Abstract:
This research work looked into the influences of L1 (Akan and Ewe) on L2 in students’
communication in English, the effects of the influences and the possible solutions to these
influences in Presbyterian Senior High School, Akim Begoro. It discussed related works on
the topic. The qualitative approach was used and the design adopted was case study.
Observation, interview and written test were the instruments employed to collect the data
from a purposive sampled participants. The study revealed that the L1 influences are in the
areas of syntax, semantics, and acquisition of vocabulary and generation of ideas for writing.
The effects of the L1 influences are that it affects the clarity of students’ communication,
makes them score low marks under expression when they write essays, and it affects public
image of English language teachers. The solutions are that teachers must pay attention to the
areas of the L1 influences in students’ constructions; give a lot of exercises and discuss the
marked scripts with their students. The students must make good use of the library and
revise what they are taught, and the government through the Ministry of Education must
ensure that time allocation is increased and teachers are permitted to organize remedial
lessons for students. The suggestions to the teacher are that L1 should be used to help
students understand word or text that are difficult to them, but teachers should pay attention
to context when they introduce new words and must devote more instructional time for
usage.
Description:
A thesis in the Department of Applied Linguistics, Faculty of Foreign Languages
Education and Communication, submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Philosophy (Teaching English as a Second Language) in the University of Education, Winneba
JULY, 2020
