PROMOTING CRITICAL LITERACY SKILLS IN PROVERBS’ TEACHING AND LEARNING GRAMMATICAL STRUCTURES FOR SUSTAINABLE EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

Abstract

This paper aims at x-raying new method of teaching critical literacy at primary and junior secondary schools in Ebonyi Statae. The new method is using English proverbs in the teaching and learning grammatical structures for sustainable educational development. Barnwell’s theory of language propounded in 1974 which states that ‘language system is an open-ended system, because it constantly develops and expands to accommodate new ideas’ was used to advance the thesis of this topic. Primary data for this study was sourced from existing literatures. This paper concludes that using English proverbs in teaching grammatical structures can make it easier for the learners to retain the topics taught and also to stick in their mind, as well as become part of the learners’ usage. Use of English proverbs also serves as a means of effective vocabulary development. The paper recommends that researches on other methods such as psycho-grammatical descriptions, tense and aspect in English, and context-sensitive grammatical structures, among others, be conducted.