Investigation into the Grammatical Errors Made by University EFL Learners in Writing Discourse

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the grammatical errors made by English as A foreign Language learners when writing .It also investigates the factors behind these errors. To collect the required data, the researcher used two writing tests that include different types of grammatical structures. The tests were administrated to seventy second year students at Sudan University of Science and Technology. The students also filled in a questionnaire about grammar and its teaching and learning. A structured questionnaire was also conducted to sixty English language teachers from different universities to investigate the teaching of grammar at Sudan University of Science and Technology second year English language students’. The findings of the study have revealed that the majority of the students have difficulty with some grammar rules such as tenses (past and present), prepositions and articles. In addition to that the syllabus of Sudan University of Science and Technology doses not put enough emphasis on teaching grammatical items which results in poor writing. The current methods used in teaching English grammar are also not effective and are not integrated in a way that helps in writing. The results have also shown that some grammatical errors are made because these grammatical items have no equivalence in learners' mother tongue. The results of the have study also revealed that some students face difficulties in choosing the correct grammatical item. Based on the findings of the study, the researcher recommends that more time must be devoted to teaching and practice of grammar rules and also more practical grammar teaching methods should be introduced and train teacher on them; teaching English grammar in a way that motivates learners and makes it more interesting.