Al-Hikmah University Journal


Al-Hikmah University Central Journal

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MONOLINGUALISM, BILINGUALISM AND TRILINGUALISM AND ACHIEVEMENT IN ENGLISH LEARNINGAMONG STUDENTS OF NILE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, ABUJA, NIGERIA

Bello, Yekeen & Fakunle, Oiza Rabiat

Abstract


The study takes a look at the relevance of monolingualism on trilingualism vis-à-vis achievement in language learning among students of English Studies department of Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja. The study was carried out to test the presupposition whether or not monolingualism has effects on trilingualism and achievement in language learning. The study is a descriptive survey type, and has its population all the 30 students of the English Studies department. A stratified random sampling technique which consisted of 10 monolingual learners of English, 10 bilingual learners of English and 10 trilingual learners of English was used. The sample featured British students that are studying English (monolingual learners of English), Hausa students who are studying English (bilingual learners of English), Turkish studentswho are studying English (bilingual learners of English), and Igbo students that speak Yoruba and Hausa languages in addition to their native languagewho are also studying English (trilingual learners of English). A 20-item researcher designed questionnaire was used. The instrument, having subjected it to test re-test statistical technique, yielded a reliability index of 0. 54 at 0.05 alpha level of significance. Research questions 1-6 were answered using Mean and Standard Deviation statistics while hypotheses 1-6 were tested using t-test statistics. Frequency counts and percentage distribution were used to determine the frequencies of monolingual, bilingual and trilingual learners of English. The findings of the analyses indicate thatgrammatical performance of monolingual, bilingual and trilingual learners of English was good while oral reading performance ofmonolingual, bilingual and trilingual learners of English was only average. With this conclusion, it was recommended that Federal government should look into the concept of multilingualismwith a view to making it an achievable project for national and international intelligibility that would promote national development.

Keywords: Monolingualism, Bilingualism, Trilingualism, Achievement in language learning, Language hierarchy and Mother-tongue
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