LANGUAGE NEEDS OF AGRICULTURE STUDENTS: IN AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY COLLEGES OF AGRICULTURE
LANGUAGE NEEDS OF AGRICULTURE STUDENTS: IN AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY COLLEGES OF AGRICULTURE
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Date
1994
Authors
OSHAGBAMI, IBIDAPO ELIZABETH (MRS)
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Abstract
This study is an attempt to c e r t i f y the language needs of
a g r i c u l t u r e students offering courses in Agricultural Technology,
Agricultural Engineering Technology, Home Economics, Animal Health
and Production, and H o r t i c u l t u r e and Landscape Technology in
Ahmadu Bello University constituent and a f f i l i a t e d Colleges of
Agriculture. The study was concerned with the general and
the specialised use to which the students are to put English,
The study is considered s i g n i f i c a n t because it is the f i r s t of
i t s kind in the colleges concerned.
The data for the study were c o l l e c t e d through the administration
of two s e t s of questionnaires - t h e s t u d e n t s ' and academic staff.
The students' questionnaire contained 37 items and was administered
to 268 s t u d e n t s . The s t a f f questionnaire contained 32 items and
was administered to 29 l e c t u r e r s and Heads of Section.
In the questionnaires, the researcher sought to find out the
importance attached to the four language s k i l l s in performing
g e n e r a l , a g r i c u l t u r a l and laboratory t a s k s . Also sought is to
find the relevance of essay t o p i c s , comprehension passages and
vocabulary taught in E n g l i s h Language to their agricultural
courses.
• .
The findings revealed that the four language s k i l ls
( l i s t e n i n g , speaking, reading and writing) were considered
important in performing general and agricultural tasks. From
the ranking of the s k i l l s , it was revealed that each of the
s k i l l s was more important for specific agricultural tasks
than others.
The result of the analysis of both sets of responses
showed that the English Language course need to include
listening speaking, reading and writing exercises and learning
of vocabulary relevant to the students1 specializations.
To improve the students' language performance, it was
recommended that language syllabus should include what students
need to help them perform their agricultural tasks easily and such
that are relevant to t h e i r courses. Also, relevant text books
of English language for agriculture students are urgently needed.
Description
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
1994.
Keywords
LANGUAGE,, NEEDS,, AGRICULTURE,, STUDENTS:,, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY COLLEGES,, AGRICULTURE