INVESTIGATING THE IDIOMATIC USE OF PHRASAL VERBS IN ENGLISH AMONG DIPLOMA STUDENTS IN JOURNALISM IN AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA

INVESTIGATING THE IDIOMATIC USE OF PHRASAL VERBS IN ENGLISH AMONG DIPLOMA STUDENTS IN JOURNALISM IN AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA

ABSTRACT

Several studies have been carried out to investigate one form of problem or the other among learners of English as a second language at different lpvels of education in Nigeria. These could be in the areas of phonoloqy, morphology, syntax or semantics. The presert work complements what other researchers have done. it investigates the (idiomatic) use of phrasal verbs in English among Diploma students of journalism in Ahmadu Bello university, Zaria. Four sections are included in this study, namely; (A) Distinguishing between literal and idiomatic use of phrasal verbs. (B) identification of appropriate interpretations of idiomatic phrasal verbs from a number of alternative answers. (C) Giving short interpretations of idiomatic phrasal verbs (without alternative answers). (D) Using phrasal verbs to construct idiomatic sentences. One hundred subjects are drawn from Diploma II journalism class and divided into two groups: control and experimental. The test instrument is administered twice to these two groups. The first administration is aimed at finding out if there is vii any initial difference between the groups (before any experimental treatment). An over-all average score of 1.8% is recorded in favour of the control group. The poor performance of the two groups in the first test administration indicates that idiomatic phrasal verbs seem to constitute problems. This has pedagogical implications for students, teachers, parents and educational planners. The second tost administration is interested in assessing the effect of the experimental treatment. An overall average score of 28.5% is recorded this time in favour of the experimental treatment. To supplement the test instrument, a guestionnaire is administered to the subjects and the responses they provide are used in testing the formulated hypotheses, possible causes for their poor performance are identified and some solutions to them are given. The study is divided into five chapters. Chapter one gives a statement of the problem, significance of the study, aims of the study, sources of data as well as the scope/delimitation of the study. Chapter two gives the theoretical framework and literature review. it also discusses the model used in the study. The third chapter discusses the research procedure for viii data collection.. Chapter four presents the analysis of data and attempts some discussions of the results and chapter five gives conclusion of the study* pedagogical implications, recommendations and the need for further research* There is also a bibliography as well as appendices. ix

INVESTIGATING THE IDIOMATIC USE OF PHRASAL VERBS IN ENGLISH AMONG DIPLOMA STUDENTS IN JOURNALISM IN AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA