'She go just download you'

It seems to be that Nigerians know the correct English pass the English dem sef

, giving the miasma, given that convoluted phantasmagoria,
given the prependalism and all the intrigues in Nigerian politics.

LMAO.

Mudley313:

i just believe in telling it like it is. if a full grown adult should wanna proclaim that santa clause comes from the north pole to dump gifts through chimneys or any of that obvious fairy tale crap i would give him/her same advice as i ha
ve given you, to quickly go get their head checked. so, im just doing you a huge favor n hope u heed to my advice. goodluck

Why should I believe in you to take your advice?
Makes no sense.

Poster You need to watch Die Welle.

Mudley313:

fvck outta here, you delusional freak having imaginary friends as an adult and believing in obvious fairytales; jewish ones at that. log off n go watch some tales by moonlight or sumthin, or better yet, go bang your coconut head against a hard concrete wall in order to knock you off your childish delusions

What do you believe in? Insulting people who don't agree with you?
Ok, fair enough.

texazzpete:

Lol. This ain't gonna happen.
This logic is laughable. So because we're second users we need varieties of English, abi?
We chose English as a national language because we needed a common language to communicate. We couldn't use Hausa or Yoruba or Igbo. That would never have worked. Now after taking that step someone is saying we need even more diversity and variety!

No.

WE Chose Who is WE?? LOL

Open wounds attracts flies.
No point dredging up all this stuff if it is just going to be about that,
Who got Flogged the worst/most, Who got starved the longest, who has the most scars now.
Besides I don't think this is the only sort of 'wrong' parents/guardians/elders could subject their kids to.

It would be great if the poster/ others give accounts on how closure would be worked out
or how they have/are coping with these and then the next step forward.
Because these things could just continue on a wheel of sadness.

It is pitiful, but it is life, not fair. The question is how have you reacted to the situation,
what's the best way of doing things.

tensor777:

What do you mean by this statement? What was the first language you learnt?

English.

texazzpete:

You complain about English evolving but Pidgin English changes far more than Queen's English.
See Wikipedia's article on pidgin languages

A pidgin (pronounced /ˈpɪdʒɪn/) language is a simplified language that develops as a means of communication between two or more groups that do not have a language in common. It is most commonly employed in situations such as trade, or where both groups speak languages different from the language of the country in which they reside (but where there is no common language between the groups). Fundamentally, a pidgin is a simplified means of linguistic communication, as is c[b]onstructed impromptu, or by convention, between groups of people.[/b] A pidgin is not the native language of any speech community, but is instead learned as a second language.[1][2] A pidgin may be built from words, sounds, or body language from multiple other languages and cultures. Pidgins usually have low prestige with respect to other languages.[3]

Did anyone say we had to learn english first? All we're saying is, it's the national language, so everyone is expected to learn this. For 12 years English is taught to students in different forms and so naturally the expectation is that people should thus be reasonably fluent in its use.
There's a big advantage in speaking English. You can be sure that you're automatically able to communicate seamlessly with a good number of peoples from other countries. It won't make any sense to jettison all that benefit just to develop Pidgin English.
Even if Pidgin develops into a structured and standardised language, it will then replace regular English as our national language. Which will mean it'll become a subject, have a curriculum drawn up and will be tested at NECO and WAEC. And then we'll have these same failures. And then perhaps one bright girl in 2040 will suggest that we ditch Pidgin English for another language  

Please, if you point out where I complained about English evolving, I will consider reading the remainder of your post.

tensor777:

I said no generalisations remember. Just mentioning local dialects does  not answer the question. Which one exactly?
As for some people being comfortable with Pidgin maybe thats because that is the first language they learnt. If the first language they learnt was English, no doubt they would be comfortable with it.
But no Pidgin does not meet the requisite standards of precision and rigour for it to be even considered as a country's official language. It is just for informal street conversation, and was not really fashioned to be a written language.

*Insert any Nigerian language*
Why should English be the first language anyone learns here?? I still suffer from this.
Pidgin may not have the precision and rigour now, but it can. The English language didn't develop rigour and precision automatically,
it was worked upon.
Not fashioned to be a writing language? that's what they said about my language now the whole thing is almost lost!
Anything could be written.

What an Irony!!

Even Jesus sef dey speak pidgin

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1581084054999&ref=mf

tensor777:

Then what exactly should be Nigeria's official language? I want specific answers here not vague generalisations.
And how in fact does changing from English to another language confer any sort of advantage to the average Nigerian student??

I'm not a linguist but i really like 'Pidgin'

I don't know about you, but lots of people are happier expressing themselves in local dialects.
May be it would be of advantage if people are happier to learn in such (pidgin for example)
then possibly we may have a better educated society not a forced crammed affair.
Maybe.
It doesn't hurt to consider other angles

Mudley313:

yes i have, and have you taken all of your medications for delusional schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder today? probably not

Have you?

Mudley313:


In my opinion people who claim that the Bible is inerrant and everything happened as stated should have their heads examined.

You are allowed to have one, others aren't? Have you had your morning coffee?

Makes sense! but you should head to http://combandrazor..com/ to refresh your memory!!

Please the greatest songs shouldn't include any of the recent garbage, honestly!

tensor777:

Well it is very very important precisely because it is Nigeria's official language and because it is the word's most widely spoken language.

May be It shouldn't be our official language, It was one day we started using Naira (But that's another topic of discussion).

[Quote]
On the more down-to earth level, a student that cannot read, comprehend and compose simple  sentences in English does not have a cat in hell's chance of passing, unaided,  through the university system, in practically ANY COURSE you care to mention. It is that simple.
[/quote]

No one is arguing about this.

Aleast them realize say the Sea part sha. LOL

While I agree that Africa was R.APED by 'Christianity'
It still doesn't make The Gospel less true than it is.

tensor777:

True. That seems to be the issue here. People are juxtaposing - not to say mixing up- good general education which a lot of Nigerians have and  the ability and the wherewithal to make creative and original scientific discoveries which is at a premium in Nigeria and some other developing countries.

The 'Koko' is that these things (Whatever scientific discovery or innovation someone is going to make) starts when people are young, by providing an environment that nurtures and enhances such.

@Oyinda

Had a discussion with my uncle on something entirely different and When he said 'Only the Rich have rights and can talk, in Nigeria, Meanwhile the poor are suspects ' I just remembered this thread. It really does make sense. If the rich folks (those with power) can't take the initiative. We may be doomed. Some of these rich Nigerians are building universities and schools just for their own gain or perhaps out of ignorance. Students come out sometimes worse than when they went in. Doom. Doom.

davidif:


Thank you soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much for posting this, awesome, awesome post. I have watched Bill Gates say this several times (crediting the great education he got for being the person he is) but meanwhile ignorant folks come on here to say stuff like "wasn't bill gates a drop out?" and ignoring the fact that h[b]e got an excellent education from the elementary level[/b] all the way to the tertiary level before eventually dropping out. Can you imagine if Steve Jobs had not had a great education? can you imagine where he would be today? once again, gamine thanks for the post jare.

The root of tha problem. lol

occam:


Yes The english language may be changing, but the use of tenses, nouns, etc remain the same. Some student still don't grasp this basic concept. English is the international language of business & it's to our advantage that students understand it well.  shold they be taught in pidgin instead? like patua, spoken by west indians and cockney (spoken in london's east end) pidgin will only be used within a specifc region.

I said the curriculum, The way it is taught e.t.c. These kids need to see the actual value in it, if any. Many are more comfortable using pidgin (which is fast becoming a 'distinct' language) but they could learn 'international' English just for that sole purpose of 'international' communication.
There are lots we need to consider, if there's going to be any change. I just don't see how writing or speaking English on Queen Victoria levels has anything to do with whats important for our country, Why should the emphasis be on that.

martinosi:

All theory no practical,  and how relevant is the
school system exams to real life,

Exactly. Many of these students may have become impatient and they can't just be bothered, maybe a reason for this mass failure.

texazzpete:

We're talking about English here. Evolution builds on the old, it does not discard the old. Even if the curriculum remained the same, it should still be adequate.

And we're talking about O'levels here. The need for change from a 'cramming' based system will add more value in the tertiary institutions. And as English is a language that really should be used everyday, as part of our daily lives, it suffers a lot less from the 'cramming' syndrome than any other subject.

If you're taught about punctuations, a good student is supposed to write and use punctuations every day.
Taught about Oral English? Good students are expected to make the effort to pronounce words the way they should be.
Comprehension passages? Deducing answers from our daily conversations should be enough real world practice.

In fact, apart from a few exotic lessons in English, the subject should not suffer from this 'cramming' syndrome at all.

Even Mathematics. It's a subject where practice makes perfect. If the curriculum is properly delivered by good teachers, there is little need to cram at the WAEC level.

Maybe the curriculum is no longer adequate. You are now trying to say the same thing I've been hammering on since forever.
But I can't really get my head over the pedestal you are putting English on though.

kosovo:

it's a plesure to quote you today, where actually have you being?? ve searched everywhere for this femaleGamer . . .

wow . .  Halo reach feels just the same, nothing but revision . . . it's all good . . . a money making franchise. But i hate FPS. .

Well I wouldn't know cause i haven't touched Halo since the very first one! 
Aah, your hatred of FPS may be the cause right there. But I swear FPS does get on my nerves sometimes.

About time

Kobojunkie:

Well, considering the standard in the community I live in, he is undereducated as to be considered educated, one has to be able to read, right and communicate effectively.

Is it?

-------
How did all those Asians graduate?! oh my days! ~.~

Enigma ~ Gravity of Love

Kobojunkie:

No, the problem in this man failed to learn the common language as it applies in the USA.  Each country/region has it's own and the idea is that when you go out to these different regions, it behooves you to learn the common language there. So if you Pidgin English speaking friends want to go beyond pidgin borders, be it to University or working/doing business with firms that require candidates/investors at least have a good grasp of Queen English, it is to the benefit of your friend, that he/she complies or accept rejection.  

But did you assess him as less 'educated' or less able to actually be of value to his community?

I totally understand your points though, but it doesn't hurt considering other options.

texazzpete:

There have to be benchmarks in everything in life. And as long as there are Universities, there MUST be a lowest common denominator in terms of communication. Bending over backwards to take care of the ones that have fallen by the wayside is wrong.

Recall your days in Uni, and try to imagine how awkward it'd have been if half of your class only spoke Hausa language.
Apart from exams like this, what other ways would YOU have Universities test prospective admission candidates for English language communication skills?

However, even for those who didn't have that opportunity to learn much outside the classroom, the curriculum is designed to still teach them English. Right from the Queen Primer and 'Peter and Jane' days to 'Ali and Simbi'. If this isn't happening now, then we need to find out why.
Don't blame it on the curriculum. It's the same one people like you and me used way back. it should be adequate if delivered properly. but it isn't.

Please don't imply there was an argument on 'Benchmarks'. Many people (Like some NLdrs) can write English and get an A. When they speak, a different story and vice-versa, what does that mean?

If everything is changing and evolving including English language why should the curriculum be stagnant? why should we be stagnant?
Definitely (Definately!  ) We need to find out why people are failing and this leads back to my first post,
Maybe they are tired of cramming stuff and actually want an education that is relevant to them in this present/future world
Maybe the curriculum is no longer adequate. Besides I never apportioned blame anywhere I only stood on the need for CHANGE.

‎"You never change anything by fighting existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete."
R. Buckminster Fuller

I don't like Halo but I would play this game.

I think someone mentioned something about Bill Gates on this thread.

"I certainly owe all my success to having had a great education. I went to an incredible school, and I remember the teachers who encouraged me. I'm so lucky. I had what every kid should have, honestly,"

http://movies.yahoo.com/news/movies.ap.org/microsofts-gates-joins-superman-school-mission-ap

texazzpete:

Exactly. 'In the ways they understand'.
People do not need to go to University to succeed in Life. However for those who want to go to University, there is a benchmark in place to ensure that those who want to go that route should have the necessary basic communication skills.

Universities should cater to the lowest common denominator. Emphasis on COMMON. and one thing we have in common is our national language: English.

So those who cannot speak English can be nurtured in other career paths where their deficiency in that regard will not serve as a hindrance to others.

Before you get to the University stage, you must first have completed your Primary and Secondary education. If after that you still are 'stuck in Pidgin', then it's not the fault of NECO, WAEC or NUC if you can't scale that benchmark.
for Intelligent people shortchanged by a poor educational system, determination usually sees most of them through. That's why you hear stories of people putting themselves through Night school just to learn to read and write properly.

Seen.

The system you talk about, is what is wrong (along with all the so-called benchmarks) If things have only gotten worse on the back of these, I don't know why it's so difficult to see that there should be something different in place.
I honestly can't say it was schooling in this system that taught me English.

Kobojunkie:

The main here is ability to communicate. If one can effectively communicate ideas to one's audience, then fine. Now different organizations and institutions have different requirements. If you want to stay with Pidgin, and probably never go as far as University level or even out of your village/state, rock on!

I remember working a couple of years ago as a Walmart Cashier, I never really appreciated the need for a common language until the day I encountered Customer from Japan. Spoke NO ENGLISH and had the guts to be furious with me for not understanding him and whatever it was he was going on and on about. I was close to giving the man a piece of my mind on why it is necessary that we all adopt a common language, but my manager showed up and another customer who happened to be a japanese came in.

So it goes International. . .The key to development/change would be to have the world speak a common language (Anyways topic for another day)

For now,

Mass Failure Continua!

Omg Is this real or photoshop

[img]https://www.nairaland.com/attachments/324241_Joseph-Adaeze-Yobo-Volkan-Demirel-Wedding-Bella-Naija010_jpg03cd005ed8e694d199ae791bff0072fd[/img]