MAKING THE TEACHING OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE RELEVANT TO VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN A SECOND LANGUAGE SETTING

This paper examines the changing trends in Nigerian education, from the liberal arts and the use of General Purpose English in the past to the emphasis on science and technical education, considered as the bedrock of a nation’s development through technology. It discusses the inadequacy of the General Purpose English approach in teaching English to vocational and technical students. It considers the fact that the English needs of vocational and technical students are different from others, especially in the liberal arts and humanities. The paper also believes that language is an indispensable factor in education, and believes that since those in vocational and technical lines usually have less flair for language and its complexities, they should be less bothered about such details and channel English teaching to them via their needs for English through English for specific purposes (ESP) approach which would analyze their needs and tailor the teaching of English to such needs, to help achieve national and technological development.