An Analysis of the Errors in English Writing Among Saudi Undergraduate Students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1506.18Keywords:
writing errors, Arabic dominance, grammatical errors, sentence formation errors, conceptualization errorsAbstract
This study investigates writing errors among Saudi undergraduate students at an empirical level of analysis. The main aim of the research is to comprehend the theme of writing errors exhibited by undergraduate students in a country where the dominance of the native language, i.e., Arabic, is quite high. The English language is now widely used as the primary mode of communication worldwide, both personally and professionally. The prevalence of English across networking areas has been further amplified by internet usage. This study seeks to understand the fluency of students from a country where proficiency in their native language is typically sufficient for success. The study employs a quantitative approach, utilizing convenience sampling to gather data from 271 undergraduate students through a structured questionnaire. The study identified three types of writing errors: grammatical errors, sentence formation errors, and conceptualization errors. A strong correlation was observed among these errors, with sentence formation errors being the most frequent. Demographic analysis revealed that reading English books and engaging in English-language audio and video activities can reduce sentence formation errors. Incorporating such co-curricular activities into the English curriculum may mitigate writing errors. Additionally, supplementary classes, especially those offered by private tutors, were found to reduce conceptualization errors. These classes should be tailored to help students conceptualize ideas in English. The three identified factors contribute to the theoretical framework and provide valuable insights for future research in similar areas.
References
Amin, E. A. (2020). A review of research into Google Apps in the process of English language learning and teaching. Arab World English Journal, 11(1), 399–418. https://doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol11no1.27.
Alghazo, K. M., and Alshraideh, M. K. (2020). Grammatical errors found in English writing: A study from Al-Hussein Bin Talal University. International Education Studies, 13(9), 1–1. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v13n9p1
Al-Jarf, R. (2022). How Parents Promote English and Arabic Language Proficiency in Elementary School Children in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Psychology and Behavior Studies, 2(2), 21–29. https://doi.org/10.32996/jpbs.2022.2.4
Eng, L. S., Luyue, C., and Lim, C. K. (2020). A Comparison of the English Grammatical Errors of Chinese Undergraduates from China and Malaysia. International Journal of Instruction, 13(1), 931–950.
Gebireegziabher, F. (2021). Analysis of errors in students’ writing in EFL context: The case of three selected secondary schools of Hawassa City. Ethioinquiry Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 1(1), 44–63.
Hair, J., Black, W., Babin, B., Anderson, R., and Tatham, R. (2006). Multivariate Data Analysis (6th ed.). Pearson Prentice Hall.
Kacetl, J., and Klímová, B. (2019). Use of Smartphone Applications in English Language Learning—A Challenge for Foreign Language Education. Education Sciences, 9(3), 179. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci9030179
Kifi, A. (2023). An Analysis of Writing Errors Made by the First Semester Students of Management Program at ITB Widya Gama Lumajang. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Language, Education, and Social Science (ICLESS 2022) (pp. 6–14). Atlantis Press SARL. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-494069-15-2_2
Kukatlapalli, J., Doyle, S., and Bandyopadhyay, S. (2020). An investigation into the English language experiences of Indian international students studying in New Zealand universities. Higher Education Research and Development, 39(3), 485–499. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2019.1685940
Leba, S. M. R., Uspayanti, R., Butarbutar, R., and Bawawa, M. (2021). Syntactical Analysis of Students’ Writing Paper. Proceedings of the International Joined Conference on Social Science (ICSS 2021), 427-430.
M., Hashmi, U., Rajab, H., and Ehsan Sindi, A. (2019). Dental Students’ Perceptions of ESP Material and its Impact on Their Language Proficiency: A Case Study of a Saudi Arabian University. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3512546
Ranjan, R., Philominraj, A., and Saavedra, R. A. (2021). On the Relationship between Language Learning Strategies and Language Proficiency in Indian Universities. International Journal of Instruction, 14(3), 73–94.
Richter, F. (2022, February 21). English is the Internet’s Universal Language. Statista. Statista Research Department. (2023, March 9). The most spoken languages worldwide 2022. Statista.
Toba, R., Noor, W. N., and Sanu, L. O. (2019). The Current Issues of Indonesian EFL Students’ Writing Skills: Ability, Problem, and Reason in Writing Comparison and Contrast Essay. Dinamika Ilmu, 57–73. https://doi.org/10.21093/di.v19i1.1506
