Effect of Interference of Arabic Language on University Students’ English Writing and Translation Sentences from Arabic into English

Abstract

This study aims at investigating the interference of Arabic Language on the performance of the 4th year students at the College of languages, Sudan University of Science and Technology. In order to conduct this study, the researcher adopted the descriptive method of research and the research data were collected through test and questionnaire. The sample of the study was drawn from 4th year students; where (30) of them were chosen randomly to represent the sample and (20) teachers of English were chosen to give their opinions on the questionnaire statements. As for the data analysis, the researcher uses a computer programme known as the Statistical Package for the Social Studies (SPSS). The result of the study revealed that Arabic Language has a negative effect on students’ written text and differences between Arabic and English are bound to cause difficulties of writing. Moreover, the results highlighted that students generalize the grammatical rules of their mother tongue (Arabic) into the foreign language (English). Based on these findings, the researcher recommends that, English Language teachers have to adopt, modify or even develop remedial procedures and techniques that can minimize and gradually eliminate the students’ errors, EFL learners must be taught how to think in English and their productive skills should be strengthened through approaching various authentic English texts, English teachers should avoid using the grammar-translation method in teaching.