Investigating Difficulties Encountered by Students of English Language Department at Sudan University of Science and Technology in Tertiary Level in Using English Prepositions

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the difficulties encountered by students of English Language Department at Sudan University of Science and Technology in tertiary level in using English prepositions. The study adopted the descriptive analytical method. Two instruments were used for data collection which were teachers’ questionnaire and students’ test. The sample of the study composed of 20 teachers and 30 students drawlingly exclusively from Sudan University of Science and Technology, College of Languages, Department of English Language, third year students. The data were analyzed by the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) which provided percentage results for teachers’ questionnaire and students’ test. The present study came up with findings that tertiary students are poor in using English prepositions due to the nature of English prepositions, there is insufficient specialized materials in the College of Languages, Department of English Language for practicing and interference of mother tongue. Based on the findings, researcher presented some recommendations focused on prepositions in English syllabuses intensively and university students should be encouraged by teachers to do more practice in English prepositions, in addition to that, teachers should raise the awareness of the importance of English prepositions, with some suggestions for further studies.