1.1 Introduction
Communication skill covers all activities that an individual does when he wants to make a transformation in someone else’s mind. This is a meaning bridge between an individual or individuals and organization. Communication is a process that contains expressing, listening and understanding (Banerji and Dayal, 2005). Similarly, emphasizing social aspect of communication, communication that takes part on the base of social life and forms the content of organizational structure is a process which aims at conducting good relationships between groups and organizations (Dogan, 2005).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Lift without communication would be monotonous and uneventful. Communication gives man the opportunity to interact with others. The great strides that the world has recorded today in the areas of technology, science, medicine, geology, economics, polities, etc, for instance are all due to the impact of communication. Nowadays English is the international communication language around the world, it is the language of media, internet and the language of science, activities, computer, technology, diplomacy, and tourism, so learning English language is important for socialization entertainment and jobs. Many countries use English as a second or native language. According to Sneddon (2003) as a global language, it is obvious that English plays an important role in international interaction.
English is not only used as an official language in many nations but also hasinfluences on many different cultures in a large number of countries; it is the central language of communication in the worldwide (Susanna, 2007). It is clearly bruised when a lot of people in a country speak English as the first language such as in the United States of America, Canada, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and others (Braine, 2005) The expansion of the English language has rapidly increased the needs to gain better communication English throughout the world because the attitude to use English is very much needed for further studies, journeys in other countries as well as for social and professional global contacts of different kinds (Hashemi, 2011).
Some of the students who go to school, their speaking of English is very weak than other subjects, in every midyear exams, they become fail in English subject. And some of the other students who go to university, their English skills are so poor and they would face many challenges at university. According to Sahibzada, Saeedi, and Hussaini, (2018) Explored that 44% of students, when they enter the University of Kandahar, they have many challenges in their speaking skills. In fact a vertical communication, horizontal communication, quasi vertical and diagonal communication function in an organization, therefore, the secretary need, to posses implacable knowledge of communication skills becomes a matter of great importance. For that, secretaries should always strive to find ways to meet up or to update his or her communication skills.
Therefore, in Oyo State where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to Survey the Causes of Poor Language Communication Skills Among Students in Some Selected Senior Secondary Schools.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that a lot of students are no proficient in communicating with English Language since it is the language of instruction as well as a subject taught in the interest of mastery for proficient use in the academic, business and social settings worldwide. In spite of the fact that all the textbooks used in schools are written in English Language to teach and as a subject learned, it is still sad that most Nigeria students find it difficult to express themselves well in the language and their performance in the subject in the school cert level as a subject is still abysmally poor.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to investigate the Causes of Poor Language Communication Skills Among Students in Some Selected Senior Secondary Schools using Akinyele Local Government Area in Oyo State as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows to:
- Determine the effect of poor communication skills on the performance of students;
- Ascertain the possibility of L1 (Mother Tongue) inference with L2 (English Language) learning mastery;
- Find out the relationship between student’s verbal interaction in the school and of home background; and
- Find out if performances of students in the use of English vary with the factor of experience/qualified teachers teaching the subject.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Is there possibility of L1 (Mother Tongue) inference with L2 (English Language) learning mastery?
- Is there a relationship between student’s verbal interaction in the school and of home background?
- Do performances of students in the use of English vary with the factor of experience/qualified teachers teaching the subject?
- What is the effect of poor communication skills on the performance of students?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no significant difference between the opinions of teachers and students that poor communication skills affect the performance of Students in the area under study
- H1: There is a significant difference between the opinions of teachers and students that poor communication skills affect the performance of Students in the area under study.
1.7 Significance of Study
The study would help to inform government, communities and parents about the importance of English language as a global means of communication and hence assume responsibilities of providing adequate funds to support (like teaching aids) in the teaching of the subject in schools. It is therefore, the hope of the researcher that the study would immensely benefit students and teachers alike. In the educational settings, great importance is placed on the use of English language, hence this study would be found useful in improving the quality of communication among students in the selected schools of the Local Government Areas of Oyo State.
1.8 Scope of the Study
The scope of the research focuses on the Survey the Causes of Poor Language Communication Skills among Students in Some Selected Senior Secondary Schools using Akinyele Local Government Area in Oyo State as a case study.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this establishment to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
