• Ereke, J.S.

  Author

• S. N. Agwu

  Author

Language attitudes; effects of learning English language in Nigerian secondary
schools are the main focus of this article. Language is one of the major determinants of human
behavior in an environment. Human attitudes towards a particular phenomenon determine the
level of success or failure of the programme. This article tries to overhaul teacher attitudes
towards English language and student’s level of competence in using English in Nigeria. The
authors highlight on the paper that the shift from Standard English to Pidgin English and mother
tongue among teachers and students in classroom setting is as a result of cultural effects.
Teaching English language for different purposes, especially for science and technology
development in Nigeria was discussed. The authors also unveiled issues on English language in
Nigerian contexts, adjustment of English language lessons on the school time-table, possible
approaches to the learning of English language in Nigeria, impediments in the acquisition of
proficiency skills in English language in Nigeria which phonological, level, lexical level and
syntactic level which were seen as the main problems facing Nigerian learners of the subject.
The conclusion of this article was drawn based on the ideas discussed and their relevance to
Nigeria and the world at large.

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