CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study

Education is the most effective agent of social and personal transformation that leaves a relatively formative effect on learners. The primary purpose of teaching at any level of education is to bring a fundamental change in the learner through various teaching and learning methods (Oigara, 2011). The effectiveness of this teaching and learning process largely depends on the choice of the teacher’s teaching method. Whalen (2012) alludes that effectiveness of a teaching method is reflected in the outcome of the teaching-learning process inform of marks, grades and mean scores.

Education is one of the most important aspects of human resource development. The students’ performance plays an important role in producing best quality graduates who will become great leaders and manpower for the country thus responsible for the country’s economic and social development. Academic achievement is one of the major factors considered by employers in hiring workers especially for the fresh graduates. Thus, students have to put the greatest effort in their study to obtain good grades and to prepare themselves for future opportunities in their career at the same time to fulfil the employer’s demand. Academic performance in the Junior Secondary Schools determines whether the students will proceed to university for higher degree or be able to secure a teaching job. Students’ performance also determines quality of education that will be passing to the students by the potential teachers at primary and secondary school levels.

Teaching methods are categorized into teacher-centered approaches and learner centered approaches (Oigara, 2011). Teacher-centered approaches include lecture method, drilling and questioning. In teacher centered approach, learning takes place when teachers teach and later examine taught concepts by giving students exercises related to the teacher’s presentation during or after the lesson. This is for the purpose of finding out whether students grasped the knowledge passed on to them by the teacher. It is considered sensible for teachers to be familiar with the language which the students are using to learn. Language is key to  the process of teaching as well as assessing or testing so as to discover the weakness of the students or areas they did not understand in the course of learning (Brad, 2000).

1. 1. This material content is developed to serve as a GUIDE for students to conduct academic research work
2. 2. As a source for additional understanding of the subject.
3. 3. As a source for ideas for your own research work (if properly referenced).
4. 4. For PROPER paraphrasing (see your university definition of plagiarism and acceptable paraphrase)
5. 5. Direct citing (if referenced properly)
Thank you so much for your respect to the authors copyright.