Investigating Students’ problems in Paragraph Writing in EFL Classrooms: the Case of Dire Secondary School; Grade 11 Students

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to investigate Students’ problems in paragraph writing in EFL Classrooms in Dire Secondary school grade 11 in particular. To conduct this study, a descriptive research design which includes both qualitative and quantitative paradigms was employed. A total of 98 respondents (3 EFL teachers and 95grade 11 students) were selected as respondents of the study. Data were gathered through questionnaire, interview, and observation. Data gathered through questionnaire were analysed using percentage, weighted mean and standard deviation. Data obtained through interview and observation were qualitatively analysed merging them with questionnaire results to further strengthen the study. The study identified that students’ problems in paragraph writing skills were related to students and EFL teachers’ related problems. On the other hand, the finding of the study identified that ineffective presentations of writing tasks presented by EFL teachers in writing class rooms were EFL teachers related problems hindering students’ paragraph writing skills. Based on these findings, the study recommends that to make valid what they teach, teachers should follow the phases of writing while implementing the tasks in the classroom, students should practice paragraph writing both in the classroom and outside the classroom, so as to avoid problems they face paragraph writing and they need to practice writing skills frequently.