A COMPARISON OF THE ATTITUDES OF BOYS AND GIRLS IN THE STUDY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN THE SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN BOGORO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BAUCHI STATE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents                                                                          Pages

Title Page        –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       i

Declaration      –               –       –       –       –       –       –       ii

Approval Page – –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       iii

Dedication        –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       iv

Acknowledgement    –       –       –       –       –       –       –       v-vi

Table of Content       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       vii-ix

Abstract   –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       x

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0   Introduction     –       –       –       –       –       –       –       1

1.1   Background of the Study          –       –       –       –       1-3

1.2   Statement of the Problem –       –       –       –       –       3-4

• Purpose of the Study –       –       –       –       –       4-5

1.4   Research Questions –       –       –       –       –       –       5

1.5   Hypothesis       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       6

1.6   Significance of the Study –       –       –       –       –       6-7

1.7   Scope and Limitation        –       –       –       –       –       7-8

1.8   Definition of Terms   –       –       –       –       –       –       8-9

CHAPTER TWO

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

CHAPTER THREE

TEXTUAL PRESENTATION

3.0   Introduction     –       –       –       –       –       –       –       38

3.1   Research Design      –       –       –       –       –       –       38-39

3.2   Population and Sample    –       –       –       –       –       39-40

3.3   Sampling Technique –       –       –       –       –       –       40

3.4   Instrument for Data Collection –       –       –       –       40

3.5.  Description of Instrument –        –        –        –        –        41

3.6   Procedure for Instrument Development    –       –       41

3.7   Validity of the Instrument         –       –       –       –       41

3.8   Procedure for Data Collection   –       –       –       –       41-42

3.9   Method of Data Analysis   –       –       –       –       –       42-44

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION

4.1   Group “A” Performance (females)      –       –       –       45-47

4.2   Group “B” Performances (Males)       –       –       –       47-49

4.3   Summary of the Tables    –       –       –       –       –       49-51

4.4   General Discussion of the Finding    –       –       –       51-52

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.0   Introduction     –       –       –       –       –       –       –       53

5.1   Summary of the Work      –       –       –       –       –       53-54

5.2   Conclusion      –       –       –       –       –       –       –       54-56

5.3   Recommendations    –       –       –       –       –       –       54-61

References                –       –       –       –       –       –       62-63

Appendices              –       –       –       –       –       –       64-65

Abstract

In the past, the study of English language in secondary schools used to be unserious, depending on the type of school or type of person that headed the schools. Today, English is not only studied but has been made compulsory in all the secondary schools in Nigeria. This condition changed generally in appreciation of the importance of English as a medium of expression, modern language and particularly in appreciation of economic position of Nigeria, both in West Africa and the world at large. It is with these views that the Federal Governmet deemed it necessary to make English language a compulsory subject in the school curriculum, though, this subject falls within the priority group of subjects like mathematics and science subjects which are made compulsory, many students still do not seem to be serious in the study of English language even in the Junior classes. It seems they do not regard the subject as one that they can read like the optional subjects and science subjects. This attitude towards the subject is becoming alarming that people might begin to doubt its compulsive position in the curriculum.

The purpose of this study therefore, is to investigate:

1. Whether the boys have attitude in the study of English language than the girls or vice-versa.
2. The factors responsible for the difference in their attitude (if any) between the boys and the girls in the study of English language.

• The necessary suggestions that can help to bridge their attitudes towards the study of the English language.

CHAPTER ONE

• Introduction

This chapter states the background of the study, statement of the problem, purpose of the study, significance of the study. It equally states the research questions, scope of the study, hypothesis and definition of the terms respectively.

• Background of the Study

During the colonial administration and also at the end of their administration in Nigeria, English language was one of the most important legacies left behind. The language left behind was the most effective channel of communication among Nigerians from different linguistic groups.

English language is most noticeable in the field of education. The subject English language is being introduced in the first years of nursery, primary and the first years of secondary school up to the tertiary level as a means of expression and instruction. In the situation where English language is taught and studied in schools as subjects, it is generally regarded as foreign language. English language is the effective medium through which Nigerian children have access to cultural and scientific knowledge of the whole world.

The position of English language in educational sphere is to remain for a long period in Nigeria.

Due to the Nigerian heterogonous and diverse cultures, English proficiency is a necessary qualification for effective functioning in the Nigerian society.

English language is generally regarded as a second language of lingua franca in Nigeria. For that reason, Englsih language becomes a compulsory subject in schools and at least a pass in senior secondary school level. The state of English language has fallen drastically within the priority groups of subjects such as biology and agricultural sciences which are to some extent compulsory. Majority of students still feel relaxed and unserious in the study of English language.

English language as a lingua franca takes a valuable place in Nigeria as a whole and Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi state in particular. Based on this, English language has gotten an important position in the school curriculum.

It is with fact that the researcher is taking time to find out among the students where the problem lies between two sexes.

The researcher finds it important to cross examine students specifically in the differences in the attitudes between boys and girls in the study of English language in Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State. This is because the researcher is from Bogoro Local Government Area. Some secondary schools located within this area will be taken into consideration to determine where the problems are.

• Statement of the Problem

The attitudes and the performance in English language seems to be on the down-ward trend dive. This is observable from the senior secondary school certificate results.

1. What could be the reason for the dwindling attitude among boys?
2. What could be the reason for dwindling attitudes among boys?

• What could be the reason for dwindling attitudes among the girls?

1. Do the attitude for the study of English language vary between the boys and the girls?
2. What are the attitudes of the boys to learning of English language?
3. What are the attitudes of the girls to learning of English language?

The researcher therefore, wants to know on whose part of this dedication and seriousness is lacking. Whether the boys or the girls in the field of study. It is also good to know whether the cause or causes is from the boys or the girls themselves or from different perspectives.

• Purpose of the Study

It is important that, a study of this nature of relative popularity of school subjects may provide a valuable medium of approximating the efficiency of the teaching method. The attitude of the boys and the girls towards a school subject would be taken as a way of approximating the important effectiveness of context of handling that teaching subject especially when the subject doubles as language instruction.

• Research Question

Having these points in mind, the researcher is carrying out this study with the purpose of finding out the following:

1. Whether boys’ attitude in the study of English language is more than the girls’ or vice-versa.
2. Reasons for their differences in attitude, if any, between the boys and the girls in the study of English language.

• The possible suggestion that can help in bridging or to close the gap in their attitudes in the study of English language.

The research will also help whoever thinks of carrying out further studies on this particular topic.

• Hypothesis

In relation to this study, the researcher is bringing some hypothesis to guide his efforts. These hypothesis will later be tested to give conclusion:

1. The boys’ attitude in the study of English language is more than the girls’ attitudes.
2. The girls’ attitude in the study of English language is more than the boys’ attitudes.

• Whether the teachers or their methods of teaching encourages either the boys or the girls’ attitudes in the study of English language.
  • Significance of the Study

The significance of this work is to show a comparison of the attitudes of the boys and girls in the study of English language in the senior secondary schools in Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

This research will assist the community and the parents to encourage their children’s attitudes in the study of English language.

The importance or benefits for the comparative attitude of boys and girls in the study of English language will help the policy makers and the teachers in their work. Therefore, the study intends to assist parents, teachers, policy makers, children (learners) attitude in the study of English language for the development of their community and nation at large.

• Delimitation/Scope of the Study

It is possible that the difference in the attitudes between the boys and the girls in the fields of English language cuts across primary and post-primary schools in Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State. But the study is narrowed to some senior secondary schools in the area for a meaningful study within these limits.

The researcher thinks that the number of schools used is a representative in terms of geographical settlement. The study could cover a wider area, but the entire work was limited to Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi state. Such limiting factors include:

1. There is always a problem of finance to travel a far for data collection, therefore, the research is limited to the aforementioned area of study.
2. The period given for the collection of data, working and submission of the work (project) is not enough to cover a wider range of study.
   • Definition of Terms

Boys: A male child, young son or young person.

Girl: A female child, young daughter or young female person.

Comparison: A process of comparing two or more people or things.

Attitude: The way you think or feel about something or behave towards something.

Study: The activity of learning or gaining knowledge either from books or examining things in the world.

S.S.S. C.E: Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination

English: A language of England spoken now in the many countries of the world.