1.1 Introduction
To spell means, to name in order, the letters of a word for instance T-W-O = two spelling is an academic activity. It is a skill which marks the learners with such scholarly qualities as intelligence, cultivated, neat, efficient and conscientious. In any human society, the need for a common language cannot be over-emphasized. No society can exist comfortably together if the members of such society cannot communicate effectively among themselves.
In Nigeria, English language is the lingua - Franca (the official language) The language of Government, businesses, education, law, politics religion, mass media and international communication. This is the inevitable situation because Nigerian is a multilingual society with many different ethic groups such as Yoruba Edo, Igbo, Tiv, Hausa, and so on. Since it is only in English language that all these groups can communicate, we can realize the indispensable role which English plays in Nigeria.
1.2 Statement of Problems
This researcher is concerned with spelling errors among Nigeria secondary school students which no doubt affect their general performance in English language.
Normally, whenever there are any problems the first thing to do is to try to identify the cause of such a problem and then seek possible remedies to it because “a problem, once identified, is almost solved”.
Many factors are responsible for spelling errors among Nigerian secondary school students which make it difficult for them to resolve independently spelling problems. These factors are as follows:
- Complex nature and illogicality of the English language for example — different sounds or tones are given to the same letter or combination as in:- Head/hed/j Bread/bred/.
- Some words of English language are not spelt as pronounced because in English language, there is no sound to letter correspondence. One factor responsible for this is that English words contain prefixes mostly derived from prepositions in French, latin and Greek. Thus the poor Nigerian secondary school students who did not study either latin or Greek find themselves in difficult situations.
1.3 Purpose of Study
The purpose of the study is to look into the problem of spelling errors among Nigerian secondary school students and its effects on their general performance in English language. This researcher will also give practical suggestions on what the learners themselves, teachers and curriculum experts could do to raise the standard of English language in Nigeria. This can be achieved by adhering to the suggestions (to be given) on how to inculcate correct spelling habits in the students.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to scrutinize the Effects on their Performance and Remedies of Spelling Errors among Nigeria Secondary Schools Students. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To examine and describe the spelling performance of Nigerian secondary school students.
- To discuss the role of readiness and spelling assessing the case of poor students.
- To present a detailed assessment of the role of spelling rules in an effective spelling programme.
- To assess the importance of good methodology in teaching of spelling in Nigerian secondary school.
1.5 Research Questions
There are certain problematic questions which revolve around the issue of errors in spelling on which this researcher work is based. These are:
- Is spelling necessary in the teaching and learning of English language?
- What is responsible for poor spelling among Nigerian secondary school student?
- Can poor speller make good grades in their examinations, assignments or tests?
- What method can be adopted in the teaching and learning of spelling in Nigerian secondary school?
- What activities, exercise and teaching aids are useful in achieving success in teaching spelling to student?
- Can spelling errors among students be eradicated?
- What possible remedies can be established to spelling errors?
Whatever useful answers given for the above questions will no doubt pin — point the root of spelling errors among Nigeria secondary school 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.
- H01: There is no significant difference between the mean errors of structure in the written composition of SS1 students and SS3 students.
- H02: There is no significant difference between the mean errors of mechanics in the written composition of SS I students and SS3 students.
1.7 Significance of Study
Really, it is a personal experience and concern that motivated me to research into the problem of spelling errors among Nigerian secondary school students, I was a secondary school student myself and participated in teaching practice. Judging from the importance of correct spelling and other related issues (like effects of errors in spelling on students' general performance) there is therefore the justification and necessity to look into the problems which student encounter in spelling English words correctly.
The possible remedies which this study will high light will shed light on ways and means of tackling the problem of spelling errors among Nigerian secondary school students.
Therefore, the findings of this report will provide useful information to students, teachers, and curriculum planners as well as the whole community since the society is part and parcel of the curriculum process. To curriculum designers, this report will be a guide on how to plan and effective spelling programme for our secondary school as well as providing a frame work for.
The findings of this report will be generally useful to everybody since spelling errors is not a problem of students alone but has a vicious cycle- secondary schools, higher institutions, community and if such a problem is rampant in any educational system the parent get concerned and then lay blames on the teachers and curriculum planners. The government itself is not spared.
1.8 Scope of Study
The study focuses on the Spelling Errors among Nigerian Secondary Schools Students, Effects on their Performance and Remedies which is limited to the Presentation of 500 Misspelt Words.
This research work is based on three selected secondary schools in the Somolu management committee of Lagos State these schools are Angns Memorial Senior High School, Igbobi College, Mainland Senior High School. Altogether one hundred and fifty form five students in these three schools are used at the sample for this research.
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.
- 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).
