Innovation in Language Learning

This paper explores the role of physics teachers in fostering students' academic communicative competence. One of the aspects introduced in the Kenyan 8-4-4 system of education English Syllabus was the teaching of study skills. These skills, it was hoped, would enhance students' understanding of other subjects in the curriculum. Specifically, this paper seeks to address the extent to which physics teachers provide language-support activities to their students. There has been increasing concern among educationists about the general poor performance of physics in secondary schools. More importantly, Kenya being a developing country is increasingly becoming more dependent on science and technology. A key assumption of this paper is that a student whose communicative competence is enhanced stands to understand scientific principles better.  Relevant literature was reviewed concerning two areas: English Language Teaching Across the Curriculum and The Relationship Between Language And science. And a further exploration was made of other related studies. A significant argument from the existing literature is that the teaching of a subject has to go hand in hand with a deliberate effort to improve language and cognitive skills needed by the learner.

Further review suggests that: physics teachers rarely use skills that enhance reading and writing; physics teachers generally disregard such heuristic methods as discussion and small group work. They largely use expository techniques such as lecture or question and answer techniques which do not give learners ample opportunities to use language to learn specific subjects; physics teachers do not consult with English teachers on how best they could help students improve their language skills.

The paper recommends that emphasis be put at policy level that all teachers have a duty to foster students' academic communicative competence. Teacher training institutions should equip all student-teachers with the relevant skills of enhancing students’ communicative competence. Another key recommendation is the need for in-service training of physics teachers with the aim of sensitizing them on the necessity to focus on the communicative competence and learning skills which their learners need.