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CU organizes
intervention strategic workshop for English teachers in
secondary schools Covenant
University has continued to blaze the trail through its
innovative approach in the area of town and gown
relationship, as it constantly explores and articulates
creative programmes and services aimed at meeting the
developmental needs of its external environment.
Just recently, the University, through its
Department of English and Literary Studies, organized a
three-day intervention strategic workshop to address the
persistent challenges facing the Nigerian student in the
area of use of English language both at the level of
everyday communication as well as in public examinations.
The workshop, dubbed, ‘Trends in English Language
Learning, Teaching and Testing’, which aimed at
identifying and proffering solutions to the problems of the
average Nigerian English Language teacher as well as
acquainting the teachers with up-to-date teaching tools and
techniques in line with modern global practices, drew about
42 participants from 17 secondary schools in Lagos and Ogun
States.
In her address at the opening ceremony, the Vice Chancellor,
Prof Aize Obayan, who represented the Chancellor, Dr David
Oyedepo, as Chairperson of the occasion, decried the
downward trend in the use of English Language as a medium of
communication amongst Nigerian students and urged the
participants to maximize the benefits of the workshop by
learning new trends in English language learning, teaching
and testing, thereby helping to reverse the trend as
teachers of the subject.
Prof Obayan, who also delivered a keynote lecture, titled,
‘Developing Counselling Skills –Perspectives for Language
Teachers’, said the task of counselling is to give
the students the opportunity to explore, discover and
clarify ways of attaining academic excellence as well as
providing them the needed motivation in order to create a
rich context or base for language learning.
She said since teaching and learning are both collaborative
venture, teachers should always communicate regard and
respect, as students need to know that they are valued and
prized.
The Vice Chancellor reiterated that for the teachers to be
effective, they must promote a safe context and environment
where students are empowered to express themselves and
explore new paradigms and urged them to be empathic, good
listeners, and also acquire good communication skills in
order to establish rapport with students.
The Registrar of CU, Yemi Nathaniel, who spoke on,
‘Language Teaching for Real National Development,’
identified access to basic education, and other needs of
life as imperatives to national development.
He urged the participants to develop their individual
capacity to help improve on a greater level quality access
to sound English learning, a language, he described as
central to national development.
He expressed hope that access to quality English language
teaching and testing would greatly enable the students
enroll for higher education and develop the nation’s human
capital.
Other papers delivered at the workshop include the
following: ‘The Link between
Linguistic Theories and Language Teaching,’ by Prof.
Charles Ogbulogo, Dean, College of Human Development and
Head of Department of English
‘Using Library Resources in Language Teaching,’ by
Mr. C. Nkiko, Acting Director, Centre for Learning Resources
‘Language Testing in Large Classes,’ by Dr. T. Abioye
Teaching Oral English by Prof. Charles Ogbulogo.
‘Teaching the Fundamentals of Everyday Communication.’
by Dr. I. Chiluwa
‘A Guide to the Reading of Literary Texts,’ by Dr
Remi Akujobi
‘Teaching Basic Comprehension Skills,’ by Dr. T.
Abioye
‘Contemporary Approaches to the Teaching of Literature,’
by Ms Ofure Aito
‘Teaching Composition Skills,’ by Dr. I. Chiluwa
‘Teaching Basic Comprehension Skills’ by Dr. T.
Abioye
‘Contemporary Approaches to the Teaching of Literature,’
by Ms Ofure Aito
‘Teaching Composition Skills,’ by Dr. I. Chiluwa
‘Rising to the Occasion: Speech Writing and Delivery,’
by Prof. C. Ogbulogo
Recommendations by Participants
During the interactive sessions the
participants made the following recommendations:
English lessons should be given enough time to give room for
interaction during lessons
The English teachers’ workload should be reduced
Teachers should be encouraged to specialize in an aspect of
English Language teaching to enhance skills and
professionalism
Teachers should embark on self-improvement efforts
Provision of teaching aids/facilities (e.g. language labs)
to be given priority in the various schools
Too large classes in public schools hinder teaching
efficiency; solution to this problem should be provided
Many schools need to employ more teachers
WAEC to re-consider their syllabus/English testing standards
as they are becoming obsolete in the light of current global
practices
Covenant University to establish a College of Education
Resolutions/Requests
A request that all recommendations made at the workshop
should be forwarded to WAEC and the Federal Ministry of
Education for consideration. An association
to serve as a platform for feedback and information networks
was proposed. The house agreed to look at this proposal more
closely probably during subsequent workshops. The
Vice-Chancellor, Covenant University had earlier envisaged
this during her lecture. Organizers of the
Workshop were urged to invite the Principals and Proprietors
of schools to a similar specialized workshop where they
might be acquainted with the above recommendations and
educated on the real issues affecting education in Nigeria.
In view of the fact that private schools are
profit-oriented, many of the participants feared that the
implementation of the decisions at the workshop may not be
possible due to non-professional approaches of the private
school owners to education.
Participants appealed to the Covenant
University Library for access to the resources of the CLR
and possibly assist them to establish standard libraries in
their schools. A call for the establishment
of a College of Education at the Covenant University.
Participants agreed that the Workshop should not end with
mere discussions and proposals, rather the organizers should
endeavor to influence the implementation of the
recommendations by liaising with appropriate authorities.
Below is the list of the workshop participants and their
addresses:
S/N Name of Participant
Name of School
Phone
E-mail
1. Tiwalola Akinkuotu
Liberty College
08038575897
2. Edema Racheal
Liberty College
08028559446 ravchelle_edema@yahoo.com
3. Adewale Adedokun
Elyon College
08033941275
buckwale@yahoo.com
4. Amuioha Bridget J
Great Grace Primary 08027561691
brigten3000@yahoo.com
School
5. Ogunleye Olayinka Dele
Ferscoat
08030718855
Comprehensive
Academy Ipaja.
6. Mr. I.A. Babarinsa
Abeokuta Grammar 08066376658
School
7. Araoye O. E. (Mrs.)
The Bells Schools
08028274106
dipo4christ2t@yahoo.co.uk
8. Lamowa 0.0. (Mrs.)
The Bells Schools
08035701918
yemisilomowa@yahoo.com
9. Adeoti J.P.
The Bells Schools
08060658687
10. Azeez B.E.
The Bells Schools
08033330276
11. Alabi T.O.
The Bells Schools
08038357004
Opevemialabi2003@yahoo.com
12. Ajisafe 1.0.
The Bells Schools
08022724435
soisafe@yahoo.com
13. Oke 0.0. (Mr.)
The Bells Schools
08033320081
shipor_d@yahoo.com
14. Ohiri G.U. (Mrs.)
Education Viewers
08034028786
Ed.viewer@yahoo.com
15. Nathaniel E.B. (Mrs.)
Faith Academy
08033374011
16. Afolabi R.A. (Mr.)
Soundhope Schools 08023152462
afolabie@yahoo.com
17. Ogunkambi B.I. (Mrs)
Unique Heights
08034083141
18. Kanu, Amara M.
Faith Academy
08034232497 Eudora.com
19. Onochie E.O. (Mrs.)
Faith Academy
08060568494
kanumaxwell@yahoo.co.uk
20. Onbo A.O. (Miss)
Faith Academy
08023636425
bole@yahoo.com
21. Eshareturi O. Oscar (Mr.)
Faith Academy
08034955137
oscarzuri@yahoo.com
22. Falade, A. S. (Mr.)
Faith Academy
08055849803
dewo234@yahoo.com
23. J.K.Olokose (Mr.)
Home Science Ass. 08037255758
jonlokose@yahoo.com
Sec. School
25. Ogunlola S.K.
Nigeria Navy Sec.
08035027943
School. Abeokuta
26. Onasanya O.S. (Mr.)
Nigeria Navy Sec.
08053055435
School. Abeokuta
27. Asaolu O.A. (Mrs.)
Topmost Schools,
08033183906
28. Tola Ajibiowu (Mrs'J
Topmost Schools,
08037109059
Ipaja.
29. Sanusi M.B. (Mrs.)
Abeokuta Girls'
08033479644
Grammar Sch.
Onikolobo.
30. Adeyemi M.A. (Mrs.)
Egba Comprehensive 08034112337
High Sch., Asero,
Abeokuta.
31 lmo J.0. (Mr.)
Home Science School 08036060440
32. Onwuemeli, C.E. (Mrs.)
H.S.A.S.S. Alakuko 08055485060
33. Sam Iroanusi
Sam Iro Publication
08033449154
34. Agbabiaka N.O.
The Christhill 08023857632
omotayothelight2001@
yahoo.com
35. Ezechukwu Ifeoma G. I
Faith Academy
08034231204
gezechuku@yahoo.com
36. Olufemi E.T. (Mrs.)
Faith Academy
08038175123
37. Rotimi B. Deus
Faith Academy
38. Abasi, E.I.
Faith Academy
08029177333
39. Badru Oyebode
Faith Academy
08032285819
40. Emmanuel David O.B
Faith Academy
08038489128
olsusemnakadiri@yahoo.com
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A cross section
of the participants @ the workshop |
Click here for more pictures of the event |
