Investigating Problems Facing EFL Students in Using Gap-Fillers

Abstract

This study aims at investigating problems encountered by EFL students in using gap-fillers. The researcher adopts a descriptive method for the study and used a test and questionnaire for data collection. The sample of the study is drawn from elementary 3 students at ADC (The American Discussion Club, Khartoum Locality. The students who participated in this study are 30 students of both genders (male & female) for the test besides, 20 questionnaires are administered to teachers of English communication. The sample of the study is selected through using the simple random sampling technique from the wide population of the study. The research concluded that, EFL learners are not able to use gap-filers correctly and that teachers do not use gap-fillers when teaching speaking in the classroom besides, Communication text-books seem to lack activities related to gap-fillers and this impede both teachers and students. Accordingly, the researcher recommended that, Teachers should teach the different types of gap-fillers to studentsand use exercises that include different types of gap-fillers and that, communication text books should be provided with audio-visual materials of conversations and speaking practice related to gap-fillers learning and acquisition in order to help teachers and enhance students in understanding gap-fillers. Moreover, gap-fillers should not be overused in a way that affects the fluency in speaking.