Challenges and Opportunities in Teaching French as a Second Language in Nigerian Secondary Schools

Abstract

Teaching French as a second language in Nigerian secondary schools presents considerable challenges, including a shortage of qualified teachers, insufficient teaching materials, and low student motivation. These issues are compounded by an often rigid curriculum that does not adequately incorporate Nigeria’s multilingual and multicultural context. However, there are emerging opportunities, such as government policies that promote foreign language education, the integration of digital tools in language instruction, and potential cultural exchanges with Francophone countries. This paper explores these challenges and opportunities, providing insights from relevant literature and proposing strategies for improving French language instruction in Nigerian secondary schools.