Difficulties Encountered by Palestinian Students of English While Studying English Tenses: A Case Study of Al-Quds Open University

Abstract

The study aims to explore the difficulties that face Palestinian students of English at Al-Quds Open University in Gaza Strip while studying English tenses. The study includes the following tenses :- 1)simple present , present continuous, present perfect and present perfect continuous 2) simple past , past continuous ,past perfect and past perfect continuous . 3)simple future ( will, going to , present continuous & simple present ), future continuous , future perfect and future perfect continuous . The study was carried out on a random sample composed of 62 students ( male & female ) of Al-Quds Open University at Gaza Strip in the second term of the academic year 2004/2005. The researcher designed three tests .The three tests were introduced to a group of referees to determine their validity and stability . They all ratified the three tests. The researcher followed the analytical and statistical techniques , measures and procedures including the result of the study . After correcting and checking the three tests , the researcher found that the most difficult tenses are as follows :- 1) past perfect continuous (91.23%) 2) future perfect continuous (78.65%) 3)future perfect (73.66%) 4)present perfect continuous (71.55%) 5)future continuous (67.14%) 6)simple future (present continuous ) 65.32% 7)past perfect (59.86) 8)present perfect (50.29%) 9) simple future ( going to ) 43.68%) 10) future simple (in simple present form ) 42.74% 11) simple past (36.34%) 12 present continuous (34.73% ) 13) simple present (34.21% ) 14) past continuous (28.42%) 15) simple future ( will) 23.69% . It is found that such phenomena refer to some causes , whereas the researcher discussed the reasons and causes . The researcher adopted some recommendations :- 1) Simplifying and teaching the tenses in details . 2) Adopting special courses for tenses including the functions , how and when to use the tenses . 3) Writing compositions or essays and discussing them with the students to show them their errors and mistakes. The researcher also proposed the following suggestions :- 1) Carrying out comparative studies between Arabic and English tenses. 2) Carrying out detailed researches about the interference of the tenses of the mother tongue (Arabic Language ) with the tenses of second Language (English Language ) .