INTERACTIVITY IN THE NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA: THE CASE OF LANGUAGE LEARNING

Abstract

The interaction hypothesis states that the development of language proficiency is promoted by interaction and communication. It further states that the conditions for second language acquisition are greatly increased when learners negotiate for meaning which occurs when there is a breakdown in communication. This study demonstrates that interaction is not only needed for second language acquisition but that it also has an impact on students’ satisfaction in their overall learning experience. For this study, a structured questionnaire was used for data collection and was administered to 131 distance learning students at the Yenagoa and Port Harcourt learning centres of the National Open University of Nigeria. The simple percentage ratio was used in the analysis of the data obtained. The findings of this study show that there is indeed a relationship between interaction and students’ learning experience; hence, the study recommends that, since distance learning by its nature cannot accommodate more frequent contacts with facilitators, interaction among students should be promoted and incorporated as a vital part of the mode of language learning in the National Open University of Nigeria