EFFECTS OF MOTHER TONGUE ON THE SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OVIA NORTH EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE.

ABSTRACT

This study investigates “The effects of mother tongue on the second language acquisition". Data collected were analyzed using “test re-test” method for the study. The Population of the study consist of the student in the Public and private Secondary School in Ovia North East Local Government of Edo State. A population of hundred (100) students was used in the study. The research instrument used for the study was questionnaire. The questionnaire was divided into two sections. “Section A” was designed to generate personal information of the respondent. While the “Section B” comprises of items on the topic under research. It was constructed with care to reflect the problem of the study such that the items would be relevant to the purpose of the study. The instrument was reviewed and certified by the Project Supervisor in the Department of Educational Foundation, Faculty of Education in University of Benin. The findings of this study reveal mother tongue affects the second language acquisition of students. The study also reveal that mother tongue affects the academic performance of students negatively. It was recommended that Students should have access to the native speakers of the second language, materials and facilities like phonology laboratory, textbooks and visual aids should be made available to facilitate the learning of the second language accurately and lastly more qualified teachers of English language should be provided and they should be encouraged to undergo professional teaching courses, workshops and seminars to update them.