PROBLEMS FACING THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF CHINESE LANGUAGE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

It is evident that the teaching and learning of foreign languages in Nigeria are faced with series of problems. This work focused primarily on the current problems facing the effective teaching and easy learning of Chinese language in Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey with the application of participant/observer method of investigation. Two types of questionnaires were designed, distributed, and collected by the researchers during second semester of 2017/2018 session at Nnamdi Azikiwe University and University of Lagos. The data were elicited from the questionnaires and used for analysis. The problems identified include: lack of learning centers, lack of qualified teachers, lack of teaching materials and aids, lack of ICTs for teaching and learning Chinese, lack of language laboratories, lack of linguistics environments, and finally high cost of learning fees. At the end, the paper proffered some solutions to the problems by suggesting establishment of more Confucius Institutes, recruiting and training of more teachers, provision of teaching materials and aids, provision of ICTs for teaching and learning Chinese, provision of language laboratories, establishment of effective exchange programs for language immersion and construction of ‘Chinese village’ in Nigeria, and finally, reduction or removal of learning fees.