Causes of Problems in Learning English as a Second Language as Perceived by Senior Secondary Students in Makurdi Benue State

Abstract

This study is an analysis of some causes of the problems in learning English as a second language. The
objectives of the study were to find out the leading cause of the problems in learning English as second
language, and to find out whether there was any significant difference in the causes of problems faced by
students on the bases of different attribute variables such as sex, locality, habit of reading dailies and habit
of listening to English news. The methodology employed in gathering information was a survey method.
Sewi's Scale on Causes of Problems in Learning English as a second language, prepared by the
researcher, consisting of 59 statements, was used as a tool. The sample comprised of 300 students
covering 157 boys and 143 girls. The collected data were treated using mean, t - test and ANOVA. The
results indicated that the environment was the leading cause for problems in learning English as a second
language; that compared to girls, boys perceived more problems, and that rural student perceived more
problems than urban students. It was also found that lack of reading habit and listening tends to result to
several problems in learning English as a second language. The study recommended, among other things,
that the government should often conduct in-service training to train the teachers in using English language
in classrooms.