EFFECTS OF MOTHER TONGUE INTERFERENCE IN THE LEARNING AND USE OF ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

A STUDY OF AFIKPO NORTH EDUCATIONAL ZONE OF EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This research investigated the effects of mother tongue interference in the learning and use of English as a second language. The work adopted research survey design method and utilized questionnaire validated by two English Language scholars. Three research questions guided the study. 70 English
Language teachers in Ajikpo North educational zone of Ebonyi State constituted the population. A total of 56 teachers were sampled using balloting technique without replacement. 52 copies of the questionnaire were returned in usable form. Data collected were analyzed using frequency count and mean scores.
2.50 mean benchmark was chosen for the study. Findings revealed that English language teachers are aware of the existence of mother tongue interference in the learning and use of English as a second language. It was also revealed that the interference occurs at the lexical. syntactic, semantic and
phonological levels/areas of English and also constitutes an impediment to the effort of the second language user at attaining appreciable level of competence and performance in English language. It is recommended, among others. that English language teachers should pay adequate attention to
those problematic areasllevels of the English language study that challenge learners and users alike. using appropriate teaching aids and methodology.