ESL Learners and the English Language Diphthongs: A Case of Major and Minor Languages in Nigeria

The English language has come to stay in Nigeria; it is the language of education, commerce and unity, importantly, a global language. Learners of English as Second language (ESL) in Nigeria today go beyond the shores of the country in search for job opportunities and better livelihood. Inability to speak the English language intelligibly definitely will lead to frustration in the new environment and can hinder achievement of future goals in career step. The paper is an attempt at exploring dynamic ways of teaching the English language diphthong with the goal of awakening interest of students in the learning of speaking skill. The focus is on English language diphthongs with particular emphasis on the closing diphthongs. The paper has attempted to discuss the importance of speaking skill in the drive toward proficiency in the English language. The differences in the indigenous languages in Nigeria and the English language are explained. Influence of native speaker’s language on the learning of English language is not left out of the discourse while the role of access to native speaker pronunciation is emphasised. Hopefully the identification of the discrepancies in the major and minor languages in Nigeria vis a vis the English language will stir up in the teachers in Nigerian schools to efficiently and effectively prepare students for life beyond the shores of Nigeria It is hoped that if English language teachers in Nigeria device new ways of teaching the oracy skill, learners will move towards competence in English language. Keywords: English language diphthongs, indigenous languages, dialects, Mother Tongue (MT), Second language (SL), Second language learner, target language, Interference, Skills of English language, poor performance. DOI: 10.7176/JLLL/72-07 Publication date:October 31st 202

Influence of Literature-In–English and Choice of School on Senior Secondary Students’ Achievement in English Language

The study focused on the influence literature in English and choice of school portend on senior secondary students’ achievement in English language. The work covered a period of six years 2012-2017 and adopted an ex-post facto research design. WAEC and NECO results of 1,940 students from the two schools whose results were released by the examining bodies for the period under investigation, were used to collect data. Two research questions were answered using Mean and Standard deviation while research hypotheses were tested using t-test statistic at 0.05 level of significance. The study recommended among other issues that literature-in-English be integrated into SSS curriculum across board. Keywords: Federal, State, rural, urban, WAEC, NECO DOI: 10.7176/JLLL/77-02 Publication date:March 31st 202

Understanding patients' satisfaction with physician assistant/associate encounters through communication experiences: a qualitative study in acute hospitals in England.

BACKGROUND: Physician assistants/associates (PAs) are a recent innovation in acute hospital teams in England and many other countries worldwide. Although existing evidence indicates generally high levels of patient satisfaction with their PA hospital encounters, little is known about the factors associated with this outcome. There is a lack of evidence on the process of PA-patient communication in hospital encounters and how this might influence satisfaction. This study therefore aimed to understand patients' satisfaction with PA acute hospital encounters through PA-patient communication experiences. METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted among patients and representatives of patients seen by or receiving care from one of the PAs working in acute hospital services in England. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken face-to-face with study participants in the hospital setting and shortly after their PA encounter. Data were coded and analysed using thematic analysis. The study was framed within a theoretical model of core functions of medical encounter communication. RESULTS: Fifteen patients and patient representatives who had experienced a PA encounter participated in interviews, across five hospitals in England. Four interrelated communication experiences were important to participants who were satisfied with the encounter in general: feeling trust and confidence in the relationship, sharing relevant and meaningful information, experiencing emotional care and support, and sharing discussion on illness management and treatment. However, many participants misconceived PAs to be doctors, raising a potential risk of reduced trust in the PA relationship and negative implications for satisfaction with their PA encounter. Participants considered it beneficial that patients be informed about the PA role to prevent confusion. CONCLUSIONS: PA encounters offer a constructive example of successful clinician-patient communication experiences in acute hospital encounters from the patient's perspective. Study participants were generally naïve to the PA role. Hospital services and organisations introducing these mid-level or advanced care practitioner roles should consider giving attention to informing patients about the roles