IMAGINATIVE AND CREATIVE ABILITIES IN WRITTEN AND ORATORY DEVELOPMENTS IN STUDENTS OF ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS

Abstract

Imaginative and creative abilities in writing and oratory stills in the study of English language is of utmost importance. The purpose of this study is to ensure that the students are taught by highly qualified teachers of English language as to acquire the best knowledge of it. The study’s aims and objectives is to examine the perceived roles of English Language teachers in imaginative and creative abilities in writing and oratory development, creative abilities in writing and oratory development in English Language. The researcher made use of two research questions. The sample of the study was 60 English teachers in the public schools in Imo State in Nigeria, drawn through proportionate stratified random sampling techniques. A self-constructed likert 4 – point scale questionnaire containing two clusters with a total of 30 items was used to collect data from respondents. The instrument was first validated by two Senior Lecturers one from English Language and the other from Measurement and Evaluation Department, all from Abia State University Uturu. The Cornbach Alpha was used to determine the reliability of the instrument. The instrument yielded a co-efficient of 0.92. The results were analysed using the mean scores. The result shows that the perceived ways English teachers help students to develop imaginative and creative abilities in writing and oratory skills are through the following: Folktales, storytelling, exposure to English play or drama, English music, English dance and acquisition of artistic expressions in English and above all English conversation and others. In addition, the findings revealed that the perceived basic knowledge, English Language teachers inculcate in students to guide them in creative writing and oratory in English language include letting them know that the writers’ thought patterns must be rooted in English culture, the work must have a specific function and a target audience and must be original.