ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING COMPETENCE AMONG PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS IN NIGER STATE
Keywords:
environmental literacy, English language teaching competence, pre-service teachers, teacher education, Niger StateAbstract
Environmental literacy and professional teaching competence are increasingly expected of English language teacher trainees, yet their relationship remains under-researched in Nigerian teacher education. This study examined the level of environmental literacy and English language teaching competence among pre-service teachers of English in Niger State, and investigated the relationship between the two constructs alongside variation by gender and institution. A descriptive survey design of the correlational type was adopted, drawing 260 pre-service teachers of English from two teacher training institutions in Niger State through proportionate stratified random sampling. Data were generated using an Environmental Literacy Scale, comprising attitude, behaviour and knowledge components, and an English Language Teaching Competence Scale adapted from established teacher competence frameworks, and were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and independent samples t-test. Findings indicated a generally positive environmental attitude, a moderate level of environmentally responsible behaviour, a comparatively lower level of environmental knowledge, and a high level of English language teaching competence among the pre-service teachers. A statistically significant but modest positive relationship was found between environmental literacy and English language teaching competence, while no statistically significant difference was found by gender in either construct, and none was found by institution in environmental literacy, although English language teaching competence differed significantly by institution. The study concludes that environmental literacy, though positively linked to teaching competence, is not yet deliberately integrated into the professional preparation of pre-service English language teachers in Niger State, and recommends the infusion of environmental content into English language teacher education curricula in the state.References
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