Writing obstacles for ESL beginners

A Case Study on the Common Grammatical Errors of

Chinese Freshman English as Second Language (ESL ) Students

of the University of Science and Technology

in Taipei , Taiwan

Table of Contents

Abstract vi

Chapter I : Introduction 1

1 .1 Background of the Problem 1

1 .2 Significance of the Study 2

1 .3 Objectives of the Study 2

1 .5 Conclusion 2

Chapter II : Review of Related Literature 4

2 .1 English as Second Language (ESL ) 4

2 .2 Writing Development of ESL Students 4

2 .3

English Structural Problems Encountered 5

by Chinese Students

2 .4 Common Errors on Grammar 11

of Chinese Students

2 .5 Conclusion 13

Chapter III : Methodology 15

3 .1 Introduction 15

3 .2 Research Objectives 15

3 .3 Research Tradition 15

3 .4 The Research Approach 16

3 .5 Justification of the Selected Approach 17

3 .6 Data Collection 17

3 .6 .1 Secondary Data Collection 17

3 .6 .2 Primary Data Collection 18

3 .7 Sampling 18

3 .8 Instrument Design 18

3 .9 Reliability and Validity 19

4 .0 Analysis of Data 21

4 .1 Conclusion 21

Chapter IV : Results and Discussions 23

4 .1 Introduction 23

4 .2 Demographics 23

4 .2 .1 Age 24

4 .2 .2 Gender 25

4 .2 .3 Number of Years Studying ESL 26

4 .3 First Set of Figures 27

4 .3 .1 Grammar Errors 28

4 .2 Second Set of Figures 28

4 .2 .1 Grammar Errors 29

4 .3 Third Set of Figures 30

4 .3 .1 Grammar Errors 30

4 .4 Fourth Set of Figures 31

4 .4 .1 Grammar Errors 31

Chapter V : Conclusions and Recommendations 32

5 .1 Introduction 32

5 .2 Demographics 33

5 .3 Common Grammatical Errors 33

5 .4 Recommendations 33

Bibliography 36

Appendices 38

Tables

Table 1 : Age 24

Table 2 : Gender 25

Table 3 : Number of Years Studying ESL 26

Figures

Figure 1 : Age 24

Figure 2 : Gender 25

Figure 3 : Number of Years Studying ESL 26

Abstract

English as a Second Language (ESL ) is a process of instruction of English in an English speaking country whose mother tongue is a different language (Rosenthal , 2000 ,

. 73

Freshman English as Second Language (ESL ) Students in the University of Science and Technology have problems in terms of the following

Improper use of verb tenses - 24 .14 Improper or lack of use of articles- 13 .79 Improper use of auxiliary verbs - 10 .34 Lack of use of punctuations -10 .34 Poor knowledge in spelling -10 .34 Improper or lack of use of prepositions - 10 .34 Lack of knowledge in proper capitalizations - 6 . 90 Lack or improper use of linking verbs - 3 .45 Improper use of pronouns - 3 .45 Improper use of nouns - 3 .45 and Improper or lack of use of conjunctions - 3 .45

The grammatical errors that were found based on the four instruments that were used and the 10 individuals who participated on the case study . Majority of the participants were studying ESL for seven to...