Abstract

This study examined the influence of students' perception of grammar instruction on use of tenses in essay writing in some junior secondary schools in Ibadan North Local Government Area, Oyo State. The survey research design was adopted for the study. The sample were selected using simple random sampling technique while the instruments used were Students' Perception of Grammar Instruction Questionnaire(r= 0.73) and Use of Tense in Essay Writing Test(r=0.72). Data collected were analysed using frequency counts, percentages, mean, standard deviation and appropriate inferential statistics at the 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that students generally held a positive perception of grammar instruction, with a weighted mean score of 3.16, and demonstrated a relatively high level of tense use in essay writing, with a weighted mean score of 2.95, both above the criterion mean of 2.50. A significant positive relationship was found between students' perception of grammar instruction and their use of tenses in essay writing (r = 0.71). However, no significant difference was found between male and female students in their use of tenses (t = -0.59).The study concludes that students' perception of grammar instruction is an important factor in the teaching and learning of English tenses. The study therefore recommends that English Language teachers should give constructive feedback on students' tense errors.