An Investigation Into The Errors Committed By Students While Writing English Sentences And The Strategies Used By Teachers To Minimize The Errors: The Case Of Seyo Primary School

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to identify and describe the common errors committed by Grade 8 students while writing English sentences and the strategies used by English language teachers to minimize students’ errors. The study was conducted in Seyo Primary School with reference to grade 8 students in focus. Descriptive case study design was employed to address the problem. To conduct the study, two English teachers were chosen purposively and 58 students selected through random sampling technique. Besides, descriptive design was used to achieve the main purposes of the study. To collect the data important for this study sentence writing test, textbook analysis, interview and textbook analysis were employed. The data collected was analysed using both qualitative and quantitative methods of data analysis. The result of the textbook analysis shows that various writing contents and activities are included in Grade 8 English Textbook. The study also shows that there were redundancy of different types writing and activities in grade 8 English textbook. Besides, the results of the study indicated that students do not get enough practice opportunity to write sentences inside classroom. This study revealed that students commit several types of errors while they write sentences in English, which can be generally categorized into three types of errors. However, it was identified that students of Seyo Primary school produced most errors in the subcategory of grammar, followed by mechanics and syntax. Thus, it can be deduced that students made higher percentages of errors in grammar than the other types of errors’ percentages. Besides, the strategies that the teachers use to minimize the problem were also identified. Thus, since sentence construction is a skill that could be improved through sufficient practicing, Seyo Primary School students should have been given chance of learning and practicing ways of correct sentence writing in paragraph to make the paragraph coherent and cohesive. In addition, the ELT teacher is also influential person in minimizing the problem of the students so as to use the strategies of overcoming the students’ problem. The study shows that some of the writing activities and contents were not appropriate to the grade level and age of students and they were not organized sequentially. Thus, appropriateness writing contents and activities for the age and grade level of students should be given due attention Accordingly, English language teachers should provide both in and outside writing activities to help their students practice writing