The Problems and Solutions of English Writing of College Student at Nile Valley University in Sudan.

Source: nautil.us

After reading the overall of this research journal I can conclude that this research journal is conducted in a teachers’ college. The aim is to explore and to resolve English writing problems that cause by many factors faced by a college student at Nile Valley University of Sudan, 2014. This research used the descriptive research method. The 20 samples of English college students of Nile valley University were asked to write around 250- 300 words about a description of their hometown or village that was reviewed by 10 English teachers. Each student’s work was examined and read by two different teachers.

Writing is an important skill that learners have to learn. Because writing skills help learners to have a good organization in writing. Freewriting is also giving a chance for learners to develop their ideas or opinion and through writing skills learners easier to memorize and grasp what they have written. As a result, I found several writing problems faced by English college student in Sudan, as follow: cognitive problem, linguistic problem, mechanical problem, and psychological problem.

Cognitive skill is involved in writing process. Because writing is a complex and effortful process for the writers. It is important to help English college students in Sudan to have a deep understanding so that they can connect new information with their previous ideas. But there are some cognitive problems that college students face in their writing, are punctuation problems, capitalization problems, spelling problems, content and organization problems.

Linguistics has become problematic in writing process for students who learn English language. Sentence structure or tenses and word choices or diction are linguistic problems. Tense is one of challenging in writing that always occur to English students. They use incorrect tense that can cause writing errors, confusion, and reader might not understand their writing. So, students who are not good at sentence structure or tense, are unable to produce longer sentences well. Then, diction is needed in writing. That’s why students are required to have a large English vocabulary. However, in writing process student must use an appropriate word and to rich their English writing.

Mechanical is the third problem in students’ writing. Grammar is important in writing, because without grammar students’ written would be incomprehensible. But still there are many grammatical errors such as incorrect subject verb agreement, wrong verb form, unclear pronoun reference, incorrect use of articles, omitted commas, and so on. That’s usually happen when English learner creates a sentence structure or paragraph. Probably it because the students were not familiar with grammar.

Psychological is the last problem in writing process. There are four psychological problems in writing process. First, learners are unmotivated. It because of students have no interest in writing. I mean they asked to write what they do not want to write. Here the role of teacher is needed. As an instructor, teacher has to give a freedom to write, give them more opportunities to develop their own ideas. Giving free topic and think about the level is a way to keep their motivation in writing process. Second, time limitation. Time determine the quality of a student’s writing. If they have much time, they will have full organization and can improve the text repeatedly that will create a perfect English writing. Third, lack of experience. To be the best writers is not instant. Student needs a great efforts and practice constantly. Fourth, teacher’s feedback. In this case, teacher is better to be a reader, give correction clearly, and give comments that encourage students. Because for some reasons, teacher sometime judge student writing and does not give feedback clearly that caused students can not develop their writing skill.

As a conclusion, I have several ways to resolve the writing problems above. Students’ English language must read many references of vocabulary, tense, grammatical structure, punctuation, diction, and other things related to writing. Because it could enhance their knowledge in English writing. Besides freewriting and taking a note also are a great way to practice student cognitive skill, linguistic, and mechanical as well. Then never forget to English student psychological needed. Like teacher’s motivation. But they can start with themselves by having a strong intention to become the best English writer.

Reference:

Alfaki, Dr. Ibrahim Mohamed. (2015). University Students’ English Writing Problems: Diagnosis and Remedy. International Journal of English Language Teaching Vol.3, No.3, PP.40-52. Retrieved from http://www.eajournals.org/wp-content/uploads/UniversityStudents----English-Writing-Problems-Diagnosis-and-Remedy.pdf