The English Language in the ESL Classroom in Nigeria
Keywords:
Teaching challenges, ESL, GPE, ESP, acquisition, learning, adult classroomAbstract
Language holds the key to knowledge acquisition, thus making its teaching-learning process central to any educational system. Nigeria, Babel of many languages that include English, Pidgin English and the various indigenous languages, has no clear language policy and this continues to make the educational system wobble, even at the tertiary level. This poses a serious challenge to language teachers generally, but particularly to teachers at the tertiary level, who should blaze a trail in second language English teaching. This work looks at the shortcomings of the present traditional General Purpose (GP) approach to English language teaching, and recommends the English for Specific Purposes (ESP) approach in the teaching-learning process in the ESL adult classroom in Nigeria as a way of stemming the tide of the continued decline in proficiency in English with its ripple effects on other subjects and courses that are taught and learnt in the English language medium. This will enable adult learners achieve the needed academic and professional empowerment via the vehicle of English.
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