THE IMPACT OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS ON THE TEACHING OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN OSUN STATE

The use of instructional materials constitutes a vital component of effective teaching and learning, particularly in language education, where comprehension, retention, and practical application are essential. Instructional materials facilitate clearer understanding of concepts, stimulate learners' interest, and enhance long-term retention of knowledge. This study examined the Impact of Instructional Materials on the Teaching of the English Language in Secondary Schools in Osun State. The study adopted a quasi-experimental pretest-post-test control group design. Sixty (60) students were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group was taught selected English Language topics using instructional materials, while the control group was taught the same topics using the conventional teaching method. Students' learning outcomes were measured using a standardized English Language Achievement Test administered as a pretest and post-test. Data were analysed using mean, standard deviation, and t-test. Findings revealed that students exposed to instructional materials had a higher mean post-test score (= 68.67) than those taught with the conventional method (= 54.0). The t-test result further showed a t value of-6.301 at a calculated p level of 0.00, which is less than the working p level of 0.05. The interpretation of this result is that there is a significant difference in the learning outcomes of students exposed to instructional materials and those not exposed to instructional materials in the English language. The study concludes that instructional materials are effective tools for enhancing students' understanding and achievement in the English Language. It is therefore recommended that English Language teachers should be encouraged and supported to integrate appropriate instructional materials into classroom instruction to promote effective teaching and learning.