PROBLEMS OF MOTIVATION OF STUDENTS IN THE STUDY OF FRENCH IN KANO STATE A PROJECT PRESENTED TO THE FACULTY OF EDUCATION AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
PROBLEMS OF MOTIVATION OF STUDENTS IN THE STUDY OF FRENCH IN KANO STATE A PROJECT PRESENTED TO THE FACULTY OF EDUCATION AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
No Thumbnail Available
Date
1979-06
Authors
OPARA, CAROL CHINYERE AHUNNA
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Psychology has established that Motivation is
basic to all learning activities . Studies have also
stressed the importance of motivation in foreign
language study.
The main purpose of this research is to make
a review of the problems of motivation students in
Kano State face in their study of French. It also
focuses on trying to find out whether g i r l s from
the State are better motivated i n t r i n s i c a l l y than
the boys in the learning of the language.
The Investigator hopes that the findings will
provide a basis for useful suggestions towards the
improvement and progress of the language.
The following Hypotheses were formulated:-
(1) Students of French in Kano State are very
actively motivated to learn the language (Null
hypothesis).
(2) Students of French in Kano State are not
.sufficiently motivated to learn the language
(Alternative hypothesis).
(3) Poor motivation of students in the study of
French in Kano State has impaired t h e i r learning
of the language.
(4) Girls are more i n t r i n s i c a l l y motivated than
boys in the learning of French.
A total number of 250 Secondary I I I , IV, and
V students (164 boys and 86 g i r l s ) were randomly
selected from ten secondary Schools in Kano State.
The students were grouped according to sex for
easy tabulation and test of hypotheses IV. The
opinions of the students were tabulated according
to the total number for each group. The opinions
of the boys were l a t e r cornered with those of the
girls . Information wa3 also sought from similar
groups of students from Kariuna and Imo States for
more valid and objective r e s u l t s.
Data from the students were collected through
questionnaires while the interview method was used
on the teachers and officials of the Ministry of
Education.
Also, a section of the questionnaire with open
ended questions was reserved for the teachers to
sample their candid opinions on what the problem
situation really is in the teaching and learning
of French in the State. Provision was also made for
their genuine suggestions for the improvement of
the situation.
The procedures for the analysis of data did
not demand any rigorous s t a t i s t i c a l procedures.
Only the raw figures and their relative percentages
for the total number of each sex group were used.
For each set of students, where the total,
agreement exceeded total disagreement (and vice
verse) by one quarter ( 25%) and or above, the
difference was taken as significant.
On this basis, the hypotheses were t e s t e d .
The first one was rejected and the others accepted.
In other words, the findings revealed that students
of French in Kano State are nob sufficiently motivated
and this has led to students' lack of interest in
the language. Also girls were found to be more
i n t r i n s i c a l l y motivated than boys in the study of the
language in the State.
The following recommendations were made:-
1 • The objectives and aims of learning the language
should be specified to the students to bring
the language closer to them.
2. The progress made by students in the language
should be made known to them from time to time
to boost their morale.
3. As much as possible, the students should take
active part in designing their own instructional
objectives.
4. More emphasis should be accorded to the study
of the language by increasing the number of
periods allocated to it and by making it an
"Independent" subject. That i s , not making it
an an-alternative to any subject.
5. More funds should be provided by the Ministry
and the Government to provide the necessary
audio-visual materials, language laboratories;
provide for exchange French program-mes with
and visits to French countries or Institution;
provide enough incentives for the teachers,
6. French by Television should be started by the
State Ministry of Education so that children
get the rudiments of the language before they
come to the Secondary School: Also it will
offer the Secondary Students some refresher
exercises of what they learn at school.
7. Teachers of French should be encouraged to
develop more philanthropic attitude to their
work.
8. School leavers who wish to make a career with
French should be given Scholarship for the study
in a francophone country.
9. There should be a strong union of teachers of
French to see to and represent the interest
of the French Department at State and
national levels.
10. Refresher Courses should be organized for
teachers of French in or outside Nigeria and
such courses should be recognised in promotion
exercises.
Suggestions on which future research can be
based were given as follows s~
(xii)
(a) A comparative study of problems encountered
in English and French to see where these problems
are similar and where they differ and also to
verify the techniques the English department has
adopted to combat its own difficulties.
(b) Comparative studies of the French language
situation among States for more valid,
reliable and comprehensive results.
Description
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
MASTER'S DEGREE IN EDUCATION
(CURRICULUM DESIGN AND INSTRUCTION)
(JUNE 1979)
Keywords
PROBLEMS,, MOTIVATION,, STUDENTS,, STUDY,, FRENCH,, KANO STATE,, PROJECT,, PRESENTED,, FACULTY,, EDUCATION,, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,, ZARIA