Analysis of College ESP Learners’ Grammatical Errors: Types and Frequencies
Abstract
English for specific purpose learners (ESP Learners) may face certain challenges in language use, specifically during the writing process. Writing is a complicated productive skill that requires not only great linguistic repertoire but also a mastery in utilizing it. This qualitative descriptive study delves into the realm of English grammar. It aims to explore and analyze grammatical errors in tertiary-level students’ writing, especially in composition writing assignments. This study adopted Corder’s 1986 consecutive steps of Error Analysis approach to analyze Iraqi tertiary students’ grammatical errors. The sampling was 40 sophomores at the University of Information Technology and Communication (UITC), Baghdad, Iraq. The findings showed that the wrong use of prepositions ranked first among other errors. It also showed that some teaching and pedagogical suggestions may be taken into account.
References
Al Khotaba, E. (2013). Errors in the use of prepositions and adverb particles by Arab ESL speakers: Performance analysis perspective. International Journal of Linguistics, 5(1), 273.
Al-Shujairi, Y. B. J., & Tan, H. (2017). Grammar errors in the writing of Iraqi English language learners. International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, 5(4), 122-130.
Carroll, S., & Swain, M. (1993). Explicit and implicit negative feedback: An empirical study of the learning of linguistic generalizations. Studies in second language acquisition, 15(3), 357-386. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0272263100012158
Corder, S. P. (1986). Error analysis and interlanguage. Applied Linguistics, 2.
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2022). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications.
Crystal, D. (2018). The Cambridge encyclopedia of the English language. Cambridge University Press.
Halliday, M., & Webster, J. J. (2003). On Language and Linguistics. 3. A & C Black.
Ellis, R. (2018). Second language acquisition. The United States: Oxford, 98.
Hynninen, N. (2018). Exploring regimes of academic writing: Introduction to the special issue. Language and Education, 32(6), 471-476. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500782.2018.1505906
Hewings, M. (2006). Academic writing in context. Academic Writing in Context, 1-256.
Lee, S. M. (2020). The impact of using machine transl ation on ESP students’ writing. Computer-assisted language learning, 33(3), 157-175.https://doi.org/10.1080/09588221.2018.1553186
Mahmood, D. K. (2016). An evaluation of writing skills of ESP learners in Kurdistan region of Iraq. International journal of language and linguistics, 4(1), 14-24.https://doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20160401.13
Montrul, S. (2011). Morphological errors in Spanish second language learners and heritage speakers. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 33(2), 163-192. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0272263110000720
Nasser, S. M. (2019). Iraqi ESP students’ difficulties in writing composition: An experimental study (University of Baghdad). International Journal of English Linguistics, 9(1), 178-184.doi:10.5539/ijel.v9n1p178.
Nuruzzaman, M., Islam, A. B. M., & Shuchi, I. J. (2018). An Analysis of Errors Committed by Saudi Non-English Major Students in the English Paragraph Writing: A Study of Comparisons. Advances in language and literary studies, 9(1), 31-39.
Ramadan, M. (2019). Basic ideas and techniques for teaching the four language skills. English Language Teaching & Testing Guide, 2020.
Şanal, F. (2008). Error-analysis-based second language teaching strategies. Selçuk Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, (20), 597-601. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/susbed/issue/61796/924302
Spada, N., & Lightbown, P. M. (2013). How languages are learned. Oxford University Press.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
1. The Authors submitting a manuscript do so on the understanding that if accepted for publication, copyright of the article shall be assigned to Al-Qadisiyah Journal For Humanities scinces (QJHS), University of Al-Qadisiyah as publisher of the journal.
2. Copyright encompasses exclusive rights to reproduce and deliver the article in all form and media, including reprints, photographs, microfilms and any other similar reproductions, as well as translations. The reproduction of any part of this journal, its storage in databases and its transmission by any form or media, such as electronic, electrostatic and mechanical copies, photocopies, recordings, magnetic media, etc. , will be allowed only with a written permission from Al-Qadisiyah Journal of Humanities scinces (QJHS), University of Al-Qadisiyah.
3. Al-Qadisiyah Journal of Humanities scinces (QJHS) , University of Al-Qadisiyah, the Editors and the Advisory International Editorial Board make every effort to ensure that no wrong or misleading data, opinions or statements be published in the journal. In any way, the contents of the articles and advertisements published in the journal Al-Qadisiyah Journal of Humanities scinces (QJHS), University of Al-Qadisiyah are sole and exclusive responsibility of their respective authors and advertisers.
