scholarly journals An Investigation into the Difficulties of Using Transitional Words in Kurdish EFL Students’ Writing at the University Level

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-117
Author(s):  
Farhad M. Hama
Keyword(s):  
Academic Writing ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
The Other ◽  
Persuasive Essays ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
University Level ◽  
Second Year ◽  
The University ◽  
Writing Practice ◽  
Different Levels

The aim of this research is to deal with the use of different kinds of transitional words in Kurdish EFL students’ writing in two different levels. Namely, Kurdish EFL second- and third-year students often encounter problems of using transitional words when they want to write any kinds of paragraphs, essays in academic writing lectures. They have particularly made various kinds of mistakes while writing argumentative or persuasive essays. This study comprises of theoretical background and data analysis for samples of writing. It also proposes possible pedagogical implications and recommendations which cover doable teaching strategies for improving writing practice and academic writing. The result shows that second year students have inadequate ability and skills to use different kinds of transitional words. On the other hand, third year students have more abilities, but they have often misrepresented or clichéd most of the types of transitional words.

scholarly journals Contrastive error analysis of Turkish EFL learners in writing

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 236-242
Author(s):  
Şahin GÖK
Keyword(s):  
Error Analysis ◽  
Negative Transfer ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
The Other ◽  
Final Examination ◽  
Contrastive Analysis ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
University Level ◽  
The University

The aim of this study is to find out to what extent Turkish EFL students make interlingual (interference) and intralingual (developmental) errors in writing at the university level. The mid-term and final examination papers of 50 Turkish EFL students were taken and their errors were categorized into interference and developmental errors. The results of our research have shown that they made a mean of %14.6 interference errors.  Thus, this proportion does not confirm the contrastive analysis hypothesis claiming that all errors are due to the negative transfer from the mother tongue. On the other hand, they made a mean of %85.4 developmental errors which are not related to L1. So the results of T?Test indicate that Turkish EFL students made significantly more (p<.001) developmental errors.

scholarly journals An Attempt at Promoting Undergraduate Sudanese EFL Students’ Performance in Academic Writing Skills

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ammar Mohammed Ahmed Mudawy
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Academic Writing ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
Extensive Reading ◽  
Reading And Writing ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Holy Quran ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
University Level

The study aims at suggesting effective methods and techniques that could improve English as a foreign language EFL students’ performance in writing skills. The researcher uses the descriptive, analytical method. Four tools were adopted pretest, post-test, supporting program, and a questionnaire for teachers for collecting data. Twenty-five students in Holy Quran University, Sudan, were chosen purposively, and thirty EFL teachers at a university level were randomly selected as a sample for the study. Ninty percent of the teachers agree on the suggested program and techniques. The findings of the study indicate that: using varied techniques and activities in pre-writing stage promotes students’ performances in writing, integration of reading and writing skills in the classroom improves students’ writing skills, as well as encouraging extensive reading outside the classroom promotes students’ performance in writing skills. Accordingly, the researcher recommends that: teachers should focus on the prewriting stage through different activities as well as reading and writing should be used in an integrated way in-class writing to guide the writing process.

scholarly journals Get a Room! How Writing Groups Aid the Development of Junior Academics’ Writing Practice and Writer Identity

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-74
Author(s):  
Jenny Mattsson ◽  
Emma-Karin Brandin ◽  
Ann-Kristin Hult
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Academic Writing ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Writing Groups ◽  
Writer Identity ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Writing Group ◽  
Key Characteristics ◽  
The University ◽  
Writing Practice

The present study revisits writing retreat participants who have spontaneously formed writing groups before or after attending a retreat hosted by the Unit for Academic Language at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. All in all, 11 doctoral students and 1 post doc were interviewed using a semi-structured interview model. The answers were thematically analysed based on Murray’s (2014) concept of coherence in writing groups as well as parts of Aitchison and Lee’s (2006) key characteristics of writing groups. The two main research questions posed concern (i) whether the informants have changed their writing practice and/or the way they think and feel about writing since joining a writing group, and (ii) whether possible changes have aided the development of their identity as academic writers. Results show that the informants have indeed changed central aspects of their writing practice and that this in turn has positively influenced how they now think and feel about writing. This has to some extent contributed to the informants’ development of their writer identity; however, the present study also sheds light on the fact that more needs to be done at departmental levels across the university to make academic writing visible.

scholarly journals The Analysis of Indonesian EFL Argumentative Writing Using Toulmin’s Model: The Structure and Struggles from the Learners

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 67
Author(s):  
Hanna Sundari ◽  
Rina Husnaini Febriyanti
Keyword(s):  
Academic Writing ◽  
Point Pattern ◽  
Argumentative Writing ◽  
Specific Level ◽  
Toulmin Model ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Writing Assignment ◽  
University Level ◽  
Block Pattern ◽  
Thesis Statement

<p>Argumentative writing plays an important role in academic writing at university level. However, learners mostly find that writing this essay a challenging and effortful task. This present study aims at exploring the structures of argumentative essay written by Indonesian EFL students from one university in Jakarta Indonesia. Moreover, it investigates their difficulty and constraints during composing the essay. Using a descriptive qualitative design, the authors selected writing assignment and questionnaire for collecting data. A layout of Toulmin model of arguments was used in analyzing the essays. The findings of the study show that the argumentative papers cover the main elements: claim (thesis statement), data, rebut, and rebuttal data using either in block pattern or point-by-point pattern. The elements show diverse in types. Logical analysis and explanation are the most frequently used on the papers. Though they present acceptable thesis with well-organized essay, some information is unrelated and data for supporting the claim are seemingly insufficient. In addition, the students think that this essay as difficult task. In general, lack of knowledge, vocabulary and practice cause the constraints. In specific level, the students report that giving argument, finding support and working on counterargument become source of difficulty and constraints.</p>

Acquisition of Chinese Aspect

1997 ◽  
Vol 117-118 ◽  
pp. 1-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaohong Wen
Keyword(s):  
Word Meanings ◽  
Advanced Level ◽  
Aspect Marker ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
University Level ◽  
Aspect Markers ◽  
Perfective Aspect Marker ◽  
The University ◽  
Temporal Sequences ◽  
Different Levels

Abstract This study investigates the acquisition of Chinese aspect markers of -le, -guo, and -zhe by English-speaking learners at the university level. The speech and written data produced by students at two different levels of proficiency were collected, compared and analyzed. The results show that English-speaking learners of Chinese acquire the perfective aspect marker -le and the past experience marker -guo before the durative aspect marker -zhe. The process by which learners acquire the aspect markers appears be meaning-based and can be summarized into: 1) looking for logical temporal sequences; 2) using time adverbials and conjunction for the time references; 3) using lexical aspects and word meanings; and 4) using pragmatic cues with the aspect markers of -le and -guo. Learners, especially at the lower level of proficiency, rely more on the time adverbial expressions and lexical aspects than learners at the more advanced level.

scholarly journals Astronomy in Mozambique

2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (H16) ◽  
pp. 567-567
Author(s):  
Valério A. R. M. Ribeiro ◽  
Cláudio M. Paulo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
The State ◽  
The South ◽  
University Level ◽  
Second Year ◽  
A Priority ◽  
The University ◽  
Astronomy And Astrophysics

AbstractWe present the state of Astronomy in Mozambique and how it has evolved since 2009 following the International Year of Astronomy. Activities have been lead by staff at University Eduardo Mondlane and several outreach activities have also flourished. In 2010 the University introduced its first astronomy module, Introduction to Astronomy and Astrophysics, for the second year students in the Department of Physics. The course has now produced the first students who will be graduating in late 2012 with some astronomy content. Some of these students will now be looking for further studies and those who have been keen in astronomy have been recommended to pursue this as a career. At the university level we have also discussed on the possibility to introduce a whole astronomy course by 2016 which falls well within the HCD that the university is now investing in. With the announcement that the SKA will be split between South Africa with its partner countries (including Mozambique), and Australia we have been working closely with the Ministry of Science and Technology to make astronomy a priority on its agenda. In this respect, an old telecommunications antenna is being converted by the South Africa SKA Project Office, and donated to Mozambique for educational purposes. It will be situated in Maluana, Mozambique.

scholarly journals Exploring Writing Errors Problems from EFL Lecturers’ Perspectives at University Level

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 106-110
Author(s):  
Abdurrahman M. Alfahadi
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Contextual Effects ◽  
Intervention Strategies ◽  
Pedagogical Practices ◽  
Remedial Action ◽  
Spelling Errors ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
University Level ◽  
The University ◽  
Writing Errors

The purpose of this study was to identify the probable reasons for these spelling errors form EFL lecturer’s perspective and to tackle spelling problems. was hoped the results would suggest remedial action the lecturers and the students might take to address the problem of spelling. The findings revealed the main reasons for the spelling errors made by Saudi university students which includes the interference of Arabic when learning English, the nature of the English language itself, for instance, its irregularity and limited rules, and other contextual effects like the inadequacy of the university English language syllabus and classroom instructions in terms of teaching spelling rules. The participants in this study suggested various possible strategies to address the problem of spelling; for instance, academic intervention strategies such as ways to engage the learners and pedagogical practices that could help EFL students learn English better.

scholarly journals Profile of simultaneous poly-substance users of undergraduate students at one university, Kingston - Jamaica

2012 ◽  
Vol 21 (spe) ◽  
pp. 63-67
Author(s):  
Joy Harrison ◽  
Laura Simich ◽  
Carol Strike ◽  
Bruna Brands ◽  
Norman Giesbrecht ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Science ◽  
Caribbean Island ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
University Level ◽  
Second Year ◽  
The University ◽  
Latin American Countries

This study is part of a multicentric research project involving seven universities in five Latin American countries and one Caribbean island (Jamaica). This cross-sectional study examines the profile of a sample of first and second year undergraduate students in the Medical/Health Science Department of one university in Kingston, Jamaica. The sample size was 295 students. Our results revealed that this pattern of drug use is occurring in this specific university. Alcohol was the most frequently reported substance 27.5%, followed by cannabis 6.1% and tobacco 4.7%. Report of polydrug consumption was low for all categories studied. Our findings may inform interventions at the university level.

scholarly journals An examination of the placement of adverbials in the academic writing of fresh undergraduate students in the University of Cape Coast, Ghana

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 110-128
Author(s):  
Philip Arthur Gborsong ◽  
Anita B. Appartaim
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Research Design ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Academic Writing ◽  
Random Sampling ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
The Other ◽  
Cape Coast ◽  
The University

Rules have been formulated on how adverbials are used. Such rules as stated by Quirk and Greenbaum (1973), Hornby (1975) and Swan (1995) are silent on how a few adverbials that have no restrictions regarding their position and order in sentences should be used. This paper, relying on language variation in the second language setting as a theoretical framework, explored how undergraduate students used these kinds of mobile adverbials. The quantitative research design and a simple random sampling were applied to select a total of 100 essays and exercises from fresh undergraduates of the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Analysing these essays and exercises, we concluded that although the adverbial is an optional clausal element, the undergraduate students used it in providing further information on the other clausal elements. In addition, the undergraduate students often placed the adverbials in the mid position of their sentences. Keywords: Adverbials, GE, Undergraduate students, Clausal elements, Effective communication

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