Abstract:
The challenges of teaching
language and linguistics in multilingual and multicultural educational contexts
such as Nigeria, especially at the tertiary education level, are increasing.
Teachers sometimes face challenges of integrating traditional and modern
pedagogical methods, as well as balancing writing instructions with
communicative and digital methods. Such difficulties are compounded by the
limitations of the curriculum, linguistic diversity, inadequate teacher
training, and the neglect of indigenous languages and linguistics in some
conventional universities across Nigeria. This paper reviews the study of
language and linguistics, as well as their pedagogical implications for
educational development in the south-west, Nigeria. Drawing insights from Sociocultural
Theory proposed by Lev Vygotsky through a mixed-mode (quantitative &
qualitative) research design with 150 (one hundred and fifty) participants from
the six (6) universities in the south-west, Nigeria, the results of the t-test
reveal that while the highest mean score (2.67) was obtained for ‘language
proficiency’, the lowest score (1.89) was for ‘indigenous language
integration’, reflecting parts of the research variables, with the results of
the inferential statistics also revealing a statistical significant difference
between males and females in language proficiency with impacts of social
interaction, cultural context, and collaborative learning on cognitive
development. Similarly, the qualitative results, therefore, show that there is
inadequate technological and instructional resources in schools, with limited
teacher professional development and pedagogical opportunities, as well as
curriculum limitations and teacher-centred pedagogy among others, hindering the
much expected language and linguistics teaching outcome. The paper concludes
that strengthening the relationship between theory and classroom practice,
investing in teacher development, and promoting linguistic and literary
diversity can improve language and linguistics education not only in the
south-western universities, but also at the global level.
DOI: https://www.doi.10.57233/djfafais.2026.v22i01.022
author/Sale Maikanti, PhD
journal/Degel 22(1) | October 2026 |
