Problems in Developing Writing Skill for EFL Learners by Zehan Farah Diba

Name               : Zehan Farah Diba

Reg. Number   : 1610117320035

Problems in Developing Writing Skill for EFL Learners

Abstract

This article was done to known about problems in developing writing skill for EFL learners, which generally arise from inability in topic sentence, idea expansion, content selection, and topic sentence coherence and unity, grammatical errors, lack of vocabulary, inappropriate use of vocabulary, lack of practices and lack motivation. We must often read books because by reading, we can add knowledge and the knowledge can be used as reference for us to wrote well. We must be careful on choose mechanic and grammar in writing. Next, we try again or practice in everyday, and we can give to support or motivation by ourselves that we can do it.

Key words : problems, developing, writing skill, and EFL learners

Introduction 

       When one talks about language, it can be broadly categorized into four skills namely listening, speaking, reading and writing. All the skills are equally important in a language, but  writing skill is one of important part of language production for communication, which is like the statement from Akkaya & Kirmiz cited in Ghlolaminejad et al. (2013) which stated that “Writing is the expression of feelings, thoughts, desires and plans in black and white”. In the process of teaching and learning, writing is an important everyone, especially EFL learners because in academic disciplines, writing plays a significant role through which to examine the performance of students in their respective fields of study. However, writing is often considered merely a part of teaching and learning grammar and syntax, which resultantly underestimates the nature and importance of writing, and affects its growth. For example, in Indonesia, the writing skill of the EFL learners are alarmingly weak and substandard. Although, English language users in Indonesia have increased every year, but they still face issues in English language, especially in writing. It is considered as the most difficult among four major skills of English language i.e. listening, speaking, reading and writing (Salma, 2015)  As every writer should have a balance among several aspects in writing like purpose, content, audience, organization, vocabulary, mechanics etc. Therefore, these problems generally in developing writing arise from inability in topic sentence, idea expansion, content selection, and topic sentence coherence and unity, grammatical errors, lack of vocabulary,  inappropriate use of vocabulary, lack of practices and lack motivation.

      First, the problem in developing writing are inability in topic sentence, idea expansion, content selection, coherence and unity. Before learners to write about something, the teachers teached they about how good writing is, component writing, what must be considered  in writing, and so on. However, there are still many learners who experience mistakes or disabilities in this regard. For example, in the content of writing, learners often think too far from the topic sentences, so their writing is not coherence, unity, and off the topic.

    Second, learner difficulties in writing are grammatical errors, lack of vocabulary,  inappropriate use of vocabulary. In grammatical errors, learner mistakes that often occur in writing are from  differents word classes, subject-verb agreement,  forms of singular and plural,  and so on. And also, the another problem is lack of vocabulary,  inappropriate use of vocabulary. The reason is that students don't read so much and
does not have enough vocabulary references. Therefore, vocabulary ability  has an important role in language learning. Although, vocabulary is not always a priority in language learning, especially writing (Decarrico, 2001). From teaching vocabulary, Nation (2005) mentions several types of vocabulary exercises with emphasis on meaning, form, and use. The type of exercise is based by the thought that vocabulary has a role to understand and express meaning, vocabulary has both oral and written forms, and vocabulary used to communicate. Exercises for meaning include word and meaning matching, labeling,sentence completion, crossword puzzles, semantic analysis, and completing lexical sets. Exercises for forms include following spelling rules, recognition word parts, and building word family tables. Exercises to use include sentence completion, collocation matching, collocation tables, and interpreting dictionary entries. So, there are no more errors and incompatibility in the use of vocabulary in writing. 

   Third, the problems in developing writing are lack practices. Writing skills are mechanistic skills. Writing skills cannot be mastered only through theory, but implemented through regular practice and practice so that it produces well-composed writing. Clarity of writing organization depends on the way of thinking, proper preparation, and good sentence structure. If Lack of practice in writing will result such as inability to develop problems. Though writing ideas have accumulated in the mind as a result of congestion in writing. And Also, rigid in composing sentences that caused the article produced to be discordant and not readable.

      Last, the problem to learners’ interest in writing is lack motivation. Motivation plays a very important role in developing any skill. Lack of motivation is one of the most important factors for the poor performance of EFL learners in writing assignments. The students who always try their best to compose an impressive paragraph feel demotivated when they cannot achieve what is expected of them. They are likely in a need of receiving proper instruction on how to compose an effective text. When they have to write on different non-interesting topics in their exams in English, their performance hardly reaches satisfactory level (Murshidi, 2014).

    In conclusion, from problems in developing writing for EFL learners above such as inability in topic sentence, components of writing, grammatical and so on or included in contents of writing. We can conclude about solution for the problems that we must often read books because by reading, we can add knowledge and the knowledge can be used as reference for us to wrote well. We must be careful on choose mechanic and grammar in writing. Next , we try again or practice in everyday, and we can give to support or motivation by ourselves that we can do it.

References

·         N. Akkaya and F. S. Kirmiz, (2010).  Relationship between Attitudes to Reading and Time Allotted to Writing in Primary Education, Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 4742-4746. Cited in R. Gholaminejad, A. Moinzadeh, M. Youhanaee, and H. Ghobadirad, 2013. Writing Attitudes of Iranian EFL Students: A Qualitative Study, Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 4 (5)

·         Fareed M., Ashraf A., and Bilal M., (2016). ESL Learners’ Writing Skills: Problems, Factors and Suggestions, Journal of Education and Social Sciences, Vol. 4(2)

·         Salma, U.,(2015). Problems and Practical Needs of Writing Skill in EFL Context: An Analysis of Iranian Students of Aligarh Muslim University. Journal Of Humanities And Social Science. Volume 20

·         Nation, I. S. P., (2005). Teaching Vocabulary. Asian EFL Journal. Volume 7.

·         Decarrico, J. S., (2001). Vocabulary Learning and Teaching. In Celce-Murcia, M. (Ed). Teaching English as a Second and Foreign Language. Boston: Heinle & Heinle

·         Al Murshidi, G., (2014). UAE university male students’ interests impact on reading and writing performance and improvement. English Language Teaching, 7(9), 57-63