AN EVALUATION OF THE SYLLABUS IN TEACHING AND LEARNING OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN CHADIAN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Autores

  • Gilbert Tagne Safotso University of Dschang, Cameroon
  • Célestin Tao University of N’Djamena, Chad

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejel.v9i5.5680

Palavras-chave:

syllabus, skills, learners, teachers, components, fluent, competent

Resumo

Chad has over 200 local languages plus French and Arabic as its two official languages. All the other languages taught/learnt in the country are seen as foreign ones. Since the early 21st century, of those languages, Chadian learners have been having a strong interest in English, which they see as a developmental tool. However, given the embryonic state of that language in the country, very little research has been carried out to see how Chadian learners acquire it, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the policy put in place to foster it. This paper critically looks at the current syllabus used in the teaching/ learning of the English language in Chadian secondary schools. The informants came from various secondary schools in N’Djamena, and the data were gathered through interviews and questionnaires administered to both teachers (N50) and learners (N100). The findings show that the current syllabus mostly dwells on grammar and vocabulary, leaving out other key components of the language such as socialisation, fluency or the various types of writing which make efficient users/speakers of any foreign language. The teaching approaches proposed/used, and the textbooks in use have not been adapted. The vast majority of teachers recruited to teach that subject are not trained /qualified. All these factors combine to make the teaching of the English language inefficient in Chadian secondary schools. This study ends with some proposals on how to ameliorate the syllabus to make it more adequate.

 

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Biografia do Autor

  • Gilbert Tagne Safotso, University of Dschang, Cameroon

    Gilbert Safotso is an Associate Professor of English Language and Applied Linguistics. He is currently teaching in the Department of Foreign Applied Languages, University of Dschang (Cameroon). He has widely published in Canada, America and Europe, and is an editorial board member of many international journals. His research interests include English Phonology, ELT, New Englishes. His books include A Study of the Phonological Features of Cameroon Francophone English by Scholars’ Press (2015) and EAP for French-speaking Students by Dschang University Press (2021).

    ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5457-0928

  • Célestin Tao, University of N’Djamena, Chad

    Célestin Tao is a Senior Lecturer of English Language. He is currently the Head of the Department of English, Uninersity of N’Djamena (Chad). His research interests include ELT, EAP, Discourse Analysis and New Englishes.

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Publicado

2024-11-15

Edição

v. 9 n. 5 (2024)

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