studies 4(1)
httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
UNESCO (2015) EFA global monitoring report 2015 education for all 2000-2015
Achievements and challenges [Report] Retrieved from httpunesdocunescoorg
images0023002325232565epdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 6
Literature Review Outline
Review of the Literature on The Effect Non-native English-Speaking Teachers (NNESTS) Have on Second Language Acquisition (SLA) in Nigeria
a The teachers of a private international K-12 school in Port Harcourt are non-native English-speaking teachers (NNESTs)
b Ineffective teacher-centered methods such as teacher-talk (lecturing) and the use of rote memorization
c Rote memorization by the students has manifested into what Haynes (2007) refers to as ldquoparrotingrdquo (p 29-30) Parroting has masked language acquisition as the possible problem and mistakenly shifted the blame to the content area
d What effects do NNESTs have on student SLA in Nigeria
Defining Non-native English-Speaking Teachers (NESTs)
a Some English as a second language (ESL) students naively subscribe to the native-speaker fallacy that the ideal English teacher is a native English speaker
b Braine (2011) explains that this belief derived from the frustration resulting from incompetent non-proficient English teachers
c Over 80 of the English teachers in the world are non-native English speakers (Braine 2011 Moussu amp Llurda 2008)
d The literature estimates that NNESTs outnumber their counterparts by three to one according to Braine (2011)
Education
a Only two-thirds of the teachers in Nigeria are qualified to teach and even fewer are qualified to teach English (Ajibola 2010 Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
b Ajibola (2010) states many teachers have been learning ldquoon-the-jobrdquo (p 101) and do not receive any professional development
c Okpe and Onjewu (2015) observed that some teachers accepted English teaching positions as a last resort believing a misconception that anyone can teach English Some teachers assume arriving at the classroom is all that is required to teach English (Ajibola 2010)
d English teachers must acquire in-depth knowledge of linguistics to be able to assess student performance and enhance learning (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015 Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 Tamunobelema 2015)
e Linguistic competence does not automatically conclude that someone is a good teacher (Florence Ma 2012)
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 7
Pedagogy
a Teacher-talk (lecture method) recitation and initiation-response-feedback (IRF) models dominate the classroom instruction (Adeyemi 2011 Agbatogun 2014)
b The continued use of the General Purpose English approach to language teaching appears to have failed (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 200)
c The literature suggests that collaborative learning is emerging in Nigeria to replace the lack of interaction among the students and between the teacher and the students (Agbatogun 2012)
d Research indicates technology will transform classrooms from being teacher-centered to being student-centered (Agbatogun 2012)
e Consider a transition point to next Theme An interactive learning environment through the use of clickers is thought to improve student proficiency in English (Agbatogun 2014)
f If teachers do not change pedagogical strategies it is unrealistic to assume that technology will have any impact
Parroting
a Research addressing the topic of parroting was sparse b Lantolf and Thorne (2006) examine the cognitive process of SLA through Vygotskyrsquos
theories versus those of BF Skinnerrsquos behaviorist theories which does resemble parroting
c Second language acquisition is a cognitive activity d Further research is necessary to provide insight into why the Port Harcourt students
solicit this strategy and support evidence as to how best to correct it
Possible Effects on Student SLA
a Ariyo (2010) describes Nigerian studentrsquos written and spoken English as ldquogenerally poorrdquo with grammatical mistakes apparent in their work (p 433)
b The literature identifies English language teachers as the main factor responsible for student performance with the potential to mislead the learner (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015 Tamunobelema 2015)
c Two and three teachers are required to proof studentrsquos work submitted and not all errors are corrected
Resources strategies and curriculum
a The majority of stories contained in English Language textbooks are of foreign cultures (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 8
b Teaching strategies are ldquoun-innovative and fossilizedrdquo (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 202) and not appropriate choices for studentrsquos differing needs (Tamunobelema 2015 Usman amp Mustafa 2014)
c The curriculum structure is according to the culture education and history of the British who colonized the area (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
d Little attention is devoted to English as a subject (Olanipekun et al 2014) e The literature suggests that NNESTs must be supported and motivated to employ
innovative teaching strategies and implement technology into the classrooms
Mother tongue
a The literature states a desire for indigenous languages to appear in education (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013)
b With over five hundred indigenous languages interference of the mother tongue combined with unqualified teachers and limited relevant teaching materials would further contribute to the challenges already facing NNESTs (Akabogu amp Mbah 2013 Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Usman amp Mustafa 2014)
c The literature suggests that the mother tongue has no effect on academic performance There is no correlation between the English language and the mother tongue for interference to occur (Olanipekun Atteh Zaku amp Sarki 2014)
d As a result of the number of indigenous languages it is probable that the NNEST does not speak the studentrsquos L1 (native language)
Conclusion
a According to Chomsky (1965) linguistic theory traditionally considered native English speakers as the preferred teachers of English However according to the literature the ideal teacher of English is not necessarily a native speaker There is a lack of substantial evidence to support whether NESTs are better teachers than NNEST (Florence Ma 2012) Researchers have concluded that without adequate teachers and resources language learners cannot effectively learn a second language
b The literature provided an overwhelming amount of information supportive of Nigerian students being exposed to multiple language learning strategies and that no single strategy can meet all of the studentrsquos needs According to the literature teachers in Nigeria need to employ modern teaching methods and be exposed to professional development in addition to supplementing their academic qualifications
c A weakness found in the literature is that the authors unanimously appear to be non-native English-speakers from non-western countries and cultures Some of the literature displayed certain biases toward the English language and native English language speakers as well
d With the majority of Nigerian educational systems using similar teaching methods and materials in the classroom very little literature was found regarding parroting and cognitive processes as a result of the strategies Nigerian teachers employ
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 9
e As a result the next step will be to research further SLA and cognition to discover pedagogy that correlates to address the issue of parroting observed in the Port Harcourt schools A survey will be conducted to identify better the NNESTs in the schools and the results will be analyzed to determine the teacherrsquos strengths weaknesses and areas professional development can address Regardless of the differing authorrsquos opinions a common theme in the literature examined is that the teacher is ultimately responsible for their studentrsquos performance
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 10
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach An intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning Clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria Cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 11
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers Research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers Student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners How educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
History and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 12
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria A choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights The role in the teachinglearning of
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 13
Review of the Literature on Factors Affecting Studentsrsquo Second Language Acquisition
(SLA) at Greenoak International School Port Harcourt Nigeria
Introduction
English is the language of instruction since the British colonization of Nigeria The
teaching of English continues to pose unique challenges to teachers as discovered through the
TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) lens of an American educator in
Nigeria The non-native English speaking teachers (NNESTs) of a private international K-12
school in Port Harcourt are not all certified to teach The requirements for a teacher in Nigeria
are not as stringent as those for an American teacher All that is required is for teachers to have
earned a Bachelors degree in their field None of the teachers on staff are trained to teach
English as a second language Teachers display inconsistencies in their knowledge of English as
their second language (L2) Due to the number of indigenous languages in Nigeria it cannot be
assumed the teacher speaks the studentsrsquo mother tongue (L1) Since teaching credentials are a
secondary qualification essential exposure to teaching methods is omitted in their training As a
result ineffective teacher-centered pedagogy such as the inherited British-style of lecturing
ldquochalk-talkrdquo and the use of rote memorization dominates classroom instruction (Woolman
2001) Rote memorization has manifested into what Haynes (2007) refers to as ldquoparrotingrdquo (p
29-30) Parroting poses a perplexing dilemma for the American educator and causes NNESTs to
doubt their studentsrsquo abilities to perform academically Parroting has masked language
acquisition as the possible problem and mistakenly shifted the blame to the content area
Exploring the teachers and the implementation of the Cambridge Curriculum are the basis
for this study and attempts to answer the question What factors are affecting student SLA in
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 14
Nigeria It is necessary to examine the literature to determine the education NNESTs receive
the pedagogy and materials they use and the curriculum they have been following to answer the
question
Teachers
Non-Native English-Speaking Teachers (NNESTs)
English as a second language (ESL) students have naively subscribed to the native-
speaker fallacy that the ideal English teacher is a native English speaker Braine (2011) explains
that this belief derived from the frustration resulting from incompetent non-proficient English
teachers Over 80 of the English teachers in the world are non-native English speakers (Braine
2011 Moussu amp Llurda 2008) The literature estimates that NNESTs outnumber their
counterparts by three to one according to Braine (2011)
Education
Only two-thirds of the teachers in Nigeria are qualified to teach and even fewer are
qualified to teach English (Ajibola 2010 Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) Ajibola
(2010) states many teachers have been learning ldquoon-the-jobrdquo (p 101) and do not receive any
professional development Okpe and Onjewu (2015) observed that some teachers accepted
teaching positions as a last resort believing a misconception that anyone can teach As a result of
the British requirements for teaching some teachers assume arriving at the classroom is all that
is required (Ajibola 2010)
SLA Training
English teachers must acquire in-depth knowledge of linguistics to be able to assess
student performance and enhance learning (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015 Owolabi amp Bankole 2013
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 15
Tamunobelema 2015) However linguistic competence does not automatically conclude that
someone is a good teacher (Florence Ma 2012) Ariyo (2010) describes Nigerian studentrsquos
written and spoken English as ldquogenerally poorrdquo with grammatical mistakes apparent in their
work (p 433) The literature identifies English language teachers as the main factor responsible
for student performance with the potential to mislead the learner (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015
Tamunobelema 2015) In Port Harcourt teachers are not trained in SLA and it is necessary for
two or three of them to proof the studentrsquos work and still and errors still go detected
Mother Tongue
The literature states a desire for indigenous languages to appear in education (Owolabi amp
Bankole 2013 Woolman 2001) With over five hundred indigenous languages interference of
the mother tongue combined with unqualified teachers and limited relevant teaching materials
would further contribute to the challenges already facing NNESTs (Akabogu amp Mbah 2013
Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Usman amp Mustafa 2014) There is no correlation between the
English language and the mother tongue for interference to occur (Olanipekun Atteh Zaku amp
Sarki 2014) Also with the number of indigenous languages it is highly probable that the
NNEST does not speak the studentrsquos L1 The literature reviewed suggests that the mother tongue
has no effect on academic performance
Cambridge Curriculum
British-Style Exam-Driven
The curriculum structure is according to the culture education and history of the British
who colonized the area (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) The majority of stories
contained in English Language textbooks are of foreign cultures (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 16
Woolman (2001) states the use of external sources of textbooks curriculums and teachers that
cannot translate into culturally relevant forms of education should be abandoned (p 43)
Abandoning external forms of education contradicts what the Port Harcourt school is attempting
to accomplish Teaching strategies are ldquoun-innovative and fossilizedrdquo (Owolabi amp Bankole
2013 p 202) and not appropriate choices for studentrsquos differing needs (Tamunobelema 2015
Usman amp Mustafa 2014 Woolman 2001 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006) Differentiated
instruction is neither expected or common The teachers in Port Harcourt however do not face
the same challenges elsewhere in Nigeria
Teacher-Centered Pedagogy
Chalk-talk recitation and initiation-response-feedback (IRF) models dominate the
classroom instruction (Adeyemi 2011 Agbatogun 2014 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
The continued use of the General Purpose English approach to language teaching appears to
have failed (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 200) The literature suggests that collaborative
learning is emerging in Nigeria to replace the lack of interaction among the students and
between the teacher and the students (Agbatogun 2012)
Technology
Research indicates technology will transform classrooms from being teacher-centered to
being student-centered (Agbatogun 2012) Port Harcourt is in the processing of installing smart
boards in every classroom beginning with the first grade An interactive learning environment
through the use of clickers is thought to improve student proficiency in English (Agbatogun
2014) If teachers do not change pedagogical strategies it is unrealistic to assume that
technology will have any impact The literature suggests that NNESTs must be supported and
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 17
motivated to employ innovative teaching strategies and implement technology into the
classrooms (Kalejaiye Fabunmi amp Adeoye 2011 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
Parroting
Research addressing the topic of parroting is sparse Lantolf and Thorne (2006) examine
the cognitive process of SLA through Vygotskyrsquos theories versus those of BF Skinnerrsquos
behaviorist theories which does resemble parroting Second language acquisition is a cognitive
activity It is the hope that the literature will provide insight into why the Port Harcourt students
solicit this strategy and support evidence as to how best to correct it
Conclusion
According to Chomsky (1965) linguistic theory traditionally considered native English
speakers as the preferred teachers of English However according to the literature the ideal
teacher of English is not necessarily a native speaker There is a lack of substantial evidence to
support whether NESTs are better teachers than NNESTs (Florence Ma 2012) Researchers
have concluded that without adequate teachers and resources language learners cannot
effectively learn a second language
The literature provided an overwhelming amount of information supportive of Nigerian
students being exposed to multiple language learning strategies and that no single strategy can
meet all of the studentrsquos needs According to the literature teachers in Nigeria need to employ
modern teaching methods and be exposed to professional development in addition to
supplementing their academic qualifications A weakness found in the literature is that the
authors unanimously appear to be non-native English-speakers from non-western countries and
cultures Some of the literature displayed certain biases toward the English language and native
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 18
English language speakers as well With the majority of Nigerian educational systems using
similar teaching methods and materials in the classroom very little literature was found
regarding parroting and cognitive processes as a result of the strategies Nigerian teachers
employ
As a result the next step will be to research further SLA and cognition to discover
pedagogy that correlates to address the issue of parroting observed in the Port Harcourt schools
A survey will be conducted to identify better NNESTs in the schools and the results will be
analyzed to determine the teacherrsquos strengths weaknesses and areas professional development
can address Regardless of the differing authorrsquos opinions a common theme in the literature
examined is that the teacher is ultimately responsible for their studentrsquos performance
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 19
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach an intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Aduwa-Ogiegbaen S amp Iyamu E (2006) Factors affecting quality of English language
teaching and learning in secondary schools in Nigeria College School Journal Publisher
40(3) 1-9 Retrieved from httpwwwfreepatentsonlinecomarticleCollege-Student-
Journal150965814html
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 20
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners how educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Kalejaiye O Fabunmi A amp Adeoye A (2011) Role of school media centres in technology
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 21
integration in Nigerian schools an exploration Annals of Library and Information
Studies 58 211-218 Retrieved from httpnoprniscairresinbitstream
123456789128414ALIS20582832920211-218pdf
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
history and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria a choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights the role in the teachinglearning of
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 22
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
Woolman D (2001) Educational reconstruction and post-colonial curriculum development a
comparative study of four African countries International Education Journal 2(5)
27-46 Retrieved from httpciteseerxistpsueduviewdocdownload
doi=10114915399amprep=rep1amptype=pdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 4
need an in-depth knowledge of theoretical and applied linguistics to be able to assess student
performance and enhance learning (p 69)
The majority of the research available is from the perspective of non-native English
speaking educators The study will research the problem from a native English speakerrsquos
perspective providing insight according to training in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of
Other Languages) and will address the following question
1 How can teachers properly detect diagnose and remedy a problem with second language
acquisition (SLA) when the student is exhibiting mimicking and parroting strategies
rather than displaying cognitive processing
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 5
References
Ariyo K S (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoiorg103923pjssci
2010433436
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights The role in the teachinglearning of English in
Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender Studies 4(1)
httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
UNESCO (2015) EFA global monitoring report 2015 education for all 2000-2015
Achievements and challenges [Report] Retrieved from httpunesdocunescoorg
images0023002325232565epdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 6
Literature Review Outline
Review of the Literature on The Effect Non-native English-Speaking Teachers (NNESTS) Have on Second Language Acquisition (SLA) in Nigeria
a The teachers of a private international K-12 school in Port Harcourt are non-native English-speaking teachers (NNESTs)
b Ineffective teacher-centered methods such as teacher-talk (lecturing) and the use of rote memorization
c Rote memorization by the students has manifested into what Haynes (2007) refers to as ldquoparrotingrdquo (p 29-30) Parroting has masked language acquisition as the possible problem and mistakenly shifted the blame to the content area
d What effects do NNESTs have on student SLA in Nigeria
Defining Non-native English-Speaking Teachers (NESTs)
a Some English as a second language (ESL) students naively subscribe to the native-speaker fallacy that the ideal English teacher is a native English speaker
b Braine (2011) explains that this belief derived from the frustration resulting from incompetent non-proficient English teachers
c Over 80 of the English teachers in the world are non-native English speakers (Braine 2011 Moussu amp Llurda 2008)
d The literature estimates that NNESTs outnumber their counterparts by three to one according to Braine (2011)
Education
a Only two-thirds of the teachers in Nigeria are qualified to teach and even fewer are qualified to teach English (Ajibola 2010 Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
b Ajibola (2010) states many teachers have been learning ldquoon-the-jobrdquo (p 101) and do not receive any professional development
c Okpe and Onjewu (2015) observed that some teachers accepted English teaching positions as a last resort believing a misconception that anyone can teach English Some teachers assume arriving at the classroom is all that is required to teach English (Ajibola 2010)
d English teachers must acquire in-depth knowledge of linguistics to be able to assess student performance and enhance learning (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015 Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 Tamunobelema 2015)
e Linguistic competence does not automatically conclude that someone is a good teacher (Florence Ma 2012)
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 7
Pedagogy
a Teacher-talk (lecture method) recitation and initiation-response-feedback (IRF) models dominate the classroom instruction (Adeyemi 2011 Agbatogun 2014)
b The continued use of the General Purpose English approach to language teaching appears to have failed (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 200)
c The literature suggests that collaborative learning is emerging in Nigeria to replace the lack of interaction among the students and between the teacher and the students (Agbatogun 2012)
d Research indicates technology will transform classrooms from being teacher-centered to being student-centered (Agbatogun 2012)
e Consider a transition point to next Theme An interactive learning environment through the use of clickers is thought to improve student proficiency in English (Agbatogun 2014)
f If teachers do not change pedagogical strategies it is unrealistic to assume that technology will have any impact
Parroting
a Research addressing the topic of parroting was sparse b Lantolf and Thorne (2006) examine the cognitive process of SLA through Vygotskyrsquos
theories versus those of BF Skinnerrsquos behaviorist theories which does resemble parroting
c Second language acquisition is a cognitive activity d Further research is necessary to provide insight into why the Port Harcourt students
solicit this strategy and support evidence as to how best to correct it
Possible Effects on Student SLA
a Ariyo (2010) describes Nigerian studentrsquos written and spoken English as ldquogenerally poorrdquo with grammatical mistakes apparent in their work (p 433)
b The literature identifies English language teachers as the main factor responsible for student performance with the potential to mislead the learner (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015 Tamunobelema 2015)
c Two and three teachers are required to proof studentrsquos work submitted and not all errors are corrected
Resources strategies and curriculum
a The majority of stories contained in English Language textbooks are of foreign cultures (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 8
b Teaching strategies are ldquoun-innovative and fossilizedrdquo (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 202) and not appropriate choices for studentrsquos differing needs (Tamunobelema 2015 Usman amp Mustafa 2014)
c The curriculum structure is according to the culture education and history of the British who colonized the area (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
d Little attention is devoted to English as a subject (Olanipekun et al 2014) e The literature suggests that NNESTs must be supported and motivated to employ
innovative teaching strategies and implement technology into the classrooms
Mother tongue
a The literature states a desire for indigenous languages to appear in education (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013)
b With over five hundred indigenous languages interference of the mother tongue combined with unqualified teachers and limited relevant teaching materials would further contribute to the challenges already facing NNESTs (Akabogu amp Mbah 2013 Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Usman amp Mustafa 2014)
c The literature suggests that the mother tongue has no effect on academic performance There is no correlation between the English language and the mother tongue for interference to occur (Olanipekun Atteh Zaku amp Sarki 2014)
d As a result of the number of indigenous languages it is probable that the NNEST does not speak the studentrsquos L1 (native language)
Conclusion
a According to Chomsky (1965) linguistic theory traditionally considered native English speakers as the preferred teachers of English However according to the literature the ideal teacher of English is not necessarily a native speaker There is a lack of substantial evidence to support whether NESTs are better teachers than NNEST (Florence Ma 2012) Researchers have concluded that without adequate teachers and resources language learners cannot effectively learn a second language
b The literature provided an overwhelming amount of information supportive of Nigerian students being exposed to multiple language learning strategies and that no single strategy can meet all of the studentrsquos needs According to the literature teachers in Nigeria need to employ modern teaching methods and be exposed to professional development in addition to supplementing their academic qualifications
c A weakness found in the literature is that the authors unanimously appear to be non-native English-speakers from non-western countries and cultures Some of the literature displayed certain biases toward the English language and native English language speakers as well
d With the majority of Nigerian educational systems using similar teaching methods and materials in the classroom very little literature was found regarding parroting and cognitive processes as a result of the strategies Nigerian teachers employ
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 9
e As a result the next step will be to research further SLA and cognition to discover pedagogy that correlates to address the issue of parroting observed in the Port Harcourt schools A survey will be conducted to identify better the NNESTs in the schools and the results will be analyzed to determine the teacherrsquos strengths weaknesses and areas professional development can address Regardless of the differing authorrsquos opinions a common theme in the literature examined is that the teacher is ultimately responsible for their studentrsquos performance
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 10
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach An intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning Clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria Cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 11
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers Research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers Student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners How educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
History and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 12
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria A choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights The role in the teachinglearning of
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 13
Review of the Literature on Factors Affecting Studentsrsquo Second Language Acquisition
(SLA) at Greenoak International School Port Harcourt Nigeria
Introduction
English is the language of instruction since the British colonization of Nigeria The
teaching of English continues to pose unique challenges to teachers as discovered through the
TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) lens of an American educator in
Nigeria The non-native English speaking teachers (NNESTs) of a private international K-12
school in Port Harcourt are not all certified to teach The requirements for a teacher in Nigeria
are not as stringent as those for an American teacher All that is required is for teachers to have
earned a Bachelors degree in their field None of the teachers on staff are trained to teach
English as a second language Teachers display inconsistencies in their knowledge of English as
their second language (L2) Due to the number of indigenous languages in Nigeria it cannot be
assumed the teacher speaks the studentsrsquo mother tongue (L1) Since teaching credentials are a
secondary qualification essential exposure to teaching methods is omitted in their training As a
result ineffective teacher-centered pedagogy such as the inherited British-style of lecturing
ldquochalk-talkrdquo and the use of rote memorization dominates classroom instruction (Woolman
2001) Rote memorization has manifested into what Haynes (2007) refers to as ldquoparrotingrdquo (p
29-30) Parroting poses a perplexing dilemma for the American educator and causes NNESTs to
doubt their studentsrsquo abilities to perform academically Parroting has masked language
acquisition as the possible problem and mistakenly shifted the blame to the content area
Exploring the teachers and the implementation of the Cambridge Curriculum are the basis
for this study and attempts to answer the question What factors are affecting student SLA in
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 14
Nigeria It is necessary to examine the literature to determine the education NNESTs receive
the pedagogy and materials they use and the curriculum they have been following to answer the
question
Teachers
Non-Native English-Speaking Teachers (NNESTs)
English as a second language (ESL) students have naively subscribed to the native-
speaker fallacy that the ideal English teacher is a native English speaker Braine (2011) explains
that this belief derived from the frustration resulting from incompetent non-proficient English
teachers Over 80 of the English teachers in the world are non-native English speakers (Braine
2011 Moussu amp Llurda 2008) The literature estimates that NNESTs outnumber their
counterparts by three to one according to Braine (2011)
Education
Only two-thirds of the teachers in Nigeria are qualified to teach and even fewer are
qualified to teach English (Ajibola 2010 Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) Ajibola
(2010) states many teachers have been learning ldquoon-the-jobrdquo (p 101) and do not receive any
professional development Okpe and Onjewu (2015) observed that some teachers accepted
teaching positions as a last resort believing a misconception that anyone can teach As a result of
the British requirements for teaching some teachers assume arriving at the classroom is all that
is required (Ajibola 2010)
SLA Training
English teachers must acquire in-depth knowledge of linguistics to be able to assess
student performance and enhance learning (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015 Owolabi amp Bankole 2013
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 15
Tamunobelema 2015) However linguistic competence does not automatically conclude that
someone is a good teacher (Florence Ma 2012) Ariyo (2010) describes Nigerian studentrsquos
written and spoken English as ldquogenerally poorrdquo with grammatical mistakes apparent in their
work (p 433) The literature identifies English language teachers as the main factor responsible
for student performance with the potential to mislead the learner (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015
Tamunobelema 2015) In Port Harcourt teachers are not trained in SLA and it is necessary for
two or three of them to proof the studentrsquos work and still and errors still go detected
Mother Tongue
The literature states a desire for indigenous languages to appear in education (Owolabi amp
Bankole 2013 Woolman 2001) With over five hundred indigenous languages interference of
the mother tongue combined with unqualified teachers and limited relevant teaching materials
would further contribute to the challenges already facing NNESTs (Akabogu amp Mbah 2013
Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Usman amp Mustafa 2014) There is no correlation between the
English language and the mother tongue for interference to occur (Olanipekun Atteh Zaku amp
Sarki 2014) Also with the number of indigenous languages it is highly probable that the
NNEST does not speak the studentrsquos L1 The literature reviewed suggests that the mother tongue
has no effect on academic performance
Cambridge Curriculum
British-Style Exam-Driven
The curriculum structure is according to the culture education and history of the British
who colonized the area (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) The majority of stories
contained in English Language textbooks are of foreign cultures (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 16
Woolman (2001) states the use of external sources of textbooks curriculums and teachers that
cannot translate into culturally relevant forms of education should be abandoned (p 43)
Abandoning external forms of education contradicts what the Port Harcourt school is attempting
to accomplish Teaching strategies are ldquoun-innovative and fossilizedrdquo (Owolabi amp Bankole
2013 p 202) and not appropriate choices for studentrsquos differing needs (Tamunobelema 2015
Usman amp Mustafa 2014 Woolman 2001 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006) Differentiated
instruction is neither expected or common The teachers in Port Harcourt however do not face
the same challenges elsewhere in Nigeria
Teacher-Centered Pedagogy
Chalk-talk recitation and initiation-response-feedback (IRF) models dominate the
classroom instruction (Adeyemi 2011 Agbatogun 2014 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
The continued use of the General Purpose English approach to language teaching appears to
have failed (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 200) The literature suggests that collaborative
learning is emerging in Nigeria to replace the lack of interaction among the students and
between the teacher and the students (Agbatogun 2012)
Technology
Research indicates technology will transform classrooms from being teacher-centered to
being student-centered (Agbatogun 2012) Port Harcourt is in the processing of installing smart
boards in every classroom beginning with the first grade An interactive learning environment
through the use of clickers is thought to improve student proficiency in English (Agbatogun
2014) If teachers do not change pedagogical strategies it is unrealistic to assume that
technology will have any impact The literature suggests that NNESTs must be supported and
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 17
motivated to employ innovative teaching strategies and implement technology into the
classrooms (Kalejaiye Fabunmi amp Adeoye 2011 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
Parroting
Research addressing the topic of parroting is sparse Lantolf and Thorne (2006) examine
the cognitive process of SLA through Vygotskyrsquos theories versus those of BF Skinnerrsquos
behaviorist theories which does resemble parroting Second language acquisition is a cognitive
activity It is the hope that the literature will provide insight into why the Port Harcourt students
solicit this strategy and support evidence as to how best to correct it
Conclusion
According to Chomsky (1965) linguistic theory traditionally considered native English
speakers as the preferred teachers of English However according to the literature the ideal
teacher of English is not necessarily a native speaker There is a lack of substantial evidence to
support whether NESTs are better teachers than NNESTs (Florence Ma 2012) Researchers
have concluded that without adequate teachers and resources language learners cannot
effectively learn a second language
The literature provided an overwhelming amount of information supportive of Nigerian
students being exposed to multiple language learning strategies and that no single strategy can
meet all of the studentrsquos needs According to the literature teachers in Nigeria need to employ
modern teaching methods and be exposed to professional development in addition to
supplementing their academic qualifications A weakness found in the literature is that the
authors unanimously appear to be non-native English-speakers from non-western countries and
cultures Some of the literature displayed certain biases toward the English language and native
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 18
English language speakers as well With the majority of Nigerian educational systems using
similar teaching methods and materials in the classroom very little literature was found
regarding parroting and cognitive processes as a result of the strategies Nigerian teachers
employ
As a result the next step will be to research further SLA and cognition to discover
pedagogy that correlates to address the issue of parroting observed in the Port Harcourt schools
A survey will be conducted to identify better NNESTs in the schools and the results will be
analyzed to determine the teacherrsquos strengths weaknesses and areas professional development
can address Regardless of the differing authorrsquos opinions a common theme in the literature
examined is that the teacher is ultimately responsible for their studentrsquos performance
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 19
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach an intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Aduwa-Ogiegbaen S amp Iyamu E (2006) Factors affecting quality of English language
teaching and learning in secondary schools in Nigeria College School Journal Publisher
40(3) 1-9 Retrieved from httpwwwfreepatentsonlinecomarticleCollege-Student-
Journal150965814html
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 20
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners how educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Kalejaiye O Fabunmi A amp Adeoye A (2011) Role of school media centres in technology
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 21
integration in Nigerian schools an exploration Annals of Library and Information
Studies 58 211-218 Retrieved from httpnoprniscairresinbitstream
123456789128414ALIS20582832920211-218pdf
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
history and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria a choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights the role in the teachinglearning of
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 22
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
Woolman D (2001) Educational reconstruction and post-colonial curriculum development a
comparative study of four African countries International Education Journal 2(5)
27-46 Retrieved from httpciteseerxistpsueduviewdocdownload
doi=10114915399amprep=rep1amptype=pdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 5
References
Ariyo K S (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoiorg103923pjssci
2010433436
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights The role in the teachinglearning of English in
Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender Studies 4(1)
httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
UNESCO (2015) EFA global monitoring report 2015 education for all 2000-2015
Achievements and challenges [Report] Retrieved from httpunesdocunescoorg
images0023002325232565epdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 6
Literature Review Outline
Review of the Literature on The Effect Non-native English-Speaking Teachers (NNESTS) Have on Second Language Acquisition (SLA) in Nigeria
a The teachers of a private international K-12 school in Port Harcourt are non-native English-speaking teachers (NNESTs)
b Ineffective teacher-centered methods such as teacher-talk (lecturing) and the use of rote memorization
c Rote memorization by the students has manifested into what Haynes (2007) refers to as ldquoparrotingrdquo (p 29-30) Parroting has masked language acquisition as the possible problem and mistakenly shifted the blame to the content area
d What effects do NNESTs have on student SLA in Nigeria
Defining Non-native English-Speaking Teachers (NESTs)
a Some English as a second language (ESL) students naively subscribe to the native-speaker fallacy that the ideal English teacher is a native English speaker
b Braine (2011) explains that this belief derived from the frustration resulting from incompetent non-proficient English teachers
c Over 80 of the English teachers in the world are non-native English speakers (Braine 2011 Moussu amp Llurda 2008)
d The literature estimates that NNESTs outnumber their counterparts by three to one according to Braine (2011)
Education
a Only two-thirds of the teachers in Nigeria are qualified to teach and even fewer are qualified to teach English (Ajibola 2010 Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
b Ajibola (2010) states many teachers have been learning ldquoon-the-jobrdquo (p 101) and do not receive any professional development
c Okpe and Onjewu (2015) observed that some teachers accepted English teaching positions as a last resort believing a misconception that anyone can teach English Some teachers assume arriving at the classroom is all that is required to teach English (Ajibola 2010)
d English teachers must acquire in-depth knowledge of linguistics to be able to assess student performance and enhance learning (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015 Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 Tamunobelema 2015)
e Linguistic competence does not automatically conclude that someone is a good teacher (Florence Ma 2012)
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 7
Pedagogy
a Teacher-talk (lecture method) recitation and initiation-response-feedback (IRF) models dominate the classroom instruction (Adeyemi 2011 Agbatogun 2014)
b The continued use of the General Purpose English approach to language teaching appears to have failed (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 200)
c The literature suggests that collaborative learning is emerging in Nigeria to replace the lack of interaction among the students and between the teacher and the students (Agbatogun 2012)
d Research indicates technology will transform classrooms from being teacher-centered to being student-centered (Agbatogun 2012)
e Consider a transition point to next Theme An interactive learning environment through the use of clickers is thought to improve student proficiency in English (Agbatogun 2014)
f If teachers do not change pedagogical strategies it is unrealistic to assume that technology will have any impact
Parroting
a Research addressing the topic of parroting was sparse b Lantolf and Thorne (2006) examine the cognitive process of SLA through Vygotskyrsquos
theories versus those of BF Skinnerrsquos behaviorist theories which does resemble parroting
c Second language acquisition is a cognitive activity d Further research is necessary to provide insight into why the Port Harcourt students
solicit this strategy and support evidence as to how best to correct it
Possible Effects on Student SLA
a Ariyo (2010) describes Nigerian studentrsquos written and spoken English as ldquogenerally poorrdquo with grammatical mistakes apparent in their work (p 433)
b The literature identifies English language teachers as the main factor responsible for student performance with the potential to mislead the learner (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015 Tamunobelema 2015)
c Two and three teachers are required to proof studentrsquos work submitted and not all errors are corrected
Resources strategies and curriculum
a The majority of stories contained in English Language textbooks are of foreign cultures (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 8
b Teaching strategies are ldquoun-innovative and fossilizedrdquo (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 202) and not appropriate choices for studentrsquos differing needs (Tamunobelema 2015 Usman amp Mustafa 2014)
c The curriculum structure is according to the culture education and history of the British who colonized the area (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
d Little attention is devoted to English as a subject (Olanipekun et al 2014) e The literature suggests that NNESTs must be supported and motivated to employ
innovative teaching strategies and implement technology into the classrooms
Mother tongue
a The literature states a desire for indigenous languages to appear in education (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013)
b With over five hundred indigenous languages interference of the mother tongue combined with unqualified teachers and limited relevant teaching materials would further contribute to the challenges already facing NNESTs (Akabogu amp Mbah 2013 Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Usman amp Mustafa 2014)
c The literature suggests that the mother tongue has no effect on academic performance There is no correlation between the English language and the mother tongue for interference to occur (Olanipekun Atteh Zaku amp Sarki 2014)
d As a result of the number of indigenous languages it is probable that the NNEST does not speak the studentrsquos L1 (native language)
Conclusion
a According to Chomsky (1965) linguistic theory traditionally considered native English speakers as the preferred teachers of English However according to the literature the ideal teacher of English is not necessarily a native speaker There is a lack of substantial evidence to support whether NESTs are better teachers than NNEST (Florence Ma 2012) Researchers have concluded that without adequate teachers and resources language learners cannot effectively learn a second language
b The literature provided an overwhelming amount of information supportive of Nigerian students being exposed to multiple language learning strategies and that no single strategy can meet all of the studentrsquos needs According to the literature teachers in Nigeria need to employ modern teaching methods and be exposed to professional development in addition to supplementing their academic qualifications
c A weakness found in the literature is that the authors unanimously appear to be non-native English-speakers from non-western countries and cultures Some of the literature displayed certain biases toward the English language and native English language speakers as well
d With the majority of Nigerian educational systems using similar teaching methods and materials in the classroom very little literature was found regarding parroting and cognitive processes as a result of the strategies Nigerian teachers employ
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 9
e As a result the next step will be to research further SLA and cognition to discover pedagogy that correlates to address the issue of parroting observed in the Port Harcourt schools A survey will be conducted to identify better the NNESTs in the schools and the results will be analyzed to determine the teacherrsquos strengths weaknesses and areas professional development can address Regardless of the differing authorrsquos opinions a common theme in the literature examined is that the teacher is ultimately responsible for their studentrsquos performance
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 10
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach An intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning Clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria Cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 11
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers Research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers Student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners How educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
History and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 12
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria A choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights The role in the teachinglearning of
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 13
Review of the Literature on Factors Affecting Studentsrsquo Second Language Acquisition
(SLA) at Greenoak International School Port Harcourt Nigeria
Introduction
English is the language of instruction since the British colonization of Nigeria The
teaching of English continues to pose unique challenges to teachers as discovered through the
TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) lens of an American educator in
Nigeria The non-native English speaking teachers (NNESTs) of a private international K-12
school in Port Harcourt are not all certified to teach The requirements for a teacher in Nigeria
are not as stringent as those for an American teacher All that is required is for teachers to have
earned a Bachelors degree in their field None of the teachers on staff are trained to teach
English as a second language Teachers display inconsistencies in their knowledge of English as
their second language (L2) Due to the number of indigenous languages in Nigeria it cannot be
assumed the teacher speaks the studentsrsquo mother tongue (L1) Since teaching credentials are a
secondary qualification essential exposure to teaching methods is omitted in their training As a
result ineffective teacher-centered pedagogy such as the inherited British-style of lecturing
ldquochalk-talkrdquo and the use of rote memorization dominates classroom instruction (Woolman
2001) Rote memorization has manifested into what Haynes (2007) refers to as ldquoparrotingrdquo (p
29-30) Parroting poses a perplexing dilemma for the American educator and causes NNESTs to
doubt their studentsrsquo abilities to perform academically Parroting has masked language
acquisition as the possible problem and mistakenly shifted the blame to the content area
Exploring the teachers and the implementation of the Cambridge Curriculum are the basis
for this study and attempts to answer the question What factors are affecting student SLA in
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 14
Nigeria It is necessary to examine the literature to determine the education NNESTs receive
the pedagogy and materials they use and the curriculum they have been following to answer the
question
Teachers
Non-Native English-Speaking Teachers (NNESTs)
English as a second language (ESL) students have naively subscribed to the native-
speaker fallacy that the ideal English teacher is a native English speaker Braine (2011) explains
that this belief derived from the frustration resulting from incompetent non-proficient English
teachers Over 80 of the English teachers in the world are non-native English speakers (Braine
2011 Moussu amp Llurda 2008) The literature estimates that NNESTs outnumber their
counterparts by three to one according to Braine (2011)
Education
Only two-thirds of the teachers in Nigeria are qualified to teach and even fewer are
qualified to teach English (Ajibola 2010 Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) Ajibola
(2010) states many teachers have been learning ldquoon-the-jobrdquo (p 101) and do not receive any
professional development Okpe and Onjewu (2015) observed that some teachers accepted
teaching positions as a last resort believing a misconception that anyone can teach As a result of
the British requirements for teaching some teachers assume arriving at the classroom is all that
is required (Ajibola 2010)
SLA Training
English teachers must acquire in-depth knowledge of linguistics to be able to assess
student performance and enhance learning (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015 Owolabi amp Bankole 2013
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 15
Tamunobelema 2015) However linguistic competence does not automatically conclude that
someone is a good teacher (Florence Ma 2012) Ariyo (2010) describes Nigerian studentrsquos
written and spoken English as ldquogenerally poorrdquo with grammatical mistakes apparent in their
work (p 433) The literature identifies English language teachers as the main factor responsible
for student performance with the potential to mislead the learner (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015
Tamunobelema 2015) In Port Harcourt teachers are not trained in SLA and it is necessary for
two or three of them to proof the studentrsquos work and still and errors still go detected
Mother Tongue
The literature states a desire for indigenous languages to appear in education (Owolabi amp
Bankole 2013 Woolman 2001) With over five hundred indigenous languages interference of
the mother tongue combined with unqualified teachers and limited relevant teaching materials
would further contribute to the challenges already facing NNESTs (Akabogu amp Mbah 2013
Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Usman amp Mustafa 2014) There is no correlation between the
English language and the mother tongue for interference to occur (Olanipekun Atteh Zaku amp
Sarki 2014) Also with the number of indigenous languages it is highly probable that the
NNEST does not speak the studentrsquos L1 The literature reviewed suggests that the mother tongue
has no effect on academic performance
Cambridge Curriculum
British-Style Exam-Driven
The curriculum structure is according to the culture education and history of the British
who colonized the area (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) The majority of stories
contained in English Language textbooks are of foreign cultures (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 16
Woolman (2001) states the use of external sources of textbooks curriculums and teachers that
cannot translate into culturally relevant forms of education should be abandoned (p 43)
Abandoning external forms of education contradicts what the Port Harcourt school is attempting
to accomplish Teaching strategies are ldquoun-innovative and fossilizedrdquo (Owolabi amp Bankole
2013 p 202) and not appropriate choices for studentrsquos differing needs (Tamunobelema 2015
Usman amp Mustafa 2014 Woolman 2001 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006) Differentiated
instruction is neither expected or common The teachers in Port Harcourt however do not face
the same challenges elsewhere in Nigeria
Teacher-Centered Pedagogy
Chalk-talk recitation and initiation-response-feedback (IRF) models dominate the
classroom instruction (Adeyemi 2011 Agbatogun 2014 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
The continued use of the General Purpose English approach to language teaching appears to
have failed (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 200) The literature suggests that collaborative
learning is emerging in Nigeria to replace the lack of interaction among the students and
between the teacher and the students (Agbatogun 2012)
Technology
Research indicates technology will transform classrooms from being teacher-centered to
being student-centered (Agbatogun 2012) Port Harcourt is in the processing of installing smart
boards in every classroom beginning with the first grade An interactive learning environment
through the use of clickers is thought to improve student proficiency in English (Agbatogun
2014) If teachers do not change pedagogical strategies it is unrealistic to assume that
technology will have any impact The literature suggests that NNESTs must be supported and
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 17
motivated to employ innovative teaching strategies and implement technology into the
classrooms (Kalejaiye Fabunmi amp Adeoye 2011 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
Parroting
Research addressing the topic of parroting is sparse Lantolf and Thorne (2006) examine
the cognitive process of SLA through Vygotskyrsquos theories versus those of BF Skinnerrsquos
behaviorist theories which does resemble parroting Second language acquisition is a cognitive
activity It is the hope that the literature will provide insight into why the Port Harcourt students
solicit this strategy and support evidence as to how best to correct it
Conclusion
According to Chomsky (1965) linguistic theory traditionally considered native English
speakers as the preferred teachers of English However according to the literature the ideal
teacher of English is not necessarily a native speaker There is a lack of substantial evidence to
support whether NESTs are better teachers than NNESTs (Florence Ma 2012) Researchers
have concluded that without adequate teachers and resources language learners cannot
effectively learn a second language
The literature provided an overwhelming amount of information supportive of Nigerian
students being exposed to multiple language learning strategies and that no single strategy can
meet all of the studentrsquos needs According to the literature teachers in Nigeria need to employ
modern teaching methods and be exposed to professional development in addition to
supplementing their academic qualifications A weakness found in the literature is that the
authors unanimously appear to be non-native English-speakers from non-western countries and
cultures Some of the literature displayed certain biases toward the English language and native
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 18
English language speakers as well With the majority of Nigerian educational systems using
similar teaching methods and materials in the classroom very little literature was found
regarding parroting and cognitive processes as a result of the strategies Nigerian teachers
employ
As a result the next step will be to research further SLA and cognition to discover
pedagogy that correlates to address the issue of parroting observed in the Port Harcourt schools
A survey will be conducted to identify better NNESTs in the schools and the results will be
analyzed to determine the teacherrsquos strengths weaknesses and areas professional development
can address Regardless of the differing authorrsquos opinions a common theme in the literature
examined is that the teacher is ultimately responsible for their studentrsquos performance
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 19
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach an intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Aduwa-Ogiegbaen S amp Iyamu E (2006) Factors affecting quality of English language
teaching and learning in secondary schools in Nigeria College School Journal Publisher
40(3) 1-9 Retrieved from httpwwwfreepatentsonlinecomarticleCollege-Student-
Journal150965814html
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 20
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners how educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Kalejaiye O Fabunmi A amp Adeoye A (2011) Role of school media centres in technology
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 21
integration in Nigerian schools an exploration Annals of Library and Information
Studies 58 211-218 Retrieved from httpnoprniscairresinbitstream
123456789128414ALIS20582832920211-218pdf
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
history and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria a choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights the role in the teachinglearning of
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 22
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
Woolman D (2001) Educational reconstruction and post-colonial curriculum development a
comparative study of four African countries International Education Journal 2(5)
27-46 Retrieved from httpciteseerxistpsueduviewdocdownload
doi=10114915399amprep=rep1amptype=pdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 6
Literature Review Outline
Review of the Literature on The Effect Non-native English-Speaking Teachers (NNESTS) Have on Second Language Acquisition (SLA) in Nigeria
a The teachers of a private international K-12 school in Port Harcourt are non-native English-speaking teachers (NNESTs)
b Ineffective teacher-centered methods such as teacher-talk (lecturing) and the use of rote memorization
c Rote memorization by the students has manifested into what Haynes (2007) refers to as ldquoparrotingrdquo (p 29-30) Parroting has masked language acquisition as the possible problem and mistakenly shifted the blame to the content area
d What effects do NNESTs have on student SLA in Nigeria
Defining Non-native English-Speaking Teachers (NESTs)
a Some English as a second language (ESL) students naively subscribe to the native-speaker fallacy that the ideal English teacher is a native English speaker
b Braine (2011) explains that this belief derived from the frustration resulting from incompetent non-proficient English teachers
c Over 80 of the English teachers in the world are non-native English speakers (Braine 2011 Moussu amp Llurda 2008)
d The literature estimates that NNESTs outnumber their counterparts by three to one according to Braine (2011)
Education
a Only two-thirds of the teachers in Nigeria are qualified to teach and even fewer are qualified to teach English (Ajibola 2010 Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
b Ajibola (2010) states many teachers have been learning ldquoon-the-jobrdquo (p 101) and do not receive any professional development
c Okpe and Onjewu (2015) observed that some teachers accepted English teaching positions as a last resort believing a misconception that anyone can teach English Some teachers assume arriving at the classroom is all that is required to teach English (Ajibola 2010)
d English teachers must acquire in-depth knowledge of linguistics to be able to assess student performance and enhance learning (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015 Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 Tamunobelema 2015)
e Linguistic competence does not automatically conclude that someone is a good teacher (Florence Ma 2012)
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 7
Pedagogy
a Teacher-talk (lecture method) recitation and initiation-response-feedback (IRF) models dominate the classroom instruction (Adeyemi 2011 Agbatogun 2014)
b The continued use of the General Purpose English approach to language teaching appears to have failed (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 200)
c The literature suggests that collaborative learning is emerging in Nigeria to replace the lack of interaction among the students and between the teacher and the students (Agbatogun 2012)
d Research indicates technology will transform classrooms from being teacher-centered to being student-centered (Agbatogun 2012)
e Consider a transition point to next Theme An interactive learning environment through the use of clickers is thought to improve student proficiency in English (Agbatogun 2014)
f If teachers do not change pedagogical strategies it is unrealistic to assume that technology will have any impact
Parroting
a Research addressing the topic of parroting was sparse b Lantolf and Thorne (2006) examine the cognitive process of SLA through Vygotskyrsquos
theories versus those of BF Skinnerrsquos behaviorist theories which does resemble parroting
c Second language acquisition is a cognitive activity d Further research is necessary to provide insight into why the Port Harcourt students
solicit this strategy and support evidence as to how best to correct it
Possible Effects on Student SLA
a Ariyo (2010) describes Nigerian studentrsquos written and spoken English as ldquogenerally poorrdquo with grammatical mistakes apparent in their work (p 433)
b The literature identifies English language teachers as the main factor responsible for student performance with the potential to mislead the learner (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015 Tamunobelema 2015)
c Two and three teachers are required to proof studentrsquos work submitted and not all errors are corrected
Resources strategies and curriculum
a The majority of stories contained in English Language textbooks are of foreign cultures (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 8
b Teaching strategies are ldquoun-innovative and fossilizedrdquo (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 202) and not appropriate choices for studentrsquos differing needs (Tamunobelema 2015 Usman amp Mustafa 2014)
c The curriculum structure is according to the culture education and history of the British who colonized the area (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
d Little attention is devoted to English as a subject (Olanipekun et al 2014) e The literature suggests that NNESTs must be supported and motivated to employ
innovative teaching strategies and implement technology into the classrooms
Mother tongue
a The literature states a desire for indigenous languages to appear in education (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013)
b With over five hundred indigenous languages interference of the mother tongue combined with unqualified teachers and limited relevant teaching materials would further contribute to the challenges already facing NNESTs (Akabogu amp Mbah 2013 Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Usman amp Mustafa 2014)
c The literature suggests that the mother tongue has no effect on academic performance There is no correlation between the English language and the mother tongue for interference to occur (Olanipekun Atteh Zaku amp Sarki 2014)
d As a result of the number of indigenous languages it is probable that the NNEST does not speak the studentrsquos L1 (native language)
Conclusion
a According to Chomsky (1965) linguistic theory traditionally considered native English speakers as the preferred teachers of English However according to the literature the ideal teacher of English is not necessarily a native speaker There is a lack of substantial evidence to support whether NESTs are better teachers than NNEST (Florence Ma 2012) Researchers have concluded that without adequate teachers and resources language learners cannot effectively learn a second language
b The literature provided an overwhelming amount of information supportive of Nigerian students being exposed to multiple language learning strategies and that no single strategy can meet all of the studentrsquos needs According to the literature teachers in Nigeria need to employ modern teaching methods and be exposed to professional development in addition to supplementing their academic qualifications
c A weakness found in the literature is that the authors unanimously appear to be non-native English-speakers from non-western countries and cultures Some of the literature displayed certain biases toward the English language and native English language speakers as well
d With the majority of Nigerian educational systems using similar teaching methods and materials in the classroom very little literature was found regarding parroting and cognitive processes as a result of the strategies Nigerian teachers employ
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 9
e As a result the next step will be to research further SLA and cognition to discover pedagogy that correlates to address the issue of parroting observed in the Port Harcourt schools A survey will be conducted to identify better the NNESTs in the schools and the results will be analyzed to determine the teacherrsquos strengths weaknesses and areas professional development can address Regardless of the differing authorrsquos opinions a common theme in the literature examined is that the teacher is ultimately responsible for their studentrsquos performance
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 10
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach An intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning Clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria Cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 11
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers Research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers Student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners How educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
History and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 12
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria A choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights The role in the teachinglearning of
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 13
Review of the Literature on Factors Affecting Studentsrsquo Second Language Acquisition
(SLA) at Greenoak International School Port Harcourt Nigeria
Introduction
English is the language of instruction since the British colonization of Nigeria The
teaching of English continues to pose unique challenges to teachers as discovered through the
TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) lens of an American educator in
Nigeria The non-native English speaking teachers (NNESTs) of a private international K-12
school in Port Harcourt are not all certified to teach The requirements for a teacher in Nigeria
are not as stringent as those for an American teacher All that is required is for teachers to have
earned a Bachelors degree in their field None of the teachers on staff are trained to teach
English as a second language Teachers display inconsistencies in their knowledge of English as
their second language (L2) Due to the number of indigenous languages in Nigeria it cannot be
assumed the teacher speaks the studentsrsquo mother tongue (L1) Since teaching credentials are a
secondary qualification essential exposure to teaching methods is omitted in their training As a
result ineffective teacher-centered pedagogy such as the inherited British-style of lecturing
ldquochalk-talkrdquo and the use of rote memorization dominates classroom instruction (Woolman
2001) Rote memorization has manifested into what Haynes (2007) refers to as ldquoparrotingrdquo (p
29-30) Parroting poses a perplexing dilemma for the American educator and causes NNESTs to
doubt their studentsrsquo abilities to perform academically Parroting has masked language
acquisition as the possible problem and mistakenly shifted the blame to the content area
Exploring the teachers and the implementation of the Cambridge Curriculum are the basis
for this study and attempts to answer the question What factors are affecting student SLA in
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 14
Nigeria It is necessary to examine the literature to determine the education NNESTs receive
the pedagogy and materials they use and the curriculum they have been following to answer the
question
Teachers
Non-Native English-Speaking Teachers (NNESTs)
English as a second language (ESL) students have naively subscribed to the native-
speaker fallacy that the ideal English teacher is a native English speaker Braine (2011) explains
that this belief derived from the frustration resulting from incompetent non-proficient English
teachers Over 80 of the English teachers in the world are non-native English speakers (Braine
2011 Moussu amp Llurda 2008) The literature estimates that NNESTs outnumber their
counterparts by three to one according to Braine (2011)
Education
Only two-thirds of the teachers in Nigeria are qualified to teach and even fewer are
qualified to teach English (Ajibola 2010 Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) Ajibola
(2010) states many teachers have been learning ldquoon-the-jobrdquo (p 101) and do not receive any
professional development Okpe and Onjewu (2015) observed that some teachers accepted
teaching positions as a last resort believing a misconception that anyone can teach As a result of
the British requirements for teaching some teachers assume arriving at the classroom is all that
is required (Ajibola 2010)
SLA Training
English teachers must acquire in-depth knowledge of linguistics to be able to assess
student performance and enhance learning (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015 Owolabi amp Bankole 2013
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 15
Tamunobelema 2015) However linguistic competence does not automatically conclude that
someone is a good teacher (Florence Ma 2012) Ariyo (2010) describes Nigerian studentrsquos
written and spoken English as ldquogenerally poorrdquo with grammatical mistakes apparent in their
work (p 433) The literature identifies English language teachers as the main factor responsible
for student performance with the potential to mislead the learner (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015
Tamunobelema 2015) In Port Harcourt teachers are not trained in SLA and it is necessary for
two or three of them to proof the studentrsquos work and still and errors still go detected
Mother Tongue
The literature states a desire for indigenous languages to appear in education (Owolabi amp
Bankole 2013 Woolman 2001) With over five hundred indigenous languages interference of
the mother tongue combined with unqualified teachers and limited relevant teaching materials
would further contribute to the challenges already facing NNESTs (Akabogu amp Mbah 2013
Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Usman amp Mustafa 2014) There is no correlation between the
English language and the mother tongue for interference to occur (Olanipekun Atteh Zaku amp
Sarki 2014) Also with the number of indigenous languages it is highly probable that the
NNEST does not speak the studentrsquos L1 The literature reviewed suggests that the mother tongue
has no effect on academic performance
Cambridge Curriculum
British-Style Exam-Driven
The curriculum structure is according to the culture education and history of the British
who colonized the area (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) The majority of stories
contained in English Language textbooks are of foreign cultures (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 16
Woolman (2001) states the use of external sources of textbooks curriculums and teachers that
cannot translate into culturally relevant forms of education should be abandoned (p 43)
Abandoning external forms of education contradicts what the Port Harcourt school is attempting
to accomplish Teaching strategies are ldquoun-innovative and fossilizedrdquo (Owolabi amp Bankole
2013 p 202) and not appropriate choices for studentrsquos differing needs (Tamunobelema 2015
Usman amp Mustafa 2014 Woolman 2001 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006) Differentiated
instruction is neither expected or common The teachers in Port Harcourt however do not face
the same challenges elsewhere in Nigeria
Teacher-Centered Pedagogy
Chalk-talk recitation and initiation-response-feedback (IRF) models dominate the
classroom instruction (Adeyemi 2011 Agbatogun 2014 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
The continued use of the General Purpose English approach to language teaching appears to
have failed (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 200) The literature suggests that collaborative
learning is emerging in Nigeria to replace the lack of interaction among the students and
between the teacher and the students (Agbatogun 2012)
Technology
Research indicates technology will transform classrooms from being teacher-centered to
being student-centered (Agbatogun 2012) Port Harcourt is in the processing of installing smart
boards in every classroom beginning with the first grade An interactive learning environment
through the use of clickers is thought to improve student proficiency in English (Agbatogun
2014) If teachers do not change pedagogical strategies it is unrealistic to assume that
technology will have any impact The literature suggests that NNESTs must be supported and
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 17
motivated to employ innovative teaching strategies and implement technology into the
classrooms (Kalejaiye Fabunmi amp Adeoye 2011 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
Parroting
Research addressing the topic of parroting is sparse Lantolf and Thorne (2006) examine
the cognitive process of SLA through Vygotskyrsquos theories versus those of BF Skinnerrsquos
behaviorist theories which does resemble parroting Second language acquisition is a cognitive
activity It is the hope that the literature will provide insight into why the Port Harcourt students
solicit this strategy and support evidence as to how best to correct it
Conclusion
According to Chomsky (1965) linguistic theory traditionally considered native English
speakers as the preferred teachers of English However according to the literature the ideal
teacher of English is not necessarily a native speaker There is a lack of substantial evidence to
support whether NESTs are better teachers than NNESTs (Florence Ma 2012) Researchers
have concluded that without adequate teachers and resources language learners cannot
effectively learn a second language
The literature provided an overwhelming amount of information supportive of Nigerian
students being exposed to multiple language learning strategies and that no single strategy can
meet all of the studentrsquos needs According to the literature teachers in Nigeria need to employ
modern teaching methods and be exposed to professional development in addition to
supplementing their academic qualifications A weakness found in the literature is that the
authors unanimously appear to be non-native English-speakers from non-western countries and
cultures Some of the literature displayed certain biases toward the English language and native
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 18
English language speakers as well With the majority of Nigerian educational systems using
similar teaching methods and materials in the classroom very little literature was found
regarding parroting and cognitive processes as a result of the strategies Nigerian teachers
employ
As a result the next step will be to research further SLA and cognition to discover
pedagogy that correlates to address the issue of parroting observed in the Port Harcourt schools
A survey will be conducted to identify better NNESTs in the schools and the results will be
analyzed to determine the teacherrsquos strengths weaknesses and areas professional development
can address Regardless of the differing authorrsquos opinions a common theme in the literature
examined is that the teacher is ultimately responsible for their studentrsquos performance
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 19
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach an intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Aduwa-Ogiegbaen S amp Iyamu E (2006) Factors affecting quality of English language
teaching and learning in secondary schools in Nigeria College School Journal Publisher
40(3) 1-9 Retrieved from httpwwwfreepatentsonlinecomarticleCollege-Student-
Journal150965814html
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 20
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners how educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Kalejaiye O Fabunmi A amp Adeoye A (2011) Role of school media centres in technology
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 21
integration in Nigerian schools an exploration Annals of Library and Information
Studies 58 211-218 Retrieved from httpnoprniscairresinbitstream
123456789128414ALIS20582832920211-218pdf
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
history and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria a choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights the role in the teachinglearning of
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 22
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
Woolman D (2001) Educational reconstruction and post-colonial curriculum development a
comparative study of four African countries International Education Journal 2(5)
27-46 Retrieved from httpciteseerxistpsueduviewdocdownload
doi=10114915399amprep=rep1amptype=pdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 7
Pedagogy
a Teacher-talk (lecture method) recitation and initiation-response-feedback (IRF) models dominate the classroom instruction (Adeyemi 2011 Agbatogun 2014)
b The continued use of the General Purpose English approach to language teaching appears to have failed (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 200)
c The literature suggests that collaborative learning is emerging in Nigeria to replace the lack of interaction among the students and between the teacher and the students (Agbatogun 2012)
d Research indicates technology will transform classrooms from being teacher-centered to being student-centered (Agbatogun 2012)
e Consider a transition point to next Theme An interactive learning environment through the use of clickers is thought to improve student proficiency in English (Agbatogun 2014)
f If teachers do not change pedagogical strategies it is unrealistic to assume that technology will have any impact
Parroting
a Research addressing the topic of parroting was sparse b Lantolf and Thorne (2006) examine the cognitive process of SLA through Vygotskyrsquos
theories versus those of BF Skinnerrsquos behaviorist theories which does resemble parroting
c Second language acquisition is a cognitive activity d Further research is necessary to provide insight into why the Port Harcourt students
solicit this strategy and support evidence as to how best to correct it
Possible Effects on Student SLA
a Ariyo (2010) describes Nigerian studentrsquos written and spoken English as ldquogenerally poorrdquo with grammatical mistakes apparent in their work (p 433)
b The literature identifies English language teachers as the main factor responsible for student performance with the potential to mislead the learner (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015 Tamunobelema 2015)
c Two and three teachers are required to proof studentrsquos work submitted and not all errors are corrected
Resources strategies and curriculum
a The majority of stories contained in English Language textbooks are of foreign cultures (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 8
b Teaching strategies are ldquoun-innovative and fossilizedrdquo (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 202) and not appropriate choices for studentrsquos differing needs (Tamunobelema 2015 Usman amp Mustafa 2014)
c The curriculum structure is according to the culture education and history of the British who colonized the area (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
d Little attention is devoted to English as a subject (Olanipekun et al 2014) e The literature suggests that NNESTs must be supported and motivated to employ
innovative teaching strategies and implement technology into the classrooms
Mother tongue
a The literature states a desire for indigenous languages to appear in education (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013)
b With over five hundred indigenous languages interference of the mother tongue combined with unqualified teachers and limited relevant teaching materials would further contribute to the challenges already facing NNESTs (Akabogu amp Mbah 2013 Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Usman amp Mustafa 2014)
c The literature suggests that the mother tongue has no effect on academic performance There is no correlation between the English language and the mother tongue for interference to occur (Olanipekun Atteh Zaku amp Sarki 2014)
d As a result of the number of indigenous languages it is probable that the NNEST does not speak the studentrsquos L1 (native language)
Conclusion
a According to Chomsky (1965) linguistic theory traditionally considered native English speakers as the preferred teachers of English However according to the literature the ideal teacher of English is not necessarily a native speaker There is a lack of substantial evidence to support whether NESTs are better teachers than NNEST (Florence Ma 2012) Researchers have concluded that without adequate teachers and resources language learners cannot effectively learn a second language
b The literature provided an overwhelming amount of information supportive of Nigerian students being exposed to multiple language learning strategies and that no single strategy can meet all of the studentrsquos needs According to the literature teachers in Nigeria need to employ modern teaching methods and be exposed to professional development in addition to supplementing their academic qualifications
c A weakness found in the literature is that the authors unanimously appear to be non-native English-speakers from non-western countries and cultures Some of the literature displayed certain biases toward the English language and native English language speakers as well
d With the majority of Nigerian educational systems using similar teaching methods and materials in the classroom very little literature was found regarding parroting and cognitive processes as a result of the strategies Nigerian teachers employ
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 9
e As a result the next step will be to research further SLA and cognition to discover pedagogy that correlates to address the issue of parroting observed in the Port Harcourt schools A survey will be conducted to identify better the NNESTs in the schools and the results will be analyzed to determine the teacherrsquos strengths weaknesses and areas professional development can address Regardless of the differing authorrsquos opinions a common theme in the literature examined is that the teacher is ultimately responsible for their studentrsquos performance
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 10
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach An intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning Clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria Cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 11
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers Research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers Student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners How educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
History and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 12
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria A choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights The role in the teachinglearning of
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 13
Review of the Literature on Factors Affecting Studentsrsquo Second Language Acquisition
(SLA) at Greenoak International School Port Harcourt Nigeria
Introduction
English is the language of instruction since the British colonization of Nigeria The
teaching of English continues to pose unique challenges to teachers as discovered through the
TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) lens of an American educator in
Nigeria The non-native English speaking teachers (NNESTs) of a private international K-12
school in Port Harcourt are not all certified to teach The requirements for a teacher in Nigeria
are not as stringent as those for an American teacher All that is required is for teachers to have
earned a Bachelors degree in their field None of the teachers on staff are trained to teach
English as a second language Teachers display inconsistencies in their knowledge of English as
their second language (L2) Due to the number of indigenous languages in Nigeria it cannot be
assumed the teacher speaks the studentsrsquo mother tongue (L1) Since teaching credentials are a
secondary qualification essential exposure to teaching methods is omitted in their training As a
result ineffective teacher-centered pedagogy such as the inherited British-style of lecturing
ldquochalk-talkrdquo and the use of rote memorization dominates classroom instruction (Woolman
2001) Rote memorization has manifested into what Haynes (2007) refers to as ldquoparrotingrdquo (p
29-30) Parroting poses a perplexing dilemma for the American educator and causes NNESTs to
doubt their studentsrsquo abilities to perform academically Parroting has masked language
acquisition as the possible problem and mistakenly shifted the blame to the content area
Exploring the teachers and the implementation of the Cambridge Curriculum are the basis
for this study and attempts to answer the question What factors are affecting student SLA in
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 14
Nigeria It is necessary to examine the literature to determine the education NNESTs receive
the pedagogy and materials they use and the curriculum they have been following to answer the
question
Teachers
Non-Native English-Speaking Teachers (NNESTs)
English as a second language (ESL) students have naively subscribed to the native-
speaker fallacy that the ideal English teacher is a native English speaker Braine (2011) explains
that this belief derived from the frustration resulting from incompetent non-proficient English
teachers Over 80 of the English teachers in the world are non-native English speakers (Braine
2011 Moussu amp Llurda 2008) The literature estimates that NNESTs outnumber their
counterparts by three to one according to Braine (2011)
Education
Only two-thirds of the teachers in Nigeria are qualified to teach and even fewer are
qualified to teach English (Ajibola 2010 Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) Ajibola
(2010) states many teachers have been learning ldquoon-the-jobrdquo (p 101) and do not receive any
professional development Okpe and Onjewu (2015) observed that some teachers accepted
teaching positions as a last resort believing a misconception that anyone can teach As a result of
the British requirements for teaching some teachers assume arriving at the classroom is all that
is required (Ajibola 2010)
SLA Training
English teachers must acquire in-depth knowledge of linguistics to be able to assess
student performance and enhance learning (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015 Owolabi amp Bankole 2013
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 15
Tamunobelema 2015) However linguistic competence does not automatically conclude that
someone is a good teacher (Florence Ma 2012) Ariyo (2010) describes Nigerian studentrsquos
written and spoken English as ldquogenerally poorrdquo with grammatical mistakes apparent in their
work (p 433) The literature identifies English language teachers as the main factor responsible
for student performance with the potential to mislead the learner (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015
Tamunobelema 2015) In Port Harcourt teachers are not trained in SLA and it is necessary for
two or three of them to proof the studentrsquos work and still and errors still go detected
Mother Tongue
The literature states a desire for indigenous languages to appear in education (Owolabi amp
Bankole 2013 Woolman 2001) With over five hundred indigenous languages interference of
the mother tongue combined with unqualified teachers and limited relevant teaching materials
would further contribute to the challenges already facing NNESTs (Akabogu amp Mbah 2013
Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Usman amp Mustafa 2014) There is no correlation between the
English language and the mother tongue for interference to occur (Olanipekun Atteh Zaku amp
Sarki 2014) Also with the number of indigenous languages it is highly probable that the
NNEST does not speak the studentrsquos L1 The literature reviewed suggests that the mother tongue
has no effect on academic performance
Cambridge Curriculum
British-Style Exam-Driven
The curriculum structure is according to the culture education and history of the British
who colonized the area (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) The majority of stories
contained in English Language textbooks are of foreign cultures (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 16
Woolman (2001) states the use of external sources of textbooks curriculums and teachers that
cannot translate into culturally relevant forms of education should be abandoned (p 43)
Abandoning external forms of education contradicts what the Port Harcourt school is attempting
to accomplish Teaching strategies are ldquoun-innovative and fossilizedrdquo (Owolabi amp Bankole
2013 p 202) and not appropriate choices for studentrsquos differing needs (Tamunobelema 2015
Usman amp Mustafa 2014 Woolman 2001 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006) Differentiated
instruction is neither expected or common The teachers in Port Harcourt however do not face
the same challenges elsewhere in Nigeria
Teacher-Centered Pedagogy
Chalk-talk recitation and initiation-response-feedback (IRF) models dominate the
classroom instruction (Adeyemi 2011 Agbatogun 2014 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
The continued use of the General Purpose English approach to language teaching appears to
have failed (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 200) The literature suggests that collaborative
learning is emerging in Nigeria to replace the lack of interaction among the students and
between the teacher and the students (Agbatogun 2012)
Technology
Research indicates technology will transform classrooms from being teacher-centered to
being student-centered (Agbatogun 2012) Port Harcourt is in the processing of installing smart
boards in every classroom beginning with the first grade An interactive learning environment
through the use of clickers is thought to improve student proficiency in English (Agbatogun
2014) If teachers do not change pedagogical strategies it is unrealistic to assume that
technology will have any impact The literature suggests that NNESTs must be supported and
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 17
motivated to employ innovative teaching strategies and implement technology into the
classrooms (Kalejaiye Fabunmi amp Adeoye 2011 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
Parroting
Research addressing the topic of parroting is sparse Lantolf and Thorne (2006) examine
the cognitive process of SLA through Vygotskyrsquos theories versus those of BF Skinnerrsquos
behaviorist theories which does resemble parroting Second language acquisition is a cognitive
activity It is the hope that the literature will provide insight into why the Port Harcourt students
solicit this strategy and support evidence as to how best to correct it
Conclusion
According to Chomsky (1965) linguistic theory traditionally considered native English
speakers as the preferred teachers of English However according to the literature the ideal
teacher of English is not necessarily a native speaker There is a lack of substantial evidence to
support whether NESTs are better teachers than NNESTs (Florence Ma 2012) Researchers
have concluded that without adequate teachers and resources language learners cannot
effectively learn a second language
The literature provided an overwhelming amount of information supportive of Nigerian
students being exposed to multiple language learning strategies and that no single strategy can
meet all of the studentrsquos needs According to the literature teachers in Nigeria need to employ
modern teaching methods and be exposed to professional development in addition to
supplementing their academic qualifications A weakness found in the literature is that the
authors unanimously appear to be non-native English-speakers from non-western countries and
cultures Some of the literature displayed certain biases toward the English language and native
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 18
English language speakers as well With the majority of Nigerian educational systems using
similar teaching methods and materials in the classroom very little literature was found
regarding parroting and cognitive processes as a result of the strategies Nigerian teachers
employ
As a result the next step will be to research further SLA and cognition to discover
pedagogy that correlates to address the issue of parroting observed in the Port Harcourt schools
A survey will be conducted to identify better NNESTs in the schools and the results will be
analyzed to determine the teacherrsquos strengths weaknesses and areas professional development
can address Regardless of the differing authorrsquos opinions a common theme in the literature
examined is that the teacher is ultimately responsible for their studentrsquos performance
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 19
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach an intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Aduwa-Ogiegbaen S amp Iyamu E (2006) Factors affecting quality of English language
teaching and learning in secondary schools in Nigeria College School Journal Publisher
40(3) 1-9 Retrieved from httpwwwfreepatentsonlinecomarticleCollege-Student-
Journal150965814html
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 20
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners how educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Kalejaiye O Fabunmi A amp Adeoye A (2011) Role of school media centres in technology
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 21
integration in Nigerian schools an exploration Annals of Library and Information
Studies 58 211-218 Retrieved from httpnoprniscairresinbitstream
123456789128414ALIS20582832920211-218pdf
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
history and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria a choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights the role in the teachinglearning of
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 22
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
Woolman D (2001) Educational reconstruction and post-colonial curriculum development a
comparative study of four African countries International Education Journal 2(5)
27-46 Retrieved from httpciteseerxistpsueduviewdocdownload
doi=10114915399amprep=rep1amptype=pdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 8
b Teaching strategies are ldquoun-innovative and fossilizedrdquo (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 202) and not appropriate choices for studentrsquos differing needs (Tamunobelema 2015 Usman amp Mustafa 2014)
c The curriculum structure is according to the culture education and history of the British who colonized the area (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
d Little attention is devoted to English as a subject (Olanipekun et al 2014) e The literature suggests that NNESTs must be supported and motivated to employ
innovative teaching strategies and implement technology into the classrooms
Mother tongue
a The literature states a desire for indigenous languages to appear in education (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013)
b With over five hundred indigenous languages interference of the mother tongue combined with unqualified teachers and limited relevant teaching materials would further contribute to the challenges already facing NNESTs (Akabogu amp Mbah 2013 Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Usman amp Mustafa 2014)
c The literature suggests that the mother tongue has no effect on academic performance There is no correlation between the English language and the mother tongue for interference to occur (Olanipekun Atteh Zaku amp Sarki 2014)
d As a result of the number of indigenous languages it is probable that the NNEST does not speak the studentrsquos L1 (native language)
Conclusion
a According to Chomsky (1965) linguistic theory traditionally considered native English speakers as the preferred teachers of English However according to the literature the ideal teacher of English is not necessarily a native speaker There is a lack of substantial evidence to support whether NESTs are better teachers than NNEST (Florence Ma 2012) Researchers have concluded that without adequate teachers and resources language learners cannot effectively learn a second language
b The literature provided an overwhelming amount of information supportive of Nigerian students being exposed to multiple language learning strategies and that no single strategy can meet all of the studentrsquos needs According to the literature teachers in Nigeria need to employ modern teaching methods and be exposed to professional development in addition to supplementing their academic qualifications
c A weakness found in the literature is that the authors unanimously appear to be non-native English-speakers from non-western countries and cultures Some of the literature displayed certain biases toward the English language and native English language speakers as well
d With the majority of Nigerian educational systems using similar teaching methods and materials in the classroom very little literature was found regarding parroting and cognitive processes as a result of the strategies Nigerian teachers employ
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 9
e As a result the next step will be to research further SLA and cognition to discover pedagogy that correlates to address the issue of parroting observed in the Port Harcourt schools A survey will be conducted to identify better the NNESTs in the schools and the results will be analyzed to determine the teacherrsquos strengths weaknesses and areas professional development can address Regardless of the differing authorrsquos opinions a common theme in the literature examined is that the teacher is ultimately responsible for their studentrsquos performance
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 10
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach An intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning Clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria Cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 11
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers Research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers Student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners How educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
History and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 12
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria A choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights The role in the teachinglearning of
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 13
Review of the Literature on Factors Affecting Studentsrsquo Second Language Acquisition
(SLA) at Greenoak International School Port Harcourt Nigeria
Introduction
English is the language of instruction since the British colonization of Nigeria The
teaching of English continues to pose unique challenges to teachers as discovered through the
TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) lens of an American educator in
Nigeria The non-native English speaking teachers (NNESTs) of a private international K-12
school in Port Harcourt are not all certified to teach The requirements for a teacher in Nigeria
are not as stringent as those for an American teacher All that is required is for teachers to have
earned a Bachelors degree in their field None of the teachers on staff are trained to teach
English as a second language Teachers display inconsistencies in their knowledge of English as
their second language (L2) Due to the number of indigenous languages in Nigeria it cannot be
assumed the teacher speaks the studentsrsquo mother tongue (L1) Since teaching credentials are a
secondary qualification essential exposure to teaching methods is omitted in their training As a
result ineffective teacher-centered pedagogy such as the inherited British-style of lecturing
ldquochalk-talkrdquo and the use of rote memorization dominates classroom instruction (Woolman
2001) Rote memorization has manifested into what Haynes (2007) refers to as ldquoparrotingrdquo (p
29-30) Parroting poses a perplexing dilemma for the American educator and causes NNESTs to
doubt their studentsrsquo abilities to perform academically Parroting has masked language
acquisition as the possible problem and mistakenly shifted the blame to the content area
Exploring the teachers and the implementation of the Cambridge Curriculum are the basis
for this study and attempts to answer the question What factors are affecting student SLA in
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 14
Nigeria It is necessary to examine the literature to determine the education NNESTs receive
the pedagogy and materials they use and the curriculum they have been following to answer the
question
Teachers
Non-Native English-Speaking Teachers (NNESTs)
English as a second language (ESL) students have naively subscribed to the native-
speaker fallacy that the ideal English teacher is a native English speaker Braine (2011) explains
that this belief derived from the frustration resulting from incompetent non-proficient English
teachers Over 80 of the English teachers in the world are non-native English speakers (Braine
2011 Moussu amp Llurda 2008) The literature estimates that NNESTs outnumber their
counterparts by three to one according to Braine (2011)
Education
Only two-thirds of the teachers in Nigeria are qualified to teach and even fewer are
qualified to teach English (Ajibola 2010 Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) Ajibola
(2010) states many teachers have been learning ldquoon-the-jobrdquo (p 101) and do not receive any
professional development Okpe and Onjewu (2015) observed that some teachers accepted
teaching positions as a last resort believing a misconception that anyone can teach As a result of
the British requirements for teaching some teachers assume arriving at the classroom is all that
is required (Ajibola 2010)
SLA Training
English teachers must acquire in-depth knowledge of linguistics to be able to assess
student performance and enhance learning (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015 Owolabi amp Bankole 2013
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 15
Tamunobelema 2015) However linguistic competence does not automatically conclude that
someone is a good teacher (Florence Ma 2012) Ariyo (2010) describes Nigerian studentrsquos
written and spoken English as ldquogenerally poorrdquo with grammatical mistakes apparent in their
work (p 433) The literature identifies English language teachers as the main factor responsible
for student performance with the potential to mislead the learner (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015
Tamunobelema 2015) In Port Harcourt teachers are not trained in SLA and it is necessary for
two or three of them to proof the studentrsquos work and still and errors still go detected
Mother Tongue
The literature states a desire for indigenous languages to appear in education (Owolabi amp
Bankole 2013 Woolman 2001) With over five hundred indigenous languages interference of
the mother tongue combined with unqualified teachers and limited relevant teaching materials
would further contribute to the challenges already facing NNESTs (Akabogu amp Mbah 2013
Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Usman amp Mustafa 2014) There is no correlation between the
English language and the mother tongue for interference to occur (Olanipekun Atteh Zaku amp
Sarki 2014) Also with the number of indigenous languages it is highly probable that the
NNEST does not speak the studentrsquos L1 The literature reviewed suggests that the mother tongue
has no effect on academic performance
Cambridge Curriculum
British-Style Exam-Driven
The curriculum structure is according to the culture education and history of the British
who colonized the area (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) The majority of stories
contained in English Language textbooks are of foreign cultures (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 16
Woolman (2001) states the use of external sources of textbooks curriculums and teachers that
cannot translate into culturally relevant forms of education should be abandoned (p 43)
Abandoning external forms of education contradicts what the Port Harcourt school is attempting
to accomplish Teaching strategies are ldquoun-innovative and fossilizedrdquo (Owolabi amp Bankole
2013 p 202) and not appropriate choices for studentrsquos differing needs (Tamunobelema 2015
Usman amp Mustafa 2014 Woolman 2001 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006) Differentiated
instruction is neither expected or common The teachers in Port Harcourt however do not face
the same challenges elsewhere in Nigeria
Teacher-Centered Pedagogy
Chalk-talk recitation and initiation-response-feedback (IRF) models dominate the
classroom instruction (Adeyemi 2011 Agbatogun 2014 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
The continued use of the General Purpose English approach to language teaching appears to
have failed (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 200) The literature suggests that collaborative
learning is emerging in Nigeria to replace the lack of interaction among the students and
between the teacher and the students (Agbatogun 2012)
Technology
Research indicates technology will transform classrooms from being teacher-centered to
being student-centered (Agbatogun 2012) Port Harcourt is in the processing of installing smart
boards in every classroom beginning with the first grade An interactive learning environment
through the use of clickers is thought to improve student proficiency in English (Agbatogun
2014) If teachers do not change pedagogical strategies it is unrealistic to assume that
technology will have any impact The literature suggests that NNESTs must be supported and
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 17
motivated to employ innovative teaching strategies and implement technology into the
classrooms (Kalejaiye Fabunmi amp Adeoye 2011 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
Parroting
Research addressing the topic of parroting is sparse Lantolf and Thorne (2006) examine
the cognitive process of SLA through Vygotskyrsquos theories versus those of BF Skinnerrsquos
behaviorist theories which does resemble parroting Second language acquisition is a cognitive
activity It is the hope that the literature will provide insight into why the Port Harcourt students
solicit this strategy and support evidence as to how best to correct it
Conclusion
According to Chomsky (1965) linguistic theory traditionally considered native English
speakers as the preferred teachers of English However according to the literature the ideal
teacher of English is not necessarily a native speaker There is a lack of substantial evidence to
support whether NESTs are better teachers than NNESTs (Florence Ma 2012) Researchers
have concluded that without adequate teachers and resources language learners cannot
effectively learn a second language
The literature provided an overwhelming amount of information supportive of Nigerian
students being exposed to multiple language learning strategies and that no single strategy can
meet all of the studentrsquos needs According to the literature teachers in Nigeria need to employ
modern teaching methods and be exposed to professional development in addition to
supplementing their academic qualifications A weakness found in the literature is that the
authors unanimously appear to be non-native English-speakers from non-western countries and
cultures Some of the literature displayed certain biases toward the English language and native
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 18
English language speakers as well With the majority of Nigerian educational systems using
similar teaching methods and materials in the classroom very little literature was found
regarding parroting and cognitive processes as a result of the strategies Nigerian teachers
employ
As a result the next step will be to research further SLA and cognition to discover
pedagogy that correlates to address the issue of parroting observed in the Port Harcourt schools
A survey will be conducted to identify better NNESTs in the schools and the results will be
analyzed to determine the teacherrsquos strengths weaknesses and areas professional development
can address Regardless of the differing authorrsquos opinions a common theme in the literature
examined is that the teacher is ultimately responsible for their studentrsquos performance
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 19
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach an intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Aduwa-Ogiegbaen S amp Iyamu E (2006) Factors affecting quality of English language
teaching and learning in secondary schools in Nigeria College School Journal Publisher
40(3) 1-9 Retrieved from httpwwwfreepatentsonlinecomarticleCollege-Student-
Journal150965814html
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 20
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners how educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Kalejaiye O Fabunmi A amp Adeoye A (2011) Role of school media centres in technology
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 21
integration in Nigerian schools an exploration Annals of Library and Information
Studies 58 211-218 Retrieved from httpnoprniscairresinbitstream
123456789128414ALIS20582832920211-218pdf
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
history and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria a choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights the role in the teachinglearning of
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 22
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
Woolman D (2001) Educational reconstruction and post-colonial curriculum development a
comparative study of four African countries International Education Journal 2(5)
27-46 Retrieved from httpciteseerxistpsueduviewdocdownload
doi=10114915399amprep=rep1amptype=pdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 9
e As a result the next step will be to research further SLA and cognition to discover pedagogy that correlates to address the issue of parroting observed in the Port Harcourt schools A survey will be conducted to identify better the NNESTs in the schools and the results will be analyzed to determine the teacherrsquos strengths weaknesses and areas professional development can address Regardless of the differing authorrsquos opinions a common theme in the literature examined is that the teacher is ultimately responsible for their studentrsquos performance
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 10
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach An intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning Clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria Cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 11
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers Research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers Student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners How educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
History and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 12
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria A choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights The role in the teachinglearning of
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 13
Review of the Literature on Factors Affecting Studentsrsquo Second Language Acquisition
(SLA) at Greenoak International School Port Harcourt Nigeria
Introduction
English is the language of instruction since the British colonization of Nigeria The
teaching of English continues to pose unique challenges to teachers as discovered through the
TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) lens of an American educator in
Nigeria The non-native English speaking teachers (NNESTs) of a private international K-12
school in Port Harcourt are not all certified to teach The requirements for a teacher in Nigeria
are not as stringent as those for an American teacher All that is required is for teachers to have
earned a Bachelors degree in their field None of the teachers on staff are trained to teach
English as a second language Teachers display inconsistencies in their knowledge of English as
their second language (L2) Due to the number of indigenous languages in Nigeria it cannot be
assumed the teacher speaks the studentsrsquo mother tongue (L1) Since teaching credentials are a
secondary qualification essential exposure to teaching methods is omitted in their training As a
result ineffective teacher-centered pedagogy such as the inherited British-style of lecturing
ldquochalk-talkrdquo and the use of rote memorization dominates classroom instruction (Woolman
2001) Rote memorization has manifested into what Haynes (2007) refers to as ldquoparrotingrdquo (p
29-30) Parroting poses a perplexing dilemma for the American educator and causes NNESTs to
doubt their studentsrsquo abilities to perform academically Parroting has masked language
acquisition as the possible problem and mistakenly shifted the blame to the content area
Exploring the teachers and the implementation of the Cambridge Curriculum are the basis
for this study and attempts to answer the question What factors are affecting student SLA in
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 14
Nigeria It is necessary to examine the literature to determine the education NNESTs receive
the pedagogy and materials they use and the curriculum they have been following to answer the
question
Teachers
Non-Native English-Speaking Teachers (NNESTs)
English as a second language (ESL) students have naively subscribed to the native-
speaker fallacy that the ideal English teacher is a native English speaker Braine (2011) explains
that this belief derived from the frustration resulting from incompetent non-proficient English
teachers Over 80 of the English teachers in the world are non-native English speakers (Braine
2011 Moussu amp Llurda 2008) The literature estimates that NNESTs outnumber their
counterparts by three to one according to Braine (2011)
Education
Only two-thirds of the teachers in Nigeria are qualified to teach and even fewer are
qualified to teach English (Ajibola 2010 Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) Ajibola
(2010) states many teachers have been learning ldquoon-the-jobrdquo (p 101) and do not receive any
professional development Okpe and Onjewu (2015) observed that some teachers accepted
teaching positions as a last resort believing a misconception that anyone can teach As a result of
the British requirements for teaching some teachers assume arriving at the classroom is all that
is required (Ajibola 2010)
SLA Training
English teachers must acquire in-depth knowledge of linguistics to be able to assess
student performance and enhance learning (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015 Owolabi amp Bankole 2013
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 15
Tamunobelema 2015) However linguistic competence does not automatically conclude that
someone is a good teacher (Florence Ma 2012) Ariyo (2010) describes Nigerian studentrsquos
written and spoken English as ldquogenerally poorrdquo with grammatical mistakes apparent in their
work (p 433) The literature identifies English language teachers as the main factor responsible
for student performance with the potential to mislead the learner (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015
Tamunobelema 2015) In Port Harcourt teachers are not trained in SLA and it is necessary for
two or three of them to proof the studentrsquos work and still and errors still go detected
Mother Tongue
The literature states a desire for indigenous languages to appear in education (Owolabi amp
Bankole 2013 Woolman 2001) With over five hundred indigenous languages interference of
the mother tongue combined with unqualified teachers and limited relevant teaching materials
would further contribute to the challenges already facing NNESTs (Akabogu amp Mbah 2013
Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Usman amp Mustafa 2014) There is no correlation between the
English language and the mother tongue for interference to occur (Olanipekun Atteh Zaku amp
Sarki 2014) Also with the number of indigenous languages it is highly probable that the
NNEST does not speak the studentrsquos L1 The literature reviewed suggests that the mother tongue
has no effect on academic performance
Cambridge Curriculum
British-Style Exam-Driven
The curriculum structure is according to the culture education and history of the British
who colonized the area (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) The majority of stories
contained in English Language textbooks are of foreign cultures (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 16
Woolman (2001) states the use of external sources of textbooks curriculums and teachers that
cannot translate into culturally relevant forms of education should be abandoned (p 43)
Abandoning external forms of education contradicts what the Port Harcourt school is attempting
to accomplish Teaching strategies are ldquoun-innovative and fossilizedrdquo (Owolabi amp Bankole
2013 p 202) and not appropriate choices for studentrsquos differing needs (Tamunobelema 2015
Usman amp Mustafa 2014 Woolman 2001 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006) Differentiated
instruction is neither expected or common The teachers in Port Harcourt however do not face
the same challenges elsewhere in Nigeria
Teacher-Centered Pedagogy
Chalk-talk recitation and initiation-response-feedback (IRF) models dominate the
classroom instruction (Adeyemi 2011 Agbatogun 2014 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
The continued use of the General Purpose English approach to language teaching appears to
have failed (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 200) The literature suggests that collaborative
learning is emerging in Nigeria to replace the lack of interaction among the students and
between the teacher and the students (Agbatogun 2012)
Technology
Research indicates technology will transform classrooms from being teacher-centered to
being student-centered (Agbatogun 2012) Port Harcourt is in the processing of installing smart
boards in every classroom beginning with the first grade An interactive learning environment
through the use of clickers is thought to improve student proficiency in English (Agbatogun
2014) If teachers do not change pedagogical strategies it is unrealistic to assume that
technology will have any impact The literature suggests that NNESTs must be supported and
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 17
motivated to employ innovative teaching strategies and implement technology into the
classrooms (Kalejaiye Fabunmi amp Adeoye 2011 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
Parroting
Research addressing the topic of parroting is sparse Lantolf and Thorne (2006) examine
the cognitive process of SLA through Vygotskyrsquos theories versus those of BF Skinnerrsquos
behaviorist theories which does resemble parroting Second language acquisition is a cognitive
activity It is the hope that the literature will provide insight into why the Port Harcourt students
solicit this strategy and support evidence as to how best to correct it
Conclusion
According to Chomsky (1965) linguistic theory traditionally considered native English
speakers as the preferred teachers of English However according to the literature the ideal
teacher of English is not necessarily a native speaker There is a lack of substantial evidence to
support whether NESTs are better teachers than NNESTs (Florence Ma 2012) Researchers
have concluded that without adequate teachers and resources language learners cannot
effectively learn a second language
The literature provided an overwhelming amount of information supportive of Nigerian
students being exposed to multiple language learning strategies and that no single strategy can
meet all of the studentrsquos needs According to the literature teachers in Nigeria need to employ
modern teaching methods and be exposed to professional development in addition to
supplementing their academic qualifications A weakness found in the literature is that the
authors unanimously appear to be non-native English-speakers from non-western countries and
cultures Some of the literature displayed certain biases toward the English language and native
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 18
English language speakers as well With the majority of Nigerian educational systems using
similar teaching methods and materials in the classroom very little literature was found
regarding parroting and cognitive processes as a result of the strategies Nigerian teachers
employ
As a result the next step will be to research further SLA and cognition to discover
pedagogy that correlates to address the issue of parroting observed in the Port Harcourt schools
A survey will be conducted to identify better NNESTs in the schools and the results will be
analyzed to determine the teacherrsquos strengths weaknesses and areas professional development
can address Regardless of the differing authorrsquos opinions a common theme in the literature
examined is that the teacher is ultimately responsible for their studentrsquos performance
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 19
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach an intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Aduwa-Ogiegbaen S amp Iyamu E (2006) Factors affecting quality of English language
teaching and learning in secondary schools in Nigeria College School Journal Publisher
40(3) 1-9 Retrieved from httpwwwfreepatentsonlinecomarticleCollege-Student-
Journal150965814html
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 20
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners how educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Kalejaiye O Fabunmi A amp Adeoye A (2011) Role of school media centres in technology
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 21
integration in Nigerian schools an exploration Annals of Library and Information
Studies 58 211-218 Retrieved from httpnoprniscairresinbitstream
123456789128414ALIS20582832920211-218pdf
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
history and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria a choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights the role in the teachinglearning of
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 22
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
Woolman D (2001) Educational reconstruction and post-colonial curriculum development a
comparative study of four African countries International Education Journal 2(5)
27-46 Retrieved from httpciteseerxistpsueduviewdocdownload
doi=10114915399amprep=rep1amptype=pdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 10
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach An intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning Clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria Cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 11
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers Research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers Student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners How educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
History and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 12
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria A choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights The role in the teachinglearning of
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 13
Review of the Literature on Factors Affecting Studentsrsquo Second Language Acquisition
(SLA) at Greenoak International School Port Harcourt Nigeria
Introduction
English is the language of instruction since the British colonization of Nigeria The
teaching of English continues to pose unique challenges to teachers as discovered through the
TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) lens of an American educator in
Nigeria The non-native English speaking teachers (NNESTs) of a private international K-12
school in Port Harcourt are not all certified to teach The requirements for a teacher in Nigeria
are not as stringent as those for an American teacher All that is required is for teachers to have
earned a Bachelors degree in their field None of the teachers on staff are trained to teach
English as a second language Teachers display inconsistencies in their knowledge of English as
their second language (L2) Due to the number of indigenous languages in Nigeria it cannot be
assumed the teacher speaks the studentsrsquo mother tongue (L1) Since teaching credentials are a
secondary qualification essential exposure to teaching methods is omitted in their training As a
result ineffective teacher-centered pedagogy such as the inherited British-style of lecturing
ldquochalk-talkrdquo and the use of rote memorization dominates classroom instruction (Woolman
2001) Rote memorization has manifested into what Haynes (2007) refers to as ldquoparrotingrdquo (p
29-30) Parroting poses a perplexing dilemma for the American educator and causes NNESTs to
doubt their studentsrsquo abilities to perform academically Parroting has masked language
acquisition as the possible problem and mistakenly shifted the blame to the content area
Exploring the teachers and the implementation of the Cambridge Curriculum are the basis
for this study and attempts to answer the question What factors are affecting student SLA in
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 14
Nigeria It is necessary to examine the literature to determine the education NNESTs receive
the pedagogy and materials they use and the curriculum they have been following to answer the
question
Teachers
Non-Native English-Speaking Teachers (NNESTs)
English as a second language (ESL) students have naively subscribed to the native-
speaker fallacy that the ideal English teacher is a native English speaker Braine (2011) explains
that this belief derived from the frustration resulting from incompetent non-proficient English
teachers Over 80 of the English teachers in the world are non-native English speakers (Braine
2011 Moussu amp Llurda 2008) The literature estimates that NNESTs outnumber their
counterparts by three to one according to Braine (2011)
Education
Only two-thirds of the teachers in Nigeria are qualified to teach and even fewer are
qualified to teach English (Ajibola 2010 Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) Ajibola
(2010) states many teachers have been learning ldquoon-the-jobrdquo (p 101) and do not receive any
professional development Okpe and Onjewu (2015) observed that some teachers accepted
teaching positions as a last resort believing a misconception that anyone can teach As a result of
the British requirements for teaching some teachers assume arriving at the classroom is all that
is required (Ajibola 2010)
SLA Training
English teachers must acquire in-depth knowledge of linguistics to be able to assess
student performance and enhance learning (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015 Owolabi amp Bankole 2013
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 15
Tamunobelema 2015) However linguistic competence does not automatically conclude that
someone is a good teacher (Florence Ma 2012) Ariyo (2010) describes Nigerian studentrsquos
written and spoken English as ldquogenerally poorrdquo with grammatical mistakes apparent in their
work (p 433) The literature identifies English language teachers as the main factor responsible
for student performance with the potential to mislead the learner (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015
Tamunobelema 2015) In Port Harcourt teachers are not trained in SLA and it is necessary for
two or three of them to proof the studentrsquos work and still and errors still go detected
Mother Tongue
The literature states a desire for indigenous languages to appear in education (Owolabi amp
Bankole 2013 Woolman 2001) With over five hundred indigenous languages interference of
the mother tongue combined with unqualified teachers and limited relevant teaching materials
would further contribute to the challenges already facing NNESTs (Akabogu amp Mbah 2013
Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Usman amp Mustafa 2014) There is no correlation between the
English language and the mother tongue for interference to occur (Olanipekun Atteh Zaku amp
Sarki 2014) Also with the number of indigenous languages it is highly probable that the
NNEST does not speak the studentrsquos L1 The literature reviewed suggests that the mother tongue
has no effect on academic performance
Cambridge Curriculum
British-Style Exam-Driven
The curriculum structure is according to the culture education and history of the British
who colonized the area (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) The majority of stories
contained in English Language textbooks are of foreign cultures (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 16
Woolman (2001) states the use of external sources of textbooks curriculums and teachers that
cannot translate into culturally relevant forms of education should be abandoned (p 43)
Abandoning external forms of education contradicts what the Port Harcourt school is attempting
to accomplish Teaching strategies are ldquoun-innovative and fossilizedrdquo (Owolabi amp Bankole
2013 p 202) and not appropriate choices for studentrsquos differing needs (Tamunobelema 2015
Usman amp Mustafa 2014 Woolman 2001 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006) Differentiated
instruction is neither expected or common The teachers in Port Harcourt however do not face
the same challenges elsewhere in Nigeria
Teacher-Centered Pedagogy
Chalk-talk recitation and initiation-response-feedback (IRF) models dominate the
classroom instruction (Adeyemi 2011 Agbatogun 2014 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
The continued use of the General Purpose English approach to language teaching appears to
have failed (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 200) The literature suggests that collaborative
learning is emerging in Nigeria to replace the lack of interaction among the students and
between the teacher and the students (Agbatogun 2012)
Technology
Research indicates technology will transform classrooms from being teacher-centered to
being student-centered (Agbatogun 2012) Port Harcourt is in the processing of installing smart
boards in every classroom beginning with the first grade An interactive learning environment
through the use of clickers is thought to improve student proficiency in English (Agbatogun
2014) If teachers do not change pedagogical strategies it is unrealistic to assume that
technology will have any impact The literature suggests that NNESTs must be supported and
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 17
motivated to employ innovative teaching strategies and implement technology into the
classrooms (Kalejaiye Fabunmi amp Adeoye 2011 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
Parroting
Research addressing the topic of parroting is sparse Lantolf and Thorne (2006) examine
the cognitive process of SLA through Vygotskyrsquos theories versus those of BF Skinnerrsquos
behaviorist theories which does resemble parroting Second language acquisition is a cognitive
activity It is the hope that the literature will provide insight into why the Port Harcourt students
solicit this strategy and support evidence as to how best to correct it
Conclusion
According to Chomsky (1965) linguistic theory traditionally considered native English
speakers as the preferred teachers of English However according to the literature the ideal
teacher of English is not necessarily a native speaker There is a lack of substantial evidence to
support whether NESTs are better teachers than NNESTs (Florence Ma 2012) Researchers
have concluded that without adequate teachers and resources language learners cannot
effectively learn a second language
The literature provided an overwhelming amount of information supportive of Nigerian
students being exposed to multiple language learning strategies and that no single strategy can
meet all of the studentrsquos needs According to the literature teachers in Nigeria need to employ
modern teaching methods and be exposed to professional development in addition to
supplementing their academic qualifications A weakness found in the literature is that the
authors unanimously appear to be non-native English-speakers from non-western countries and
cultures Some of the literature displayed certain biases toward the English language and native
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 18
English language speakers as well With the majority of Nigerian educational systems using
similar teaching methods and materials in the classroom very little literature was found
regarding parroting and cognitive processes as a result of the strategies Nigerian teachers
employ
As a result the next step will be to research further SLA and cognition to discover
pedagogy that correlates to address the issue of parroting observed in the Port Harcourt schools
A survey will be conducted to identify better NNESTs in the schools and the results will be
analyzed to determine the teacherrsquos strengths weaknesses and areas professional development
can address Regardless of the differing authorrsquos opinions a common theme in the literature
examined is that the teacher is ultimately responsible for their studentrsquos performance
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 19
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach an intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Aduwa-Ogiegbaen S amp Iyamu E (2006) Factors affecting quality of English language
teaching and learning in secondary schools in Nigeria College School Journal Publisher
40(3) 1-9 Retrieved from httpwwwfreepatentsonlinecomarticleCollege-Student-
Journal150965814html
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 20
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners how educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Kalejaiye O Fabunmi A amp Adeoye A (2011) Role of school media centres in technology
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 21
integration in Nigerian schools an exploration Annals of Library and Information
Studies 58 211-218 Retrieved from httpnoprniscairresinbitstream
123456789128414ALIS20582832920211-218pdf
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
history and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria a choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights the role in the teachinglearning of
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 22
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
Woolman D (2001) Educational reconstruction and post-colonial curriculum development a
comparative study of four African countries International Education Journal 2(5)
27-46 Retrieved from httpciteseerxistpsueduviewdocdownload
doi=10114915399amprep=rep1amptype=pdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 11
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers Research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers Student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners How educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
History and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 12
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria A choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights The role in the teachinglearning of
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 13
Review of the Literature on Factors Affecting Studentsrsquo Second Language Acquisition
(SLA) at Greenoak International School Port Harcourt Nigeria
Introduction
English is the language of instruction since the British colonization of Nigeria The
teaching of English continues to pose unique challenges to teachers as discovered through the
TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) lens of an American educator in
Nigeria The non-native English speaking teachers (NNESTs) of a private international K-12
school in Port Harcourt are not all certified to teach The requirements for a teacher in Nigeria
are not as stringent as those for an American teacher All that is required is for teachers to have
earned a Bachelors degree in their field None of the teachers on staff are trained to teach
English as a second language Teachers display inconsistencies in their knowledge of English as
their second language (L2) Due to the number of indigenous languages in Nigeria it cannot be
assumed the teacher speaks the studentsrsquo mother tongue (L1) Since teaching credentials are a
secondary qualification essential exposure to teaching methods is omitted in their training As a
result ineffective teacher-centered pedagogy such as the inherited British-style of lecturing
ldquochalk-talkrdquo and the use of rote memorization dominates classroom instruction (Woolman
2001) Rote memorization has manifested into what Haynes (2007) refers to as ldquoparrotingrdquo (p
29-30) Parroting poses a perplexing dilemma for the American educator and causes NNESTs to
doubt their studentsrsquo abilities to perform academically Parroting has masked language
acquisition as the possible problem and mistakenly shifted the blame to the content area
Exploring the teachers and the implementation of the Cambridge Curriculum are the basis
for this study and attempts to answer the question What factors are affecting student SLA in
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 14
Nigeria It is necessary to examine the literature to determine the education NNESTs receive
the pedagogy and materials they use and the curriculum they have been following to answer the
question
Teachers
Non-Native English-Speaking Teachers (NNESTs)
English as a second language (ESL) students have naively subscribed to the native-
speaker fallacy that the ideal English teacher is a native English speaker Braine (2011) explains
that this belief derived from the frustration resulting from incompetent non-proficient English
teachers Over 80 of the English teachers in the world are non-native English speakers (Braine
2011 Moussu amp Llurda 2008) The literature estimates that NNESTs outnumber their
counterparts by three to one according to Braine (2011)
Education
Only two-thirds of the teachers in Nigeria are qualified to teach and even fewer are
qualified to teach English (Ajibola 2010 Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) Ajibola
(2010) states many teachers have been learning ldquoon-the-jobrdquo (p 101) and do not receive any
professional development Okpe and Onjewu (2015) observed that some teachers accepted
teaching positions as a last resort believing a misconception that anyone can teach As a result of
the British requirements for teaching some teachers assume arriving at the classroom is all that
is required (Ajibola 2010)
SLA Training
English teachers must acquire in-depth knowledge of linguistics to be able to assess
student performance and enhance learning (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015 Owolabi amp Bankole 2013
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 15
Tamunobelema 2015) However linguistic competence does not automatically conclude that
someone is a good teacher (Florence Ma 2012) Ariyo (2010) describes Nigerian studentrsquos
written and spoken English as ldquogenerally poorrdquo with grammatical mistakes apparent in their
work (p 433) The literature identifies English language teachers as the main factor responsible
for student performance with the potential to mislead the learner (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015
Tamunobelema 2015) In Port Harcourt teachers are not trained in SLA and it is necessary for
two or three of them to proof the studentrsquos work and still and errors still go detected
Mother Tongue
The literature states a desire for indigenous languages to appear in education (Owolabi amp
Bankole 2013 Woolman 2001) With over five hundred indigenous languages interference of
the mother tongue combined with unqualified teachers and limited relevant teaching materials
would further contribute to the challenges already facing NNESTs (Akabogu amp Mbah 2013
Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Usman amp Mustafa 2014) There is no correlation between the
English language and the mother tongue for interference to occur (Olanipekun Atteh Zaku amp
Sarki 2014) Also with the number of indigenous languages it is highly probable that the
NNEST does not speak the studentrsquos L1 The literature reviewed suggests that the mother tongue
has no effect on academic performance
Cambridge Curriculum
British-Style Exam-Driven
The curriculum structure is according to the culture education and history of the British
who colonized the area (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) The majority of stories
contained in English Language textbooks are of foreign cultures (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 16
Woolman (2001) states the use of external sources of textbooks curriculums and teachers that
cannot translate into culturally relevant forms of education should be abandoned (p 43)
Abandoning external forms of education contradicts what the Port Harcourt school is attempting
to accomplish Teaching strategies are ldquoun-innovative and fossilizedrdquo (Owolabi amp Bankole
2013 p 202) and not appropriate choices for studentrsquos differing needs (Tamunobelema 2015
Usman amp Mustafa 2014 Woolman 2001 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006) Differentiated
instruction is neither expected or common The teachers in Port Harcourt however do not face
the same challenges elsewhere in Nigeria
Teacher-Centered Pedagogy
Chalk-talk recitation and initiation-response-feedback (IRF) models dominate the
classroom instruction (Adeyemi 2011 Agbatogun 2014 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
The continued use of the General Purpose English approach to language teaching appears to
have failed (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 200) The literature suggests that collaborative
learning is emerging in Nigeria to replace the lack of interaction among the students and
between the teacher and the students (Agbatogun 2012)
Technology
Research indicates technology will transform classrooms from being teacher-centered to
being student-centered (Agbatogun 2012) Port Harcourt is in the processing of installing smart
boards in every classroom beginning with the first grade An interactive learning environment
through the use of clickers is thought to improve student proficiency in English (Agbatogun
2014) If teachers do not change pedagogical strategies it is unrealistic to assume that
technology will have any impact The literature suggests that NNESTs must be supported and
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 17
motivated to employ innovative teaching strategies and implement technology into the
classrooms (Kalejaiye Fabunmi amp Adeoye 2011 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
Parroting
Research addressing the topic of parroting is sparse Lantolf and Thorne (2006) examine
the cognitive process of SLA through Vygotskyrsquos theories versus those of BF Skinnerrsquos
behaviorist theories which does resemble parroting Second language acquisition is a cognitive
activity It is the hope that the literature will provide insight into why the Port Harcourt students
solicit this strategy and support evidence as to how best to correct it
Conclusion
According to Chomsky (1965) linguistic theory traditionally considered native English
speakers as the preferred teachers of English However according to the literature the ideal
teacher of English is not necessarily a native speaker There is a lack of substantial evidence to
support whether NESTs are better teachers than NNESTs (Florence Ma 2012) Researchers
have concluded that without adequate teachers and resources language learners cannot
effectively learn a second language
The literature provided an overwhelming amount of information supportive of Nigerian
students being exposed to multiple language learning strategies and that no single strategy can
meet all of the studentrsquos needs According to the literature teachers in Nigeria need to employ
modern teaching methods and be exposed to professional development in addition to
supplementing their academic qualifications A weakness found in the literature is that the
authors unanimously appear to be non-native English-speakers from non-western countries and
cultures Some of the literature displayed certain biases toward the English language and native
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 18
English language speakers as well With the majority of Nigerian educational systems using
similar teaching methods and materials in the classroom very little literature was found
regarding parroting and cognitive processes as a result of the strategies Nigerian teachers
employ
As a result the next step will be to research further SLA and cognition to discover
pedagogy that correlates to address the issue of parroting observed in the Port Harcourt schools
A survey will be conducted to identify better NNESTs in the schools and the results will be
analyzed to determine the teacherrsquos strengths weaknesses and areas professional development
can address Regardless of the differing authorrsquos opinions a common theme in the literature
examined is that the teacher is ultimately responsible for their studentrsquos performance
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 19
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach an intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Aduwa-Ogiegbaen S amp Iyamu E (2006) Factors affecting quality of English language
teaching and learning in secondary schools in Nigeria College School Journal Publisher
40(3) 1-9 Retrieved from httpwwwfreepatentsonlinecomarticleCollege-Student-
Journal150965814html
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 20
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners how educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Kalejaiye O Fabunmi A amp Adeoye A (2011) Role of school media centres in technology
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 21
integration in Nigerian schools an exploration Annals of Library and Information
Studies 58 211-218 Retrieved from httpnoprniscairresinbitstream
123456789128414ALIS20582832920211-218pdf
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
history and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria a choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights the role in the teachinglearning of
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 22
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
Woolman D (2001) Educational reconstruction and post-colonial curriculum development a
comparative study of four African countries International Education Journal 2(5)
27-46 Retrieved from httpciteseerxistpsueduviewdocdownload
doi=10114915399amprep=rep1amptype=pdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 12
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria A choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights The role in the teachinglearning of
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 13
Review of the Literature on Factors Affecting Studentsrsquo Second Language Acquisition
(SLA) at Greenoak International School Port Harcourt Nigeria
Introduction
English is the language of instruction since the British colonization of Nigeria The
teaching of English continues to pose unique challenges to teachers as discovered through the
TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) lens of an American educator in
Nigeria The non-native English speaking teachers (NNESTs) of a private international K-12
school in Port Harcourt are not all certified to teach The requirements for a teacher in Nigeria
are not as stringent as those for an American teacher All that is required is for teachers to have
earned a Bachelors degree in their field None of the teachers on staff are trained to teach
English as a second language Teachers display inconsistencies in their knowledge of English as
their second language (L2) Due to the number of indigenous languages in Nigeria it cannot be
assumed the teacher speaks the studentsrsquo mother tongue (L1) Since teaching credentials are a
secondary qualification essential exposure to teaching methods is omitted in their training As a
result ineffective teacher-centered pedagogy such as the inherited British-style of lecturing
ldquochalk-talkrdquo and the use of rote memorization dominates classroom instruction (Woolman
2001) Rote memorization has manifested into what Haynes (2007) refers to as ldquoparrotingrdquo (p
29-30) Parroting poses a perplexing dilemma for the American educator and causes NNESTs to
doubt their studentsrsquo abilities to perform academically Parroting has masked language
acquisition as the possible problem and mistakenly shifted the blame to the content area
Exploring the teachers and the implementation of the Cambridge Curriculum are the basis
for this study and attempts to answer the question What factors are affecting student SLA in
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 14
Nigeria It is necessary to examine the literature to determine the education NNESTs receive
the pedagogy and materials they use and the curriculum they have been following to answer the
question
Teachers
Non-Native English-Speaking Teachers (NNESTs)
English as a second language (ESL) students have naively subscribed to the native-
speaker fallacy that the ideal English teacher is a native English speaker Braine (2011) explains
that this belief derived from the frustration resulting from incompetent non-proficient English
teachers Over 80 of the English teachers in the world are non-native English speakers (Braine
2011 Moussu amp Llurda 2008) The literature estimates that NNESTs outnumber their
counterparts by three to one according to Braine (2011)
Education
Only two-thirds of the teachers in Nigeria are qualified to teach and even fewer are
qualified to teach English (Ajibola 2010 Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) Ajibola
(2010) states many teachers have been learning ldquoon-the-jobrdquo (p 101) and do not receive any
professional development Okpe and Onjewu (2015) observed that some teachers accepted
teaching positions as a last resort believing a misconception that anyone can teach As a result of
the British requirements for teaching some teachers assume arriving at the classroom is all that
is required (Ajibola 2010)
SLA Training
English teachers must acquire in-depth knowledge of linguistics to be able to assess
student performance and enhance learning (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015 Owolabi amp Bankole 2013
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 15
Tamunobelema 2015) However linguistic competence does not automatically conclude that
someone is a good teacher (Florence Ma 2012) Ariyo (2010) describes Nigerian studentrsquos
written and spoken English as ldquogenerally poorrdquo with grammatical mistakes apparent in their
work (p 433) The literature identifies English language teachers as the main factor responsible
for student performance with the potential to mislead the learner (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015
Tamunobelema 2015) In Port Harcourt teachers are not trained in SLA and it is necessary for
two or three of them to proof the studentrsquos work and still and errors still go detected
Mother Tongue
The literature states a desire for indigenous languages to appear in education (Owolabi amp
Bankole 2013 Woolman 2001) With over five hundred indigenous languages interference of
the mother tongue combined with unqualified teachers and limited relevant teaching materials
would further contribute to the challenges already facing NNESTs (Akabogu amp Mbah 2013
Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Usman amp Mustafa 2014) There is no correlation between the
English language and the mother tongue for interference to occur (Olanipekun Atteh Zaku amp
Sarki 2014) Also with the number of indigenous languages it is highly probable that the
NNEST does not speak the studentrsquos L1 The literature reviewed suggests that the mother tongue
has no effect on academic performance
Cambridge Curriculum
British-Style Exam-Driven
The curriculum structure is according to the culture education and history of the British
who colonized the area (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) The majority of stories
contained in English Language textbooks are of foreign cultures (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 16
Woolman (2001) states the use of external sources of textbooks curriculums and teachers that
cannot translate into culturally relevant forms of education should be abandoned (p 43)
Abandoning external forms of education contradicts what the Port Harcourt school is attempting
to accomplish Teaching strategies are ldquoun-innovative and fossilizedrdquo (Owolabi amp Bankole
2013 p 202) and not appropriate choices for studentrsquos differing needs (Tamunobelema 2015
Usman amp Mustafa 2014 Woolman 2001 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006) Differentiated
instruction is neither expected or common The teachers in Port Harcourt however do not face
the same challenges elsewhere in Nigeria
Teacher-Centered Pedagogy
Chalk-talk recitation and initiation-response-feedback (IRF) models dominate the
classroom instruction (Adeyemi 2011 Agbatogun 2014 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
The continued use of the General Purpose English approach to language teaching appears to
have failed (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 200) The literature suggests that collaborative
learning is emerging in Nigeria to replace the lack of interaction among the students and
between the teacher and the students (Agbatogun 2012)
Technology
Research indicates technology will transform classrooms from being teacher-centered to
being student-centered (Agbatogun 2012) Port Harcourt is in the processing of installing smart
boards in every classroom beginning with the first grade An interactive learning environment
through the use of clickers is thought to improve student proficiency in English (Agbatogun
2014) If teachers do not change pedagogical strategies it is unrealistic to assume that
technology will have any impact The literature suggests that NNESTs must be supported and
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 17
motivated to employ innovative teaching strategies and implement technology into the
classrooms (Kalejaiye Fabunmi amp Adeoye 2011 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
Parroting
Research addressing the topic of parroting is sparse Lantolf and Thorne (2006) examine
the cognitive process of SLA through Vygotskyrsquos theories versus those of BF Skinnerrsquos
behaviorist theories which does resemble parroting Second language acquisition is a cognitive
activity It is the hope that the literature will provide insight into why the Port Harcourt students
solicit this strategy and support evidence as to how best to correct it
Conclusion
According to Chomsky (1965) linguistic theory traditionally considered native English
speakers as the preferred teachers of English However according to the literature the ideal
teacher of English is not necessarily a native speaker There is a lack of substantial evidence to
support whether NESTs are better teachers than NNESTs (Florence Ma 2012) Researchers
have concluded that without adequate teachers and resources language learners cannot
effectively learn a second language
The literature provided an overwhelming amount of information supportive of Nigerian
students being exposed to multiple language learning strategies and that no single strategy can
meet all of the studentrsquos needs According to the literature teachers in Nigeria need to employ
modern teaching methods and be exposed to professional development in addition to
supplementing their academic qualifications A weakness found in the literature is that the
authors unanimously appear to be non-native English-speakers from non-western countries and
cultures Some of the literature displayed certain biases toward the English language and native
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 18
English language speakers as well With the majority of Nigerian educational systems using
similar teaching methods and materials in the classroom very little literature was found
regarding parroting and cognitive processes as a result of the strategies Nigerian teachers
employ
As a result the next step will be to research further SLA and cognition to discover
pedagogy that correlates to address the issue of parroting observed in the Port Harcourt schools
A survey will be conducted to identify better NNESTs in the schools and the results will be
analyzed to determine the teacherrsquos strengths weaknesses and areas professional development
can address Regardless of the differing authorrsquos opinions a common theme in the literature
examined is that the teacher is ultimately responsible for their studentrsquos performance
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 19
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach an intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Aduwa-Ogiegbaen S amp Iyamu E (2006) Factors affecting quality of English language
teaching and learning in secondary schools in Nigeria College School Journal Publisher
40(3) 1-9 Retrieved from httpwwwfreepatentsonlinecomarticleCollege-Student-
Journal150965814html
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 20
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners how educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Kalejaiye O Fabunmi A amp Adeoye A (2011) Role of school media centres in technology
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 21
integration in Nigerian schools an exploration Annals of Library and Information
Studies 58 211-218 Retrieved from httpnoprniscairresinbitstream
123456789128414ALIS20582832920211-218pdf
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
history and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria a choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights the role in the teachinglearning of
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 22
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
Woolman D (2001) Educational reconstruction and post-colonial curriculum development a
comparative study of four African countries International Education Journal 2(5)
27-46 Retrieved from httpciteseerxistpsueduviewdocdownload
doi=10114915399amprep=rep1amptype=pdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 13
Review of the Literature on Factors Affecting Studentsrsquo Second Language Acquisition
(SLA) at Greenoak International School Port Harcourt Nigeria
Introduction
English is the language of instruction since the British colonization of Nigeria The
teaching of English continues to pose unique challenges to teachers as discovered through the
TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) lens of an American educator in
Nigeria The non-native English speaking teachers (NNESTs) of a private international K-12
school in Port Harcourt are not all certified to teach The requirements for a teacher in Nigeria
are not as stringent as those for an American teacher All that is required is for teachers to have
earned a Bachelors degree in their field None of the teachers on staff are trained to teach
English as a second language Teachers display inconsistencies in their knowledge of English as
their second language (L2) Due to the number of indigenous languages in Nigeria it cannot be
assumed the teacher speaks the studentsrsquo mother tongue (L1) Since teaching credentials are a
secondary qualification essential exposure to teaching methods is omitted in their training As a
result ineffective teacher-centered pedagogy such as the inherited British-style of lecturing
ldquochalk-talkrdquo and the use of rote memorization dominates classroom instruction (Woolman
2001) Rote memorization has manifested into what Haynes (2007) refers to as ldquoparrotingrdquo (p
29-30) Parroting poses a perplexing dilemma for the American educator and causes NNESTs to
doubt their studentsrsquo abilities to perform academically Parroting has masked language
acquisition as the possible problem and mistakenly shifted the blame to the content area
Exploring the teachers and the implementation of the Cambridge Curriculum are the basis
for this study and attempts to answer the question What factors are affecting student SLA in
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 14
Nigeria It is necessary to examine the literature to determine the education NNESTs receive
the pedagogy and materials they use and the curriculum they have been following to answer the
question
Teachers
Non-Native English-Speaking Teachers (NNESTs)
English as a second language (ESL) students have naively subscribed to the native-
speaker fallacy that the ideal English teacher is a native English speaker Braine (2011) explains
that this belief derived from the frustration resulting from incompetent non-proficient English
teachers Over 80 of the English teachers in the world are non-native English speakers (Braine
2011 Moussu amp Llurda 2008) The literature estimates that NNESTs outnumber their
counterparts by three to one according to Braine (2011)
Education
Only two-thirds of the teachers in Nigeria are qualified to teach and even fewer are
qualified to teach English (Ajibola 2010 Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) Ajibola
(2010) states many teachers have been learning ldquoon-the-jobrdquo (p 101) and do not receive any
professional development Okpe and Onjewu (2015) observed that some teachers accepted
teaching positions as a last resort believing a misconception that anyone can teach As a result of
the British requirements for teaching some teachers assume arriving at the classroom is all that
is required (Ajibola 2010)
SLA Training
English teachers must acquire in-depth knowledge of linguistics to be able to assess
student performance and enhance learning (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015 Owolabi amp Bankole 2013
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 15
Tamunobelema 2015) However linguistic competence does not automatically conclude that
someone is a good teacher (Florence Ma 2012) Ariyo (2010) describes Nigerian studentrsquos
written and spoken English as ldquogenerally poorrdquo with grammatical mistakes apparent in their
work (p 433) The literature identifies English language teachers as the main factor responsible
for student performance with the potential to mislead the learner (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015
Tamunobelema 2015) In Port Harcourt teachers are not trained in SLA and it is necessary for
two or three of them to proof the studentrsquos work and still and errors still go detected
Mother Tongue
The literature states a desire for indigenous languages to appear in education (Owolabi amp
Bankole 2013 Woolman 2001) With over five hundred indigenous languages interference of
the mother tongue combined with unqualified teachers and limited relevant teaching materials
would further contribute to the challenges already facing NNESTs (Akabogu amp Mbah 2013
Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Usman amp Mustafa 2014) There is no correlation between the
English language and the mother tongue for interference to occur (Olanipekun Atteh Zaku amp
Sarki 2014) Also with the number of indigenous languages it is highly probable that the
NNEST does not speak the studentrsquos L1 The literature reviewed suggests that the mother tongue
has no effect on academic performance
Cambridge Curriculum
British-Style Exam-Driven
The curriculum structure is according to the culture education and history of the British
who colonized the area (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) The majority of stories
contained in English Language textbooks are of foreign cultures (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 16
Woolman (2001) states the use of external sources of textbooks curriculums and teachers that
cannot translate into culturally relevant forms of education should be abandoned (p 43)
Abandoning external forms of education contradicts what the Port Harcourt school is attempting
to accomplish Teaching strategies are ldquoun-innovative and fossilizedrdquo (Owolabi amp Bankole
2013 p 202) and not appropriate choices for studentrsquos differing needs (Tamunobelema 2015
Usman amp Mustafa 2014 Woolman 2001 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006) Differentiated
instruction is neither expected or common The teachers in Port Harcourt however do not face
the same challenges elsewhere in Nigeria
Teacher-Centered Pedagogy
Chalk-talk recitation and initiation-response-feedback (IRF) models dominate the
classroom instruction (Adeyemi 2011 Agbatogun 2014 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
The continued use of the General Purpose English approach to language teaching appears to
have failed (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 200) The literature suggests that collaborative
learning is emerging in Nigeria to replace the lack of interaction among the students and
between the teacher and the students (Agbatogun 2012)
Technology
Research indicates technology will transform classrooms from being teacher-centered to
being student-centered (Agbatogun 2012) Port Harcourt is in the processing of installing smart
boards in every classroom beginning with the first grade An interactive learning environment
through the use of clickers is thought to improve student proficiency in English (Agbatogun
2014) If teachers do not change pedagogical strategies it is unrealistic to assume that
technology will have any impact The literature suggests that NNESTs must be supported and
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 17
motivated to employ innovative teaching strategies and implement technology into the
classrooms (Kalejaiye Fabunmi amp Adeoye 2011 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
Parroting
Research addressing the topic of parroting is sparse Lantolf and Thorne (2006) examine
the cognitive process of SLA through Vygotskyrsquos theories versus those of BF Skinnerrsquos
behaviorist theories which does resemble parroting Second language acquisition is a cognitive
activity It is the hope that the literature will provide insight into why the Port Harcourt students
solicit this strategy and support evidence as to how best to correct it
Conclusion
According to Chomsky (1965) linguistic theory traditionally considered native English
speakers as the preferred teachers of English However according to the literature the ideal
teacher of English is not necessarily a native speaker There is a lack of substantial evidence to
support whether NESTs are better teachers than NNESTs (Florence Ma 2012) Researchers
have concluded that without adequate teachers and resources language learners cannot
effectively learn a second language
The literature provided an overwhelming amount of information supportive of Nigerian
students being exposed to multiple language learning strategies and that no single strategy can
meet all of the studentrsquos needs According to the literature teachers in Nigeria need to employ
modern teaching methods and be exposed to professional development in addition to
supplementing their academic qualifications A weakness found in the literature is that the
authors unanimously appear to be non-native English-speakers from non-western countries and
cultures Some of the literature displayed certain biases toward the English language and native
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 18
English language speakers as well With the majority of Nigerian educational systems using
similar teaching methods and materials in the classroom very little literature was found
regarding parroting and cognitive processes as a result of the strategies Nigerian teachers
employ
As a result the next step will be to research further SLA and cognition to discover
pedagogy that correlates to address the issue of parroting observed in the Port Harcourt schools
A survey will be conducted to identify better NNESTs in the schools and the results will be
analyzed to determine the teacherrsquos strengths weaknesses and areas professional development
can address Regardless of the differing authorrsquos opinions a common theme in the literature
examined is that the teacher is ultimately responsible for their studentrsquos performance
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 19
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach an intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Aduwa-Ogiegbaen S amp Iyamu E (2006) Factors affecting quality of English language
teaching and learning in secondary schools in Nigeria College School Journal Publisher
40(3) 1-9 Retrieved from httpwwwfreepatentsonlinecomarticleCollege-Student-
Journal150965814html
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 20
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners how educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Kalejaiye O Fabunmi A amp Adeoye A (2011) Role of school media centres in technology
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 21
integration in Nigerian schools an exploration Annals of Library and Information
Studies 58 211-218 Retrieved from httpnoprniscairresinbitstream
123456789128414ALIS20582832920211-218pdf
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
history and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria a choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights the role in the teachinglearning of
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 22
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
Woolman D (2001) Educational reconstruction and post-colonial curriculum development a
comparative study of four African countries International Education Journal 2(5)
27-46 Retrieved from httpciteseerxistpsueduviewdocdownload
doi=10114915399amprep=rep1amptype=pdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 14
Nigeria It is necessary to examine the literature to determine the education NNESTs receive
the pedagogy and materials they use and the curriculum they have been following to answer the
question
Teachers
Non-Native English-Speaking Teachers (NNESTs)
English as a second language (ESL) students have naively subscribed to the native-
speaker fallacy that the ideal English teacher is a native English speaker Braine (2011) explains
that this belief derived from the frustration resulting from incompetent non-proficient English
teachers Over 80 of the English teachers in the world are non-native English speakers (Braine
2011 Moussu amp Llurda 2008) The literature estimates that NNESTs outnumber their
counterparts by three to one according to Braine (2011)
Education
Only two-thirds of the teachers in Nigeria are qualified to teach and even fewer are
qualified to teach English (Ajibola 2010 Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) Ajibola
(2010) states many teachers have been learning ldquoon-the-jobrdquo (p 101) and do not receive any
professional development Okpe and Onjewu (2015) observed that some teachers accepted
teaching positions as a last resort believing a misconception that anyone can teach As a result of
the British requirements for teaching some teachers assume arriving at the classroom is all that
is required (Ajibola 2010)
SLA Training
English teachers must acquire in-depth knowledge of linguistics to be able to assess
student performance and enhance learning (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015 Owolabi amp Bankole 2013
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 15
Tamunobelema 2015) However linguistic competence does not automatically conclude that
someone is a good teacher (Florence Ma 2012) Ariyo (2010) describes Nigerian studentrsquos
written and spoken English as ldquogenerally poorrdquo with grammatical mistakes apparent in their
work (p 433) The literature identifies English language teachers as the main factor responsible
for student performance with the potential to mislead the learner (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015
Tamunobelema 2015) In Port Harcourt teachers are not trained in SLA and it is necessary for
two or three of them to proof the studentrsquos work and still and errors still go detected
Mother Tongue
The literature states a desire for indigenous languages to appear in education (Owolabi amp
Bankole 2013 Woolman 2001) With over five hundred indigenous languages interference of
the mother tongue combined with unqualified teachers and limited relevant teaching materials
would further contribute to the challenges already facing NNESTs (Akabogu amp Mbah 2013
Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Usman amp Mustafa 2014) There is no correlation between the
English language and the mother tongue for interference to occur (Olanipekun Atteh Zaku amp
Sarki 2014) Also with the number of indigenous languages it is highly probable that the
NNEST does not speak the studentrsquos L1 The literature reviewed suggests that the mother tongue
has no effect on academic performance
Cambridge Curriculum
British-Style Exam-Driven
The curriculum structure is according to the culture education and history of the British
who colonized the area (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) The majority of stories
contained in English Language textbooks are of foreign cultures (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 16
Woolman (2001) states the use of external sources of textbooks curriculums and teachers that
cannot translate into culturally relevant forms of education should be abandoned (p 43)
Abandoning external forms of education contradicts what the Port Harcourt school is attempting
to accomplish Teaching strategies are ldquoun-innovative and fossilizedrdquo (Owolabi amp Bankole
2013 p 202) and not appropriate choices for studentrsquos differing needs (Tamunobelema 2015
Usman amp Mustafa 2014 Woolman 2001 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006) Differentiated
instruction is neither expected or common The teachers in Port Harcourt however do not face
the same challenges elsewhere in Nigeria
Teacher-Centered Pedagogy
Chalk-talk recitation and initiation-response-feedback (IRF) models dominate the
classroom instruction (Adeyemi 2011 Agbatogun 2014 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
The continued use of the General Purpose English approach to language teaching appears to
have failed (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 200) The literature suggests that collaborative
learning is emerging in Nigeria to replace the lack of interaction among the students and
between the teacher and the students (Agbatogun 2012)
Technology
Research indicates technology will transform classrooms from being teacher-centered to
being student-centered (Agbatogun 2012) Port Harcourt is in the processing of installing smart
boards in every classroom beginning with the first grade An interactive learning environment
through the use of clickers is thought to improve student proficiency in English (Agbatogun
2014) If teachers do not change pedagogical strategies it is unrealistic to assume that
technology will have any impact The literature suggests that NNESTs must be supported and
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 17
motivated to employ innovative teaching strategies and implement technology into the
classrooms (Kalejaiye Fabunmi amp Adeoye 2011 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
Parroting
Research addressing the topic of parroting is sparse Lantolf and Thorne (2006) examine
the cognitive process of SLA through Vygotskyrsquos theories versus those of BF Skinnerrsquos
behaviorist theories which does resemble parroting Second language acquisition is a cognitive
activity It is the hope that the literature will provide insight into why the Port Harcourt students
solicit this strategy and support evidence as to how best to correct it
Conclusion
According to Chomsky (1965) linguistic theory traditionally considered native English
speakers as the preferred teachers of English However according to the literature the ideal
teacher of English is not necessarily a native speaker There is a lack of substantial evidence to
support whether NESTs are better teachers than NNESTs (Florence Ma 2012) Researchers
have concluded that without adequate teachers and resources language learners cannot
effectively learn a second language
The literature provided an overwhelming amount of information supportive of Nigerian
students being exposed to multiple language learning strategies and that no single strategy can
meet all of the studentrsquos needs According to the literature teachers in Nigeria need to employ
modern teaching methods and be exposed to professional development in addition to
supplementing their academic qualifications A weakness found in the literature is that the
authors unanimously appear to be non-native English-speakers from non-western countries and
cultures Some of the literature displayed certain biases toward the English language and native
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 18
English language speakers as well With the majority of Nigerian educational systems using
similar teaching methods and materials in the classroom very little literature was found
regarding parroting and cognitive processes as a result of the strategies Nigerian teachers
employ
As a result the next step will be to research further SLA and cognition to discover
pedagogy that correlates to address the issue of parroting observed in the Port Harcourt schools
A survey will be conducted to identify better NNESTs in the schools and the results will be
analyzed to determine the teacherrsquos strengths weaknesses and areas professional development
can address Regardless of the differing authorrsquos opinions a common theme in the literature
examined is that the teacher is ultimately responsible for their studentrsquos performance
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 19
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach an intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Aduwa-Ogiegbaen S amp Iyamu E (2006) Factors affecting quality of English language
teaching and learning in secondary schools in Nigeria College School Journal Publisher
40(3) 1-9 Retrieved from httpwwwfreepatentsonlinecomarticleCollege-Student-
Journal150965814html
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 20
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners how educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Kalejaiye O Fabunmi A amp Adeoye A (2011) Role of school media centres in technology
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 21
integration in Nigerian schools an exploration Annals of Library and Information
Studies 58 211-218 Retrieved from httpnoprniscairresinbitstream
123456789128414ALIS20582832920211-218pdf
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
history and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria a choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights the role in the teachinglearning of
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 22
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
Woolman D (2001) Educational reconstruction and post-colonial curriculum development a
comparative study of four African countries International Education Journal 2(5)
27-46 Retrieved from httpciteseerxistpsueduviewdocdownload
doi=10114915399amprep=rep1amptype=pdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 15
Tamunobelema 2015) However linguistic competence does not automatically conclude that
someone is a good teacher (Florence Ma 2012) Ariyo (2010) describes Nigerian studentrsquos
written and spoken English as ldquogenerally poorrdquo with grammatical mistakes apparent in their
work (p 433) The literature identifies English language teachers as the main factor responsible
for student performance with the potential to mislead the learner (Okpe amp Onjewu 2015
Tamunobelema 2015) In Port Harcourt teachers are not trained in SLA and it is necessary for
two or three of them to proof the studentrsquos work and still and errors still go detected
Mother Tongue
The literature states a desire for indigenous languages to appear in education (Owolabi amp
Bankole 2013 Woolman 2001) With over five hundred indigenous languages interference of
the mother tongue combined with unqualified teachers and limited relevant teaching materials
would further contribute to the challenges already facing NNESTs (Akabogu amp Mbah 2013
Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Usman amp Mustafa 2014) There is no correlation between the
English language and the mother tongue for interference to occur (Olanipekun Atteh Zaku amp
Sarki 2014) Also with the number of indigenous languages it is highly probable that the
NNEST does not speak the studentrsquos L1 The literature reviewed suggests that the mother tongue
has no effect on academic performance
Cambridge Curriculum
British-Style Exam-Driven
The curriculum structure is according to the culture education and history of the British
who colonized the area (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012 Woolman 2001) The majority of stories
contained in English Language textbooks are of foreign cultures (Akujobi amp Chukwu 2012)
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 16
Woolman (2001) states the use of external sources of textbooks curriculums and teachers that
cannot translate into culturally relevant forms of education should be abandoned (p 43)
Abandoning external forms of education contradicts what the Port Harcourt school is attempting
to accomplish Teaching strategies are ldquoun-innovative and fossilizedrdquo (Owolabi amp Bankole
2013 p 202) and not appropriate choices for studentrsquos differing needs (Tamunobelema 2015
Usman amp Mustafa 2014 Woolman 2001 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006) Differentiated
instruction is neither expected or common The teachers in Port Harcourt however do not face
the same challenges elsewhere in Nigeria
Teacher-Centered Pedagogy
Chalk-talk recitation and initiation-response-feedback (IRF) models dominate the
classroom instruction (Adeyemi 2011 Agbatogun 2014 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
The continued use of the General Purpose English approach to language teaching appears to
have failed (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 200) The literature suggests that collaborative
learning is emerging in Nigeria to replace the lack of interaction among the students and
between the teacher and the students (Agbatogun 2012)
Technology
Research indicates technology will transform classrooms from being teacher-centered to
being student-centered (Agbatogun 2012) Port Harcourt is in the processing of installing smart
boards in every classroom beginning with the first grade An interactive learning environment
through the use of clickers is thought to improve student proficiency in English (Agbatogun
2014) If teachers do not change pedagogical strategies it is unrealistic to assume that
technology will have any impact The literature suggests that NNESTs must be supported and
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 17
motivated to employ innovative teaching strategies and implement technology into the
classrooms (Kalejaiye Fabunmi amp Adeoye 2011 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
Parroting
Research addressing the topic of parroting is sparse Lantolf and Thorne (2006) examine
the cognitive process of SLA through Vygotskyrsquos theories versus those of BF Skinnerrsquos
behaviorist theories which does resemble parroting Second language acquisition is a cognitive
activity It is the hope that the literature will provide insight into why the Port Harcourt students
solicit this strategy and support evidence as to how best to correct it
Conclusion
According to Chomsky (1965) linguistic theory traditionally considered native English
speakers as the preferred teachers of English However according to the literature the ideal
teacher of English is not necessarily a native speaker There is a lack of substantial evidence to
support whether NESTs are better teachers than NNESTs (Florence Ma 2012) Researchers
have concluded that without adequate teachers and resources language learners cannot
effectively learn a second language
The literature provided an overwhelming amount of information supportive of Nigerian
students being exposed to multiple language learning strategies and that no single strategy can
meet all of the studentrsquos needs According to the literature teachers in Nigeria need to employ
modern teaching methods and be exposed to professional development in addition to
supplementing their academic qualifications A weakness found in the literature is that the
authors unanimously appear to be non-native English-speakers from non-western countries and
cultures Some of the literature displayed certain biases toward the English language and native
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 18
English language speakers as well With the majority of Nigerian educational systems using
similar teaching methods and materials in the classroom very little literature was found
regarding parroting and cognitive processes as a result of the strategies Nigerian teachers
employ
As a result the next step will be to research further SLA and cognition to discover
pedagogy that correlates to address the issue of parroting observed in the Port Harcourt schools
A survey will be conducted to identify better NNESTs in the schools and the results will be
analyzed to determine the teacherrsquos strengths weaknesses and areas professional development
can address Regardless of the differing authorrsquos opinions a common theme in the literature
examined is that the teacher is ultimately responsible for their studentrsquos performance
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 19
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach an intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Aduwa-Ogiegbaen S amp Iyamu E (2006) Factors affecting quality of English language
teaching and learning in secondary schools in Nigeria College School Journal Publisher
40(3) 1-9 Retrieved from httpwwwfreepatentsonlinecomarticleCollege-Student-
Journal150965814html
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 20
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners how educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Kalejaiye O Fabunmi A amp Adeoye A (2011) Role of school media centres in technology
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 21
integration in Nigerian schools an exploration Annals of Library and Information
Studies 58 211-218 Retrieved from httpnoprniscairresinbitstream
123456789128414ALIS20582832920211-218pdf
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
history and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria a choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights the role in the teachinglearning of
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 22
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
Woolman D (2001) Educational reconstruction and post-colonial curriculum development a
comparative study of four African countries International Education Journal 2(5)
27-46 Retrieved from httpciteseerxistpsueduviewdocdownload
doi=10114915399amprep=rep1amptype=pdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 16
Woolman (2001) states the use of external sources of textbooks curriculums and teachers that
cannot translate into culturally relevant forms of education should be abandoned (p 43)
Abandoning external forms of education contradicts what the Port Harcourt school is attempting
to accomplish Teaching strategies are ldquoun-innovative and fossilizedrdquo (Owolabi amp Bankole
2013 p 202) and not appropriate choices for studentrsquos differing needs (Tamunobelema 2015
Usman amp Mustafa 2014 Woolman 2001 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006) Differentiated
instruction is neither expected or common The teachers in Port Harcourt however do not face
the same challenges elsewhere in Nigeria
Teacher-Centered Pedagogy
Chalk-talk recitation and initiation-response-feedback (IRF) models dominate the
classroom instruction (Adeyemi 2011 Agbatogun 2014 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
The continued use of the General Purpose English approach to language teaching appears to
have failed (Owolabi amp Bankole 2013 p 200) The literature suggests that collaborative
learning is emerging in Nigeria to replace the lack of interaction among the students and
between the teacher and the students (Agbatogun 2012)
Technology
Research indicates technology will transform classrooms from being teacher-centered to
being student-centered (Agbatogun 2012) Port Harcourt is in the processing of installing smart
boards in every classroom beginning with the first grade An interactive learning environment
through the use of clickers is thought to improve student proficiency in English (Agbatogun
2014) If teachers do not change pedagogical strategies it is unrealistic to assume that
technology will have any impact The literature suggests that NNESTs must be supported and
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 17
motivated to employ innovative teaching strategies and implement technology into the
classrooms (Kalejaiye Fabunmi amp Adeoye 2011 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
Parroting
Research addressing the topic of parroting is sparse Lantolf and Thorne (2006) examine
the cognitive process of SLA through Vygotskyrsquos theories versus those of BF Skinnerrsquos
behaviorist theories which does resemble parroting Second language acquisition is a cognitive
activity It is the hope that the literature will provide insight into why the Port Harcourt students
solicit this strategy and support evidence as to how best to correct it
Conclusion
According to Chomsky (1965) linguistic theory traditionally considered native English
speakers as the preferred teachers of English However according to the literature the ideal
teacher of English is not necessarily a native speaker There is a lack of substantial evidence to
support whether NESTs are better teachers than NNESTs (Florence Ma 2012) Researchers
have concluded that without adequate teachers and resources language learners cannot
effectively learn a second language
The literature provided an overwhelming amount of information supportive of Nigerian
students being exposed to multiple language learning strategies and that no single strategy can
meet all of the studentrsquos needs According to the literature teachers in Nigeria need to employ
modern teaching methods and be exposed to professional development in addition to
supplementing their academic qualifications A weakness found in the literature is that the
authors unanimously appear to be non-native English-speakers from non-western countries and
cultures Some of the literature displayed certain biases toward the English language and native
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 18
English language speakers as well With the majority of Nigerian educational systems using
similar teaching methods and materials in the classroom very little literature was found
regarding parroting and cognitive processes as a result of the strategies Nigerian teachers
employ
As a result the next step will be to research further SLA and cognition to discover
pedagogy that correlates to address the issue of parroting observed in the Port Harcourt schools
A survey will be conducted to identify better NNESTs in the schools and the results will be
analyzed to determine the teacherrsquos strengths weaknesses and areas professional development
can address Regardless of the differing authorrsquos opinions a common theme in the literature
examined is that the teacher is ultimately responsible for their studentrsquos performance
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 19
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach an intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Aduwa-Ogiegbaen S amp Iyamu E (2006) Factors affecting quality of English language
teaching and learning in secondary schools in Nigeria College School Journal Publisher
40(3) 1-9 Retrieved from httpwwwfreepatentsonlinecomarticleCollege-Student-
Journal150965814html
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 20
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners how educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Kalejaiye O Fabunmi A amp Adeoye A (2011) Role of school media centres in technology
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 21
integration in Nigerian schools an exploration Annals of Library and Information
Studies 58 211-218 Retrieved from httpnoprniscairresinbitstream
123456789128414ALIS20582832920211-218pdf
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
history and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria a choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights the role in the teachinglearning of
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 22
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
Woolman D (2001) Educational reconstruction and post-colonial curriculum development a
comparative study of four African countries International Education Journal 2(5)
27-46 Retrieved from httpciteseerxistpsueduviewdocdownload
doi=10114915399amprep=rep1amptype=pdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 17
motivated to employ innovative teaching strategies and implement technology into the
classrooms (Kalejaiye Fabunmi amp Adeoye 2011 Aduwa-Ogiegbaen amp Iyamu 2006)
Parroting
Research addressing the topic of parroting is sparse Lantolf and Thorne (2006) examine
the cognitive process of SLA through Vygotskyrsquos theories versus those of BF Skinnerrsquos
behaviorist theories which does resemble parroting Second language acquisition is a cognitive
activity It is the hope that the literature will provide insight into why the Port Harcourt students
solicit this strategy and support evidence as to how best to correct it
Conclusion
According to Chomsky (1965) linguistic theory traditionally considered native English
speakers as the preferred teachers of English However according to the literature the ideal
teacher of English is not necessarily a native speaker There is a lack of substantial evidence to
support whether NESTs are better teachers than NNESTs (Florence Ma 2012) Researchers
have concluded that without adequate teachers and resources language learners cannot
effectively learn a second language
The literature provided an overwhelming amount of information supportive of Nigerian
students being exposed to multiple language learning strategies and that no single strategy can
meet all of the studentrsquos needs According to the literature teachers in Nigeria need to employ
modern teaching methods and be exposed to professional development in addition to
supplementing their academic qualifications A weakness found in the literature is that the
authors unanimously appear to be non-native English-speakers from non-western countries and
cultures Some of the literature displayed certain biases toward the English language and native
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 18
English language speakers as well With the majority of Nigerian educational systems using
similar teaching methods and materials in the classroom very little literature was found
regarding parroting and cognitive processes as a result of the strategies Nigerian teachers
employ
As a result the next step will be to research further SLA and cognition to discover
pedagogy that correlates to address the issue of parroting observed in the Port Harcourt schools
A survey will be conducted to identify better NNESTs in the schools and the results will be
analyzed to determine the teacherrsquos strengths weaknesses and areas professional development
can address Regardless of the differing authorrsquos opinions a common theme in the literature
examined is that the teacher is ultimately responsible for their studentrsquos performance
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 19
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach an intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Aduwa-Ogiegbaen S amp Iyamu E (2006) Factors affecting quality of English language
teaching and learning in secondary schools in Nigeria College School Journal Publisher
40(3) 1-9 Retrieved from httpwwwfreepatentsonlinecomarticleCollege-Student-
Journal150965814html
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 20
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners how educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Kalejaiye O Fabunmi A amp Adeoye A (2011) Role of school media centres in technology
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 21
integration in Nigerian schools an exploration Annals of Library and Information
Studies 58 211-218 Retrieved from httpnoprniscairresinbitstream
123456789128414ALIS20582832920211-218pdf
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
history and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria a choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights the role in the teachinglearning of
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 22
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
Woolman D (2001) Educational reconstruction and post-colonial curriculum development a
comparative study of four African countries International Education Journal 2(5)
27-46 Retrieved from httpciteseerxistpsueduviewdocdownload
doi=10114915399amprep=rep1amptype=pdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 18
English language speakers as well With the majority of Nigerian educational systems using
similar teaching methods and materials in the classroom very little literature was found
regarding parroting and cognitive processes as a result of the strategies Nigerian teachers
employ
As a result the next step will be to research further SLA and cognition to discover
pedagogy that correlates to address the issue of parroting observed in the Port Harcourt schools
A survey will be conducted to identify better NNESTs in the schools and the results will be
analyzed to determine the teacherrsquos strengths weaknesses and areas professional development
can address Regardless of the differing authorrsquos opinions a common theme in the literature
examined is that the teacher is ultimately responsible for their studentrsquos performance
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 19
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach an intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Aduwa-Ogiegbaen S amp Iyamu E (2006) Factors affecting quality of English language
teaching and learning in secondary schools in Nigeria College School Journal Publisher
40(3) 1-9 Retrieved from httpwwwfreepatentsonlinecomarticleCollege-Student-
Journal150965814html
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 20
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners how educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Kalejaiye O Fabunmi A amp Adeoye A (2011) Role of school media centres in technology
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 21
integration in Nigerian schools an exploration Annals of Library and Information
Studies 58 211-218 Retrieved from httpnoprniscairresinbitstream
123456789128414ALIS20582832920211-218pdf
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
history and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria a choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights the role in the teachinglearning of
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 22
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
Woolman D (2001) Educational reconstruction and post-colonial curriculum development a
comparative study of four African countries International Education Journal 2(5)
27-46 Retrieved from httpciteseerxistpsueduviewdocdownload
doi=10114915399amprep=rep1amptype=pdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 19
References
Adeyemi D (2011) Reader-response approach an intervention in composition writing at junior
secondary schools in Botswana International Journal of Scientific Research in
Education 4(1) 1-7 Retrieved from httpwwwijsrecomVol204_1_-Adeyemipdf
Aduwa-Ogiegbaen S amp Iyamu E (2006) Factors affecting quality of English language
teaching and learning in secondary schools in Nigeria College School Journal Publisher
40(3) 1-9 Retrieved from httpwwwfreepatentsonlinecomarticleCollege-Student-
Journal150965814html
Agbatogun A (2012) Investigating Nigerian primary school seachers preparedness to adopt
personal response system in ESL classroom International Electronic Journal Of
Elementary Education 4(2) 377-394 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba 040sessionmgr
110ampvid=7amphid=127
Agbatogun A (2014) Developing learners second language communicative competence
through active learning clickers or communicative approach Journal Of Educational
Technology amp Society 17(2) 257-269 Retrieved from httpedsbebscohostcomeds
pdfviewerpdfviewersid=886392f3-9569-4035-9fa0-69ca652d3ba040sessionmgr110
ampvid=13amphid127
Ajibola M (2010) Confronting the challenges of teaching English lanugage as a second
language in Nigeria Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association 13(2) 95-105
Retrieved from httpwwwnigeriaenglishorgcontentv132ajibolapdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 20
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners how educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Kalejaiye O Fabunmi A amp Adeoye A (2011) Role of school media centres in technology
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 21
integration in Nigerian schools an exploration Annals of Library and Information
Studies 58 211-218 Retrieved from httpnoprniscairresinbitstream
123456789128414ALIS20582832920211-218pdf
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
history and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria a choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights the role in the teachinglearning of
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 22
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
Woolman D (2001) Educational reconstruction and post-colonial curriculum development a
comparative study of four African countries International Education Journal 2(5)
27-46 Retrieved from httpciteseerxistpsueduviewdocdownload
doi=10114915399amprep=rep1amptype=pdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 20
Akabogu J amp Mbah B (2013) Second language acquisition attrition of indigenous languages
in Nigeria cultural implications IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science
13(4) 1-5 Retrieved from httpwwwiosrjournalsorgiosr-jhsspapersVol13-issue4
A01340105pdfid=3398
Akujobi O amp Chukwu E (2012) Challenges of effective English language learning in Nigeria
secondary schools An International Journal of Arts and Humanities 1(4) 57-68
Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphpijaharticleview10640496353
Ariyo K (2010) A study of the language learner strategies adopted by Nigerian students
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences 7(6) 433-436 httpdxdoi103923pjssci
2010433436
Braine G (1999) Non-native educators in English language teaching Mahwah NJ Lawrence
Erlbaum
Braine G (2011) Nonnative speaker English teachers research pedagogy and professional
growth Applied Linguistics 32(4) 466-469 httpdxdoi101093applinamr028
Chomsky N (1965) Aspects of the theory of syntax Cambridge MA MIT Press Retrieved
from httpwwwdticmildtictrfulltextu2616323pdf
Florence Ma L P (2012) Advantages and disadvantages of native- and nonnative-English-
speaking teachers student perceptions in Hong Kong TESOL Quarterly 46 280-305
httpdxdoiorg101002tesq21
Haynes J (2007) Getting started with English language learners how educators can meet the
challenge Alexandria Va Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Kalejaiye O Fabunmi A amp Adeoye A (2011) Role of school media centres in technology
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 21
integration in Nigerian schools an exploration Annals of Library and Information
Studies 58 211-218 Retrieved from httpnoprniscairresinbitstream
123456789128414ALIS20582832920211-218pdf
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
history and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria a choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights the role in the teachinglearning of
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 22
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
Woolman D (2001) Educational reconstruction and post-colonial curriculum development a
comparative study of four African countries International Education Journal 2(5)
27-46 Retrieved from httpciteseerxistpsueduviewdocdownload
doi=10114915399amprep=rep1amptype=pdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 21
integration in Nigerian schools an exploration Annals of Library and Information
Studies 58 211-218 Retrieved from httpnoprniscairresinbitstream
123456789128414ALIS20582832920211-218pdf
Lantolf J amp Thorne S (2006) Sociocultural theory and second language learning Retrieved
from httpoldfltrpcomdownload07041802pdf
Moussu L amp Llurda E (2008) Non-native English-speaking English language teachers
history and research Language Teaching 41(3) 315-348 httpdxdoiorg101017
S0261444808005028
Okpe A A amp Onjewu M A (2015) EFLEL2 teaching in Nigeria a choice or a charade
Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences 199 (The Proceedings of the 1st GlobELT
Conference on Teaching and Learning English as an Additional Language) 743-747
httpdxdoi101016jsbspro201507606
Olanipekun S Atteh D Zaku J amp Sarki P (2014) Mother tongue and studentsrsquo academic
performance in English language among secondary school students International
Journal of Language Literature and Culture 1(1) 1-6 Retrieved from http
wwwopenscienceonlinecomjournalijllc
Owolabi D amp Bankole M (2013) The English language in the ESL classroom in Nigeria
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies 1(4) 197-204gt Retrieved from http
wwwajouronlinecomindexphpjournal=AJHSSamppage=articleampop=viewamppath5B
5D=594amppath5B5D=269
Tamunobelema I (2015) Linguistic insights the role in the teachinglearning of
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 22
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
Woolman D (2001) Educational reconstruction and post-colonial curriculum development a
comparative study of four African countries International Education Journal 2(5)
27-46 Retrieved from httpciteseerxistpsueduviewdocdownload
doi=10114915399amprep=rep1amptype=pdf
FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTSrsquo SLA 22
English in Nigeria An International Journal of Language Literature and Gender
Studies 4(1) 65-73 httpdxdoiorg104314laligensv4i15
Usman J amp Mustafa L (2014) Challenges of teaching oral English in Nigerian high schools
Issues in Language Studies 3(1) 15-23 Retrieved from httpwwwajolinfoindexphp
ijaharticleview10640496353
Woolman D (2001) Educational reconstruction and post-colonial curriculum development a
comparative study of four African countries International Education Journal 2(5)
27-46 Retrieved from httpciteseerxistpsueduviewdocdownload
doi=10114915399amprep=rep1amptype=pdf