ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF FRENCH LANGUAGE IMMERSION PROGRAMMES ON STUDENT PROFICIENCY AND TEACHING COMPETENCE AT ALVAN IKOKU FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, OWERRI, IMO STATE

Abstract

Language Immersion is an educational paradigm with the goal of helping students achieve fluency in a second language by placing them in a pedagogical environment which simulates first language learning. Immersion refers to this environment, where all (or at least most) verbal transactions occur in the target (second language). This study assessed the effects of immersion programmes in French on the teaching and student proficiency at Alvan Okoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, Imo state. The purpose of the study is to ascertain how Immersion Programmes improve students' proficiency in French and equip them for successful careers as
teachers. This study used a descriptive survey approach to investigate the effects of immersion experiences on language fluency, pedagogical abilities, and student confidence. The study was conducted at at Alvan Okoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, Imo state, sampling 40 students of NCE 2 & 3 of the department of French. A questionnaire was developed using the Likert scale five points by the researcher with 20 items designed to assess the impact of French Immersion Programs in Nigerian Colleges of Education: A Case Study of at Alvan Okoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, Imo state. The study revealed that students’ proficiency and their abilities to teach the language have been refined and improved after the immersion programmes, the study also founded that the French immersion programmes is faced with challenges like the insufficient resource materials among others that is affecting its success at Alvan Ikoku federal college of education, Imo. The study recommended among others that the institution must to make Immersion Programmes more accessible, particularly to individuals who intend to pursue careers in French language instruction. The study concluded by advocating that Future studies may include extending immersion programs to more colleges and evaluating the results over an
extended period of time.