COMPARATIVE STUDY OF USE OF LOCAL AND FOREIGN LANGUAGES IN TEACHING AND LEARNING OF COMPUTER SCIENCE IN SECONDARY SCHOOL

Abstract

This study titled, “comparative study of use of local and foreign languages in teaching and learning of computer science in secondary school” was amid at ascertaining the impact of using local languages (Igbo language) over the use of foreign language (English language) in teaching computer. The study have three research questions and two hypotheses. It is a quasi-experimental research design that made use of 300 secondary school students drawn using simple random sample techniques from the five Igbo speaking states of Nigeria. Instrument for data collection is called “Computer Achievement Test (CAT)”. The instrument contains 20 multiply choice questions with option A –D formed from secondary school computer lesson. Data for the study was generated by administering the same CAT to both experimental and the control group after teaching each group. Data collected was analyzed using mean and standard deviation for the research questions and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) for hypotheses. Results showed that showed that students taught computer using local languages (Igbo language) performed better than those taught computer using foreign language (English language). The results showed that male students performing better in both experimental and control groups. Test of hypotheses also showed a significant difference in the performance of students taught computer using local languages (Igbo language) over those taught using foreign language (English language). In both experimental and control groups male students performed better than female students. Based on the results the researcher recommended among other things that computer teachers in secondary schools should inculcate the use of using local languages in teaching the subject as it will improving the understanding of what they are teaching especially in Igbo speaking states.