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Item Open Access Exploring the link among teaching approach, intervention plan and outcome on Nigerian ESL learners’ competence: A follow-up study(U. P., 2020-06) Dozie, Chinomso P.Several researchers have argued that teaching approach (TA) and intervention plan (IP) have a significantly positive outcome in language teaching/learning, particularly in second language (L2) learning which is otherwise fraught with first language (L1) and or interlanguage transfers. Although TAs and IPs have been known to improve student outcomes when implemented with strict control and supervision by researchers/teachers, it is uncertain whether these tools measure accurately when applied under real educational/instructional conditions. Three effective teaching techniques were used in the study with the goal of improving students' writing proficiency. This study's goal was to determine the most effective teaching strategy for improving students' writing proficiency. To that end, three different TAs—communicative, eclectic, and task-based were compared and applied to three experimental groups—A, B, and C—over the course of twelve weeks, with the control group (D) receiving instruction in the traditional manner. A pre-test was administered on forty (40) first year students/subjects purposively selected from their school at Development Secondary School, Mbaise (DSSM). The effect of the twelve-week treatment period on their essay writing was measured using a post-test. Results varied depending on the group, but most notably, in the post-test assessment, Group B showed major improvement and Control Group D showed no significant progress, while Groups A and C's writing ability improved just little at best. Findings have indicated and established that TA, IP and outcome on Nigerian ESL learners’ competence are non-negotiably (indisputably) linked with Eclectic TA as evidence-based standard measure for optimal improvement.Item Open Access Impact of communication filters on the speeches of female Yoruba and Igbo speakers(U. P., 2023) Ajileye, Michael Olugbenga; Mbata, Carolyn O.; Dozie, Chinomso Patricia; Chidi Eustace OkereDifferences in the ways that men and women use language have long been of interest in the study of discourse and sociolinguistics. Despite extensive theorizing, actual empirical investigations have yet to converge on a coherent picture of gender differences in language. The male/female sex biological categories are assumed to have a bearing on the masculine/feminine gender social categories. This categorization is assumed to affect almost every aspect of human living, including the use of language by the different genders. This work is a study of works and assumptions on sex-conditioned language or genderlect, with special attention on the characteristics of female speech. This aspect identified the observed linguistic filtering devices in female speech in an attempt to establish them as stereotypes. The study further attempted a survey of filtered female speech and established pragmatic bases for the models. A clear attempt was made to identify and classify the semantic constraints inherent in the connotative properties of the utterances of some female speakers of the English, Igbo and Yoruba languages while also attempting a possible literal and contextual interpretation of the utterances and the possible 'misunderstandings' that may arise from the 'filtered' utterances. Oral discussions and unobtrusive observations were conducted to get data related to the manifestation of genderlect in female speech. The findings affirmed the thesis of differences in gender speech stylesItem Open Access Impact of eclecticism on Nigerian ESL learners’ communicative competence: A comparative study(U. P., 2023-03-31) Dozie, Chinomso P.; Regis-Onuoha, Adaeze; Madu, Lovina I.; Egwim, Favour O.; Okere, Mary C.; Ihejirika, Richard C.This study adopted three practical teaching strategies intended to positively affect learners’ writing skill while neutralising negative factors affecting their writing competence. To achieve the study objective which aimed at the assessment of the best teaching strategy to enhance learners’ writing proficiency, a comparative study of three teaching methods(namely communicative, eclectic and task-based methods) was used over a-6-week period as treatment on three experimental groups A, B, C respectively and a control group (D) was taught using conventional method. A pretest was administered on two hundred (200) freshmen/subjects purposively selected from different Departments at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO). A post-test was used to ascertain the outcome of the six weeks period of treatment on their essay writing. Results varied according to groups but, most importantly, Group B showed very significant improvement and control group D showed no significant improvement at all in the post-test assessment while groups A and C’s writing ability improved just marginally at best post-test. Our findings suggest the need to pay attention to eclectic teaching technique as a crucial element in enhancing writing proficiency among learners. The implications and limitations of this research in addition to guidelines for future research are discussedItem Open Access Realism and illusion: An analysis of Sanusi’s speech on governance and viewpoint of a Nigerian politician(U. P., 2021) Ononiwu, Mark C.; Njemanze, Queen U.; Dozie, Chinomso P.Present-day leaders and/or politicians are experts at using language to manipulate the electorate and the people they lead. This statement infers that leadership and political discourse operate indexically, in other words, every single word being used either implicitly or explicitly, expresses some political viewpoint. This could be illusionary or realistic based on how subtle people are addressed, the information provided, and the impression the speech carries based on the words used to convey the impressions. In this study, the researchers considered the different political comments inherent in the speech of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Emir of Kano (henceforth referred to as SLS), particularly at the birthday celebration of Nasir-EL-Rufai, former governor of a Northern State in Nigeria. The aim of the researcher is to find out how these utterances he made at the birthday party of his friend were able to betray and bring out to the fore, the inner struggles of his mind concerning the socio-political and economic situations in the North of Nigeria. The theory that underpins this study is the speech act theory; This theory is concerned with specific social acts performed in making utterances. This theory can be traced originally to the view expounded in Austin‘s seminal publication, ‗How to Do Things with Words‘ The analysis will be done according to Searle‘s five taxonomies of speech acts: assertive, directive, commissive, expressive, and declarative. This study significantly addressed the problems of the North from the viewpoint of the language of SLS‘s mind, and expressions, embedded in realism and illusion, and concluded by expressing the thoughts of the disgust, and visible frustrations of the situation in Northern Nigeria that have been going on over timeItem Open Access The English language and the second language learners’ perception in a multicultural Nigeria: an appraisal(U.P., 2020-07) Ojilere, Ijeoma C.; Dozie, Chinomso P.; Chidozie, Mmachi AkudoThe objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of English as language of formal learning using some schools from the three senatorial zones in Imo State as well as teachers’ challenges in the use of this target language as a pedagogical tool. Through a random sampling process, 1200 copies of pretested and validated questionnaire written in English were administered to selected students from these regions. Key Persons Interview was also used to supplement the questionnaire data. 895 copies of questionnaire representing 74.6% were duly completed and returned for analysis. Studies showed that students’ perception of English as a language of education is one in which they feel compelled and have rather come to terms with its usage as a result of its imposition by the British colonialists, acceptance by the Nigerian government and general implementation as an official language. Findings revealed that 68.5% feel the need to fall back on their local language for clarification of some sort while 14.5% of the respondents have little or no need to use the mother tongue but 17% have occasional inkling to resort to their mother tongue for proper understanding. This interference is expected in a multilingual nation like Nigeria which has instituted bilingualism and multilingualism to her citizenry. The study established that the use of English accounts for some of the challenges in academic performance of students and therefore recommends that teachers, parents and government must strive to reiterate the need to inculcate and acculturate this official language as an ineluctable tool for academic success and societal integration.Item Open Access Oil conflict and nationness in the Niger Delta: a review of crude realities in Helon Habila’s oil on water(U.P., 2020) Anyanwu, Patricia Ngozi; Dozie, Chinomso PatriciaThe discovery of oil in commercial quantity in the Niger Delta region in the 1950s was heralded with resounding joy. This was because of the anticipated resources which were expected to engender rapid human and infrastructural development of the region and Nigeria at large. Unfortunately, after over six decades of this discovery, the region remains perennially impoverished and underdeveloped amidst pervasive environmental degradation, displacement, and wanton dehumanization of the people. This unfortunate reality has continued to incite discontent as the people of this region relentlessly struggle for fairness and equity in the nation's scheme of things. Over the years, this struggle has assumed different currents, including kidnapping, illegal oil bunkering, peaceful and militant protests as well as pipeline blowouts and vandalism. These unfortunate realities have been variously expressed through literary creativities of many Nigerian writers, including Helon Habila. In Oil on Water, Habila paints a vivid picture of the individual and collective predicaments of these dispossessed people, as well as the conscious steps they have taken in order to retrieve their lost rights and entitlements from the Nigerian nation and her multinational oil company collaborators. Adopting HomiBhabha's Dissemination strand of the postcolonial theoretical framework, this paper examines how Helon Habila has deployed the technicalities of voice, action, character, setting and imageries in order to appeal to our sensibilities on the unfortunate individual and collective dispossession of the people of this devastated region. This is with the aim of lending our voice to the numerous calls on the Nigerian nation and her multinational oil company collaborators to shun humiliation, intimidation, rituality and annihilation of the people and consider dialogue and more humane alternatives in proffering an urgent development of the people and their region.Item Open Access New perspectives in teaching and learning second languages: Enhancing unseen elements and processes beyond theories(U. P., 2020) Dozie, Chinomso P.; Regis-Onuoha, Adaeze J.; Udosen, Escor Effiong; Madu, Lovina I.; Egwim, Favour O.This article reports on findings from qualitative and empirical research on second language (L2) teaching and learning based largely on second language teaching theories, methods, and approaches which are generally believed to contribute immensely to second language learning. The goal of the study was to ascertain the extent to which these theories when applied to actual second language teaching and learning situations translate to effective/positive feedback. Oral interviews and informal interactions were used to elicit information from 4000 students who gave consent and were randomly selected from a pool of students after the objective of the study was explained. In addition, key Person Interviews (KPIs) were used to confirm, enhance and supplement the information obtained from the oral and informal interactions. The results showed that beyond the basic theoretical matters and their applications in second language teaching and learning, the study subjects as well as KPIs were more inclined to believe that factors such as motivation, interest, commitment, willingness, and determination were crucial to language teaching and learning and which ultimately accounts for competence and performance in the target language. The study concludes that second language teaching/learning involves the mutual action and participation of two parties – teacher and learner for optimum feedback. Further research can be done to explore the perception of second language learners in the early secondary school years to be able ascertain the exact point of disconnect in the process.Item Open Access Rhetoric in religious discourse: Elicitation and dialogue as dramatic pause in Nigerian pentecostal sermons(U. P., 2024-07) Ajileye, Michael Olugbenga; Okere, Chidi Eustace; Dozie, Chinomso PatriciaThis study examines the use of elicitation, as well as dialogic interrogation and dialogic repetition, as devices for dramatic pause in Nigerian Pentecostal sermons. Sermons are by their nature, usually monologic, in which the preacher monopolizes the conversation space from commencement to conclusion. The congregation usually is expected to sit through it all, listen and imbibe the message. This trend, noted mainly in orthodox Christianity circles, has been observed to often lead to boredom and attention fatigue in the audience. This study notes that Nigerian Pentecostal preachers, while still wholly in control of the sermon, appear to have effectively reversed its monologic nature by employing elicitation and dialogue as audience-engaging and attention-arresting devices to introduce unique pause effects in their sermons, thereby creating that general impression of vitality and activity often associated with the Nigerian Pentecostal brand of Christianity. This study identified these devices as discursive practices embedded in the social practice of Pentecostal preaching, which are among the principal ways in which its ideology is circulated and reproduced. This present study constitutes a part of a general intellectual investigation, which involves the identification of specific discursive patterns that characterize Nigerian Pentecostal Christian sermons and to determine how they are intertwined with the general ideology of persuasion as a goal.Item Open Access Promoting learning through interaction: examples from the English language classroom(U.P., 2015) Njemanze, Queen; Ononiwu, Mark; Dozie, Chinomso; Festus C. AhizihClassroom interaction is helpful for language learning. Every learner is expected to develop competence in English language learning, in order to function effectively in the multilingual Nigerian setting. English as the official language in Nigeria occupies an important position. Considering the importance, role and functions of English in Nigeria the primary goal of the English language curriculum is that learners should acquire communicative competence in English. From our observation we found that learners learn more comprehensively through classroom interaction. This research also discovered that applying the basic principles of interactive language teaching can promote learners initiative and autonomy, which in turn begets linguistic and communicative competence. To achieve this goal, the curriculum recommends the communicative language teaching approach for teachers of English; to enable learners achieve communicative competence in the use of the English language. Teaching through interaction enhances observation, using apt methods, strategies and resources which in turn promote learners autonomy and initiative. This study thus, emphasizes the need to use interactive strategies in order to enable students to use, practice and achieve fluency in the language. This paper therefore, explores some interactive strategies applied in the classroom with a focus on re-tooling English language teachers for more productive teaching and learningItem Open Access Review of the ethno-linguistic situation in Nigeria: Perspectives from language, literacy, and ethnicity(Res Militaris, 2021) Udosen, Escor Effiong; Njemanze, Queen U.; Dozie, Chinomso P.; Ononiwu, Mark C.; Nnamani, Francis U.There have been diverse perspectives on the ethno-linguistic situations in Nigeria. These have copiously been evaluated through diverse strategies such as language, literacy, and ethnicity. These three concepts have been viewed as essential tools in identifying a people, either as an ethnic, racial, or national group. However, since no single group is in the majority in Nigeria, the three major ethnic groups which have the largest ethnic groups, have often encountered ethnic and linguistic situations from other groups in the nation. In other words, the complex ethno-linguistic situation in Nigeria has been the prime representation of the classic set of problems in matters relating to national planning and development. Historical and sociocultural elements are fundamental requirements for national development which requires social cohesion, understanding, and cordial relationships among the citizens. This can be achieved through language which is a medium of communication. Language influences an individual's interpretation of reality; also, ethnicity and literacy can be established using language which is one of the main symbols of a people's culture. The Nigerian Society is multilingual and pluralistic as such most of our social problems involve some type of conflict, and sometimes, disagreement over cultural tradition and language symbols of our identities. In other words, language meets universal human needs for identification and communication. This paper explores the place of language, literacy, and ethnicity in the identification of a people and their culture, it x-rayed some notable situations induced by ethnic and linguistic affiliations and concluded by advocating for a policy that should encourage the existence and maintenance of these concepts in Nigeria. This will help the nation to achieve cordial relationships, and a good understanding of the present-day interdisciplinary dialogue in language, literacy, and ethnicity, for greater national development.