Emploi du pluriel des noms communs en terminaisons -eu, -al, -ou en fle le cas de Bagabaga college of education

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine and find solutions to the difficulties that confront students of Bagabaga College of Education in the formation of pluralization of common nouns in the French Language ending with -eu, -al, -ou and finally propose a strategy to overcome these difficulties thereby facilitating the teaching and learning in French as foreign language class. A total number of 58 students and 4 teachers formed our sample size. Questionnaires and test were used as tools for data collection. Analysis of data eventually confirmed that most of the students were not able to form plural of common nouns appropriately. The plurisystem and cognitivist theories were used to elucidate the problem of our study. The research discovered that the causes of students’ difficulties were related to the confusion in the use of the grapheme ‘‘s’’ and ‘‘x’, their weak exposure to the multiplicity of the nature and functions of the morpheme s in the French language, the negative transfer from English to French coupled with the linguistic influence of the mother tongue contribute to their difficulties, the use of inappropriate teaching methods and difficult nature of the French language. The study therefore highlighted the pedagogical implications and suggested ways which can be help to both learners and teachers in their teaching and learning of the plural of common nouns ending with -eu,-al,and - ou.