Difficulties Encountered by Saudi EFL Undergraduates in Using Cohesive Devices in Writing

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the writing problems that EFL University students face in writing and tries to find out the causes of these problems and to suggest ways of overcoming them. The study was carried out to find the most feasible techniques for using cohesive items towards improving EFL learners in writing good composition of students of Medicine at Jazan University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It also aimed at providing the instructors and students with more information on the importance of cohesive devices in writing and its characteristic so as to encourage and motivate their students to be more active and creative in EFL classroom interaction which will eventually lead to better language learning. The research adopted the descriptive and analytic methods. The data for this study were collected by means of questionnaire of 20 items distributed to 84 respondents (instructors), of English chosen from all colleges at Jazan University in 2015. The data were analyzed by SPSS program.IN addition to that the (104) of students are given pre-test and post test he results achievements in writing .Obtained indicate cohesive device has a great influences on students achievements in writing .Both instructors and students are active in sharing information, knowledge and responsibility for academic complex problem-solving activities and in achieving the targeted tasks in difficulties of writing. The analysis reveals that cohesive devices prove to be an effective, suitable and interesting technique for both instructors and students .Based on these results of the test and the questionnaires, the recommends the application of cohesive items writing composition in EFL classroom interaction for it will create provide a healthy environment which will provide sample opportunities for students and enabling the instructors and learners to make good relations with each other. The study also recommends that instructors use cohesive items to motivate and encourages EFL students to be more dependent on them.