Exploring problems among EFL University Students in Using Class- changing and Class -maintaining Prefixes

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating problems among EFL university students in using class-changing and class-maintaining prefixes. It is a descriptive and analytical study. The tool of the study was a diagnostic. The tool has been tested for reliability and validity by number of English teachers. But they checked it and confirmed that it is valid and reliable. Alpha’s method for measuring reliability and validity of the tools was used and confirmed that the test was highly reliable and valid. The test was also tested and retested and gave similar results. EFL university students of the 4th year were chosen as a sample for the study. They were one hundred students majoring in English at Sudan University of Science and Technology, College of Languages. Eighty of them were given the test because twenty of them were absent. The results were statistically analyzed by using (SPSS) statistical programme. The findings revealed that class-changing and class-maintaining prefixes were problematic area for EFL university students. The results also revealed that class-changing prefixes were more problematic than class-maintaining prefixes. On the basis of these results, the researcher recommended that both class changing and class maintaining prefixes should be explicitly taught for EFL university students. FL university students need more concentration on class changing prefixes since they were more problematic. Then the researcher has suggested that the area of class-changing and class-maintaining prefixes should be researched in the future studies. Syllabus designers should include class changing and class maintaining affixes in university curricula.