Investigating EFL Learners’ Vocabulary Difficulties on Reading Comprehension

Abstract

This study aims at investigating the difficulties encountered 2nd year students at Sudan University of Science and Technology, on using vocabulary; and analyzing it; and trying to find some solutions for them. In order to collect data for this study, the researcher followed the descriptive and analytical method. The researcher designed a test as a tool of gathering data for 40 students (male and female) at the second level, Sudan University of Science and Technology, as a sample of the study. The collected data is analyzed by (SPSS) program and the results revealed the following: the students face difficulties when they use English vocabulary. Add to that, the students do not know the word form, because they did not master using suffixes, prefixes and compound words properly. Furthermore; the students do not perceive the meaning of words such as collocation, synonym, antonym and homophones from the context. According to above mentioned results, the researcher recommended that the students should be taught rules of prefixes and suffixes besides being taught meaning of words like synonym, antonym, collocation, and homophones within context. Finally, the researcher suggested some studies for further research.