FACTORS THAT INFLUENCES THE CHOICE OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AS A COURSE OF STUDY FOR UNDERGRADUATES IN UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, EDO STATE.

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to find out the Factors that influence the choice of English Language as a course of study for undergraduates in University of Benin, Edo State. To guide this study, five (5) research questions were raised. The study adopted the descriptive survey design. The population of the study consists of all levels of English and literature students in University of Benin, Edo State. A sample size of 100 students was drawn from the four levels in the department, that is, 25 students each from 100 level to 400 level. They were chosen using the simple random sampling technique. The research instrument was a simple, straight to the point and well structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was approved by the project supervisor. The validity of the test was content validity which was done by the project supervisor of the project work while the reliability of the test was carried out using split half method to arrive at a value that was reliable. Data collected were analyzed using frequency and simple percentages. The findings of the study reveals that there are certain factors that influence students' choice of English language as a course of study while some other factors hold little or no significant influence on the choice of students. Personal interest, socio-economic status of the family and perceived value in the job market/employment opportunities tend to have a high influence on students' choice of English language. Because of their love of English, their desire to impact and teach their immediate society the English language and even their past experiences with the English language tend to make them choose the course in higher institutions. For others, their desire to change the socio-economic status of their family pushes them to pick English and Literature as a course of study as it is believed to be a very decent and well respected field of study, while the other majority chooses it because of the numerous career opportunities it has. People who study English language are believed to have a wide path of career choices to choose from in the job market, ranging from soft work (computerized and digitized work) to manual work like teaching, lecturing et cetera. Based on the findings of this study, some recommendations were given. They include; Career guidance and Counseling should be a compulsory activity in schools especially in secondary school, adequate and sustained publicity and sensitization especially amongst youths and teenagers in secondary and post secondary schools should be made by relevant organizations in order to increase awareness on the benefits of English language to society and to the individual as a person, every school should have a well equipped laboratory and media resource center in English language and other course areas too, no child should be forced to pursue a career that does not suit their personality and lastly, 7 tertiary institutions admission boards should minimize the relocation of students from their chosen course area to various courses and departments that do not suit their personality or even interest them.