A Comparative Study on the Fluency in French by Distance and Full Time Students. The Case Study of Kwame Nkrumah University
- July 15, 2020
- Posted by: RSIS
- Category: IJRISS
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue VI, June 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186
Elliot Machinyise1, Kasebula Francis2
1(MED Applied Linguistics), David Livingstone College of Education, Kabwe, Zambia
2(MED Special Education), David Livingstone College of Education, Livingstone, Zambia
Abstract:- This study investigated a comparative fluency in French by distance education and full time students learning French at Kwame Nkrumah University. Both distance and full time students were interviewed in French and their class lessons observed. The study revealed that distance students performed better in French and their academic results were better than their full time counterparts. Factors such as access and exposure to digital technologies such as social media and computers, quality modules and linguistic visit to French speaking countries are the main factors contributing to communicative fluency in French by distance education students at Kwame Nkrumah University. The study has made recommendations and proposals which will equally enable full time students improve their communicative ability in French as well. Among the recommendations were to encourage social networking among full time students through online French social groups and providing adequate study materials as those given to distance education students. French embassy was advised to reintroduce the programme of sending students studying French to Reunion or any other French speaking country in order to expose students to French civilization and culture. Parents were encouraged to provide their children in full time learning with digital technologies such as smart phones and laptops to enable them access modern language learning techniques online.
Key words: Social Media, Social Networking, Study Modules, Distance Education, Full Time, Communicative Fluency, digital technologies
I. BACKGROUND
In today’s era, knowing a foreign language apart from your mother tongue has proved to be extremely significant. Whether learning for financial or social reasons, having the ability to communicate in a foreign language enables speakers make beneficial connections with other people and provides a better appreciation of one’s culture.
For those students who do not have access to learn foreign languages through full time classroom learning, distance learning through electronic communication is the way to go. According to White (2003), distance education refers to the teaching and learning arrangement in which the learner and the teacher are separated by geography and time.
