Teaching Biblical Languages to Undergraduate Students of Christian Religious Studies: The Need for Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) Method

Abstract

The CLT method is suggested as an alternative method of teaching biblical languages because of its relevance and effectiveness in teaching foreign languages to second language acquisition learners. The sample consisted of sixty CRS students and eight lecturers of biblical languages in Nigerian universities. The instrument for the study was a self-structured questionnaire for both students and lecturers meant to find out the connection between the biblical language lecturers’ method of teaching and students’ lack of interest and academic performance. Data collected was analysed using frequency counts and percentage scale. Findings from the study revealed that there is a connection between the lecturers’ method of teaching and the students’ interest and academic performance in biblical languages. Hence, the students’ lack of interest and unsatisfactory academic performance in biblical languages. It was recommended that lecturers of biblical languages should adopt the CLT method in teaching biblical languages in Nigerian universities. Further studies could be carried out on the findings of this research, expanding the scope and sample size of the study in order to determine if the benefits of CLT in teaching biblical languages are universal.