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An Evaluation of Writing Skills of EFL Learners in Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Received: 1 January 2016    Accepted: 11 January 2016    Published: 25 January 2016
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Abstract

This study attempts to evaluate English as a foreign language (EFL) learners' writing skills using error analysis (EA, hereafter) as a tool for the investigation. EFL is an understudied field in Kurdistan, especially in terms of writing skills and writing errors. The aim of the research is to identify, describe, analyze, and evaluate writing errors, their causes and sources, as well as discussing the role of EFL materials and their relation to EFL writing errors. Therefore, permission was gained to use a Cambridge standard writing test to examine the writing skills of EFL learners from two universities in Kurdistan using informal piloting. Furthermore, the study shows that these particular Kurdish EFL learners have serious problems in writing generally, and have weaknesses leading to errors in grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation - and particularly grammar. Hence, this paper can be a practical ground for EFL teachers, scholars, researchers, and students to understand Kurdish adult learners' writing errors and problems.

Published in International Journal of Language and Linguistics (Volume 4, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijll.20160401.13
Page(s) 14-24
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

EFL Kurdish Adult Learners, Second Language Writing, EFL Learners' Writing Errors

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    Dara Karim Mahmood. (2016). An Evaluation of Writing Skills of EFL Learners in Kurdistan Region of Iraq. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 4(1), 14-24. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20160401.13

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    Dara Karim Mahmood. An Evaluation of Writing Skills of EFL Learners in Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Int. J. Lang. Linguist. 2016, 4(1), 14-24. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20160401.13

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    AMA Style

    Dara Karim Mahmood. An Evaluation of Writing Skills of EFL Learners in Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Int J Lang Linguist. 2016;4(1):14-24. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20160401.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijll.20160401.13,
      author = {Dara Karim Mahmood},
      title = {An Evaluation of Writing Skills of EFL Learners in Kurdistan Region of Iraq},
      journal = {International Journal of Language and Linguistics},
      volume = {4},
      number = {1},
      pages = {14-24},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijll.20160401.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20160401.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijll.20160401.13},
      abstract = {This study attempts to evaluate English as a foreign language (EFL) learners' writing skills using error analysis (EA, hereafter) as a tool for the investigation. EFL is an understudied field in Kurdistan, especially in terms of writing skills and writing errors. The aim of the research is to identify, describe, analyze, and evaluate writing errors, their causes and sources, as well as discussing the role of EFL materials and their relation to EFL writing errors. Therefore, permission was gained to use a Cambridge standard writing test to examine the writing skills of EFL learners from two universities in Kurdistan using informal piloting. Furthermore, the study shows that these particular Kurdish EFL learners have serious problems in writing generally, and have weaknesses leading to errors in grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation - and particularly grammar. Hence, this paper can be a practical ground for EFL teachers, scholars, researchers, and students to understand Kurdish adult learners' writing errors and problems.},
     year = {2016}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - An Evaluation of Writing Skills of EFL Learners in Kurdistan Region of Iraq
    AU  - Dara Karim Mahmood
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    T2  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
    JF  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
    JO  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-0221
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20160401.13
    AB  - This study attempts to evaluate English as a foreign language (EFL) learners' writing skills using error analysis (EA, hereafter) as a tool for the investigation. EFL is an understudied field in Kurdistan, especially in terms of writing skills and writing errors. The aim of the research is to identify, describe, analyze, and evaluate writing errors, their causes and sources, as well as discussing the role of EFL materials and their relation to EFL writing errors. Therefore, permission was gained to use a Cambridge standard writing test to examine the writing skills of EFL learners from two universities in Kurdistan using informal piloting. Furthermore, the study shows that these particular Kurdish EFL learners have serious problems in writing generally, and have weaknesses leading to errors in grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation - and particularly grammar. Hence, this paper can be a practical ground for EFL teachers, scholars, researchers, and students to understand Kurdish adult learners' writing errors and problems.
    VL  - 4
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Author Information
  • English Department, College of Languages, University of Human Development, Slemani, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

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