Grammatical errors in paragraph writing of first year English major students at School of Foreign Languages – Thai Nguyen University

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES ********************* TRẦN THỊ HẠNH GRAMMATICAL ERRORS IN PARAGRAPH WRITING OF FIRST YEAR ENGLISH MAJOR STUDENTS AT SCHOOL OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES - THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY Lỗi ngữ pháp viết đoạn văn sinh viên năm thứ chuyên ngành Tiếng Anh Khoa Ngoại Ngữ - Đại học Thái Nguyên M.A MINOR PROGRAMME THESIS FIELD : ENGLISH TEACHING METHODOLOGY CODE : 60140111 Hanoi, 2015 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES ********************* TRẦN THỊ HẠNH GRAMMATICAL ERRORS IN PARAGRAPH WRITING OF FIRST YEAR ENGLISH MAJOR STUDENTS AT SCHOOL OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES - THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY Lỗi ngữ pháp viết đoạn văn sinh viên năm thứ chuyên ngành Tiếng Anh Khoa Ngoại Ngữ - Đại học Thái Nguyên M.A MINOR PROGRAMME THESIS FIELD : ENGLISH TEACHING METHODOLOGY CODE : 60140111 SUPERVISOR : PHẠM ĐĂNG BÌNH, Ph.D Hanoi, 2015 DECLARATION I certify my authorship of the study report entitled “Common Grammatical Errors in Paragraph Writing of First Year English Major Students at School of Foreign Languages – Thai Nguyen University” is the result of my own research for the Degree of Master of Arts at University of Languages and International Studies- VNU, Hanoi, and this thesis is in total fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree Master of Arts Thái Nguyên, ngày tháng năm 2015 Ký tên Trần Thị Hạnh i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my many thanks to people who have assisted me when I carried out the research To my supervisor Dr Pham Dang Binh, I owe a special debt of gratitude for his profound knowledge, helpful support, and enthusiasm, which are of almost importance to the achievement of my study I would like to convey my thanks to all my teachers of Post-Graduate Studies Department who have supported mw with a lot of knowledge I owe a special note of gratitude to all my colleagues for their invaluable comments, assistance, and advice during the time I was completing my study I am extremely thankful to all the participants who provided me with rich and detailed data for the study and lent breadth and values to the research findings I also wish to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to my mother, my father, family members, and friends whose prayers, love and best wishes were a source of inspiration, encouragements, and motivation for me to complete this research Finally, I would like to thank my readers for their interests and comments on this thesis ii ABSTRACT This paper studies common grammatical errors in paragraph writing committed by first year English major students at School of Foreign Languages – Thai Nguyen University (SFL-TNU) and the causes of these errors To achieve the desired aims of current study, the author combined both qualitative and quantitative methods, including the instrument namely students’ writing analysis The participants in the research were fifty first year English major students at SFL- TNU Research results show that first year English major students at SFL- TNU often commit errors in sentence structure, verb usage, preposition usage and singular/plural nouns Besides, the main causes of these errors are mother tongue interference, overgeneralization, ignorance of rule restrictions, incomplete application of rules and false concepts hypothesized; in which interference of native language and overgeneralization are the most common ones In order to minimize these errors, it is suggested that teachers help students practice writing and correct their writings effectively by suitable and flexible techniques iii TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ii ABSTRACT iii TABLE OF CONTENTS iv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS vii LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES viii PART A– INTRODUCTION 1 Identification of the problem and rationale of the study Aims of the study Research questions Scope of the study Significance of the study Structure of the study PART B - DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER I – LITERATURE REVIEW Grammar 1.1 Definitions of grammar 1.2 Roles of grammar in foreign language teaching 2.Writing Paragraph 3.1 Definitions of paragraph 3.2 Structure of a paragraph Errors in foreign language teaching 4.1 Definitions of errors 4.2 Errors versus mistakes 4.3 Types of errors 10 4.4 Sources of errors 12 4.4.1 Mother tongue interference 12 iv 4.4.2 Overgeneralization 13 4.4.3 Ignorance of rule restriction 14 4.4.4 Incomplete application of rules 14 4.4.5 False concepts hypothesized 15 Error analysis 15 5.1 Definitions of error analysis 15 5.2 Significance of error analysis 16 5.3 Analysis of composition errors 17 5.3.1 Procedure for error analysis 17 5.3.2 Common ESL writing errors 18 5.3.3 Types of grammatical errors in ESL writing 19 CHAPTER II – RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 21 Research setting and participants 21 1.1 Research setting 21 1.2 Participants 21 Data collection instruments 21 2.1 Reasons for choosing students’ writing task 22 2.2 Description of students’ writing task 22 Data collection procedure 23 Data analysis 23 4.2 Classification of errors 25 4.3 Explanation of errors 25 4.4 Evaluation of errors 26 CHAPTER III – FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION 27 3.1 Findings 27 3.2 Discussion 31 3.2.1 The most common grammatical errors committed by first year English major students at SFL- TNU in paragraph writing 31 3.2.1.1 Sentence structure errors 31 v 3.2.1.2 Verb errors 33 3.2.1.3 Preposition errors 35 3.1.2.4 Noun errors 36 3.2.2 The causes of errors made by the first year English major students at SFLTNU in paragraph writing 36 3.2.2.2 Overgeneralization 38 3.2.2.3 Ignorance of rule restrictions 39 3.2.2.4 Incomplete application of rules 40 3.2.2.5 False concepts hypothesized 40 PART C- CONCLUSION 41 Summary of the study 41 Limitations of the study 42 Suggestions for further studies 42 Recommendations 43 REFERENCES 45 APPENDIX I vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS EA: Error Analysis L1: The First Language L2: The Second Language SFL- TNU: School of Foreign Languages – Thai Nguyen University vii LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES Table 2.1: Error marking symbols Table 2: Error classification Table 3.1; Number and frequency of grammatical errors in paragraph writing by types and by groups Figure 3.1: Frequency of grammatical errors in paragraph writing by groups Table 3.2: Frequency of each grammatical error type Figure 3.2: Frequency of each grammatical error type viii REFERENCES Abeywickrama, R (2010) An Analysis of Errors in English Writing of Sinhala Speaking Undergraduates Abaramuwa University Journal, (1), 97-114 Brown, H D (1980) Principals of Language Learning and Teaching New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc Brown, H D (1980) Principals of Language Learning and Teaching Fifth Edition New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc Byrne, D (1988) Teaching writing skill Longman Handbooks for Language Teachers Longman: London Candling, R.B (2001) Vocabulary and Language Teaching New York: Longman Inc Corder, S (1967) The significance of learners’ errors International Review of Applied Linguistics, pp 161-70 Corder, S (1974) Error Analysis The Edinburgh Course in Applied Linguistics Oxford: OUP Corder, S (1979) Error Analysis and Interlanguage Oxford: OUP Chomsky, N (1965) Aspects of the Theory of Syntax Cambridge: MIT Press 10 Cunning, W (1987) Principles of Language Learning and Teaching New Jersey: Prentice Hall Regents 11 Crystal, D (1990) The Cambridge Encyclopedia of English Language NY: Cambridge University Press 12 Darus, S (2009) Error Analysis of Written English Essays of Secondary Students in Malaysia: A Case Study European of Social Science, (3) 13 Dulay, B (1974) Natural Sequences in Child Second Language Acquisition Language Learning, 24 (1): 37-53 14 Dulay, H C et al (1982) Language Two Oxford: OUP 15 Ellis, R (1997) The Study of Second Language Acquisition New York: OUP 45 16 Ferris, D R (2001) Treatment of Error in Second Language Student Writing Ann Arbor University of Michigan Press 17 Flower, W S (1984) Progressive Writing Skills Nelson 18 Heydari, P (2012) Error Analysis: Sources of L2 Learners’ Errors Theory and Practice in Language Studies, (8), 1583-1589 19 Hedge, T (1988) Writing UK: OUP 20 Hubbard, P et al (1993) A Training Course for TEFL Oxford: OUP 21 James, C (1998) Errors in Language Learning and Use Addison Wesley Longman Limited 22 James, C (2001) Errors in Language Learning and Use England: Longman 23 Khansir, A A (2012) Error Analysis and Second Language Acquisition Theory and Practice in Language Studies, (5), 1027-1032 24 Klassen, J (1991) “Using Student Errors for Teaching” FORUM, Vol XXIX No 1, Jan 25 Klassen, J (1991), Bates et al (1993), Igram & King (1996), introduced by Le Thanh Tam & Le Ngoc Phuong Anh (2004) Writing Academic English, 3rd edition 26 Lee, W R (1990) Thoughts on Contrastive Linguistics in the Context of Language Teaching Washington: Georgetown University Press 27 Oshima, A & Hogue, A (1996) Writing Academic English Addison- Wesley Publishing Company 28 Palmer, F (1990) Grammar New York: Penguin Group 29 Phạm Đăng Bình (2013), Lý thuyết phân tích lỗi nhìn góc độ giao thoa ngơn ngữ - văn hóa Một số ứng dụng việc dạy học tiếng nước NXB Khoa Học Xã Hội 30 Richard, J C (1971) The Study of Learner English London: Longman 31 Richard, J C (1973) Error Analysis- Perspectives on Second Language Acquisition London: Longman 46 32 Richard, J C ed (1989) Error Analysis- Perspectives on Second Language Acquisition London: Longman 33 Salkie, R (1985) Text and Discourse Analysis London: Routledge 34 Sawalmeh, M H M (2013) Error Analysis of Written English Essays: The case of Students of the Preparatory Year Program in Saudi Arabia English for Specific Purposes World, 40 (14) 35 Selinker, L (1972) Interlanguage International Review of Applied Linguistics, (10), 209 – 231 36 Sercombe, P G (2000) Strategizing Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century Proceedings of the International Conference on Teaching and Learning Faculty of Education: University Kebangsaan Malayisa, Bangi 37 Tribble, C (1996) Writing Oxford: OUP 38 Ur, P (1990) Grammar Practice Activities Cambridge University Press 39 Van et al (19720 Error Gravity: A Study of Faculty Opinion of ESL Errors TESOL Quarterly 18 (3), 427-440 40 Verma, G K & Mallick, K (1999) Researching Education: Perspectives and Techniques Falmer Press (London and Philadelphia, PA) 41 Welman, C et al (2005) Research Methodology Cape University Press 47 Town: Oxford APPENDIX TYPICAL ERRORS COLLECTED FROM STUDENTS’ WRITINGS Error sentences Types of errors It is an important event in my life Vt Because it is the result of 12 years of schooling Vt I cried because I really feel happy Vt One of the most important event in my life would have been the Vt death of my grandmother I asked my mother but she didn’t told me who this man is Vt This is the first time I have ever seen my dad Vt I am so happy when my dream came true Vt At lunch, we forget coming home Vt I had cry very much Vt I was proud of my father because he is a great father Vt I love my mother more since my father died Vt This is the first time I had to leave her Vt I cryed, but I quickly stopped crying because mother say “ Good Vt kids will not cry.” I was visiting schools, discover a lot of surprises with new friends Vt In the meantime, I have a lot of feeling Vt I was happy because I have made a part of my dream Vt I remembered that when my brother is hungry in the middle of life Vt and cries for milk, my mother wake up at one even if she is tired My mother didn’t in class Vt He have the coax and play with me Vt He’s tall and handsome Vt I His voice’s gentle, friendly, and gallant Vt That morning, I waked up earlier than usual Vt Eveyone have a reason why you studied English Vt Although I am learning English not good Vt It is the time when I was nine years old Vt I had study English for seven years Vt It is one of my subject at school Vt After that having a girl who is at the age of nine, she take to the Vt poor man a loaf of bread When we were children, we had studied English Vt When we used computer, you can understand it Vt Learning English mean you learned a part of people and culture Vt If you speaking English, you won’t need to rely on translation or Vt subtitles anymore to enjoy your favorite films I start loving it when I was a primary student Vt I thinked more mature, more clearly Vf I asked my mother, but she didn’t told me Vf At lunch, we forget coming home Vf When… and called us come home Vf I try to behave as a good girl to not make my mother sad Vf I felt lonely and wanted cry when I missed him Vf I can continue studying at the university I liked and starting a new Vf plan here My grandfather was always care about everyone and me Vf I was worried about to start an independent life Vf He knew and learnt many thing such as sing a short song and read Vf some poem Moreover, we need learn to accept your bodies as we are II Vf I can hit many famous English song: always be sung or prolonged Vf by the most famous singer in the world There will be a good opportunity to learning English when you Vf learn English good Learning English help me can converse with foreigner Vf Have many reasons why I choose learn English Vf When learn English, I can visit country different Vf I choose learn English Vf I like English and ant speak good English Vf …although learn English not easy Vf When travel to different countries Vf I must to learn English Vf I must to study English well Vf English is used to connecting people together Vf It help us communicate and makes friends with people in the Vf world I know that tell lie is a bad person Vf My dream is go travel around the world Vf They seem didn’t see that beggar Vf I saw my mother was crying Vf Everyone should learning English Vf “ I would checked homework.” Vf English has became international language Vf There was many things I need Vf English is being a most popular and important language Vf To learning English well Vf I choosed foreign language department- TNU Vf Everyone have a reason to study English III SVA Learning English help me converse with foreigner SVA Learning English help me listening English song SVA Learning English help me communicate with a lot of people SVA Everybody use it as language communication SVA Family give me a sense of belonging SVA It help us have a good job SVA It help us become dynamic SVA English help us have good salary SVA English have much in the computer SVA Knowing English increase opportunity to get a good job SVA Learning English mean you learned a part of people ad culture SVA English help us communicate with other cultures in the world SVA It is very good if you practice with your mirror, which make you SVA feel more confident Being able to speak English allow me to communicate effectively SVA English allow me to get more from culture SVA For next three day, I couldn’t go to school N In important event in my life was the day I entered the gate of N university He…some poem N Many country use English as second language N That’s a reasons why I like English N Friend…us N Today, we should have some activity to relax N I can hit many famous English song N I already took more English course N English is a media by which we can contact with other person N Learning English help me can converse with foreigner N IV Learning English help me can listen English song N It can be very helpful for tourist to know English N I can visit country different N I can know culture of many country N I can speak with many person or chat with many person N I able to understand the lyrics if my favorite English song N We will travel to other country N It is one of my subject at school N ….because learner have the passion for it N I would be love to communicate with foreigner N ….teacher require me to master this knowledge N English is the most commonly used languages N This is an important lessons I have learnt in life N After a children approached taking hand her N This is lesson I never forget N The most important lesson I have learnt in my life N some language N Because…can be dangerous Modal When I was 16 years old, I must take part in an important Modal examination My teacher said: I would check homework Modal I’m studying English teacher require me to master this knowledge RO There are main courses I learn it RO Because she always took care of me from adult FRAG Because I realized she worried about that we can be dangerous FRAG Because she doesn’t want me lonely FRAG When I saw him to the photo FRAG The first day of school with many surprises and fear FRAG V Just fun, just worried FRAG As we know, since we were born and grew up FRAG When he went to kindergarten FRAG After making effort myself FRAG An important event in my life: my first day at school FRAG My school’s name is Nhu Co I FRAG When I cried so much because my mother didn’t in class FRAG I was very impressed and I could not forget the time FRAG When I caught sight of the bog school in front of me FRAG Time the most valuable commodity FRAG Friend always there to share and help us FRAG I understand that when I aloof, know only my all interest FRAG If you know English well FRAG Although I am learning English not good FRAG Learn English not easy FRAG Many years ago, when I was 10 FRAG For many reasons FRAG A small action which bring to others happiness FRAG …, show learning English FRAG A transferring level examination FRAG Because studying here my effect badly to my lifestyle FRAG I still fine FRAG When I went t school as usual FRAG When I said I hadn’t done homework FRAG The most important lesson I have learnt in my life FRAG When I give into fear FRAG I didn’t that FRAG English really important now FRAG VI You can use English when you visit other country, English is very CS popular in the world You can manage better approach, you can speak with confident CS Many famous movies and songs are written in English, I like it CS I increase my English proficiency, I will be able to get a good job CS I not understand what the doctor is telling me, he will say to me CS “do you need a translator?” 10 pm, my mother didn’t see me, she was very worried and went CS out to find me It was my lesson, I have never lied her since CS e are people who want to learn English because it is the common CS language, learner have the passion for it I would love…foreigner, they can learn to cultivate knowledge CS After that having a girl who is at the age of 9, she take to the poor CS man a loaf of bread I crossed, a motorbike suddenly went on and crashed into me CS My father was very worried, he asked what had happened CS I stayed at hospital one week, when I was healthy, my dad brought CS me home I love it so much, I will try to learn it to carter my life CS English help us communicate with other cultures in the world, if CS you know English you’ll have more opportunity to find job English is very important in today life, we need to study more to CS develop our country I didn’t worry, my time was very much CS English is the international language, it was used around the world CS College is an important event in my life CS It is really event in my life Unidiomatic VII I had to walk to go home alone Unidiomatic It is the most event that had happened to me Unidiomatic One of the most event in my life was the day, which I met my Unidiomatic father First time, mum hold hand me step into a strange place Unidiomatic All is my first time: strange fear and interesting Unidiomatic I will enter a learning environment and a completely new Unidiomatic We had a lot of memory about your family, your friends and our Unidiomatic beloved people My younger brother was born and uttered a cry when brought into Unidiomatic the world, is a important event in my life I immediately, I told to my parents Unidiomatic But then have a boy friend very friendly Unidiomatic When I had difficulty you are helping me Unidiomatic We became friends until now have been 12 years Unidiomatic Moreover, we need learn to accept your bodies as we are Unidiomatic I can travel to any country that doesn’t have difficulties in Unidiomatic communicating Even though I already took more English course, starting from Unidiomatic primary until now on, but I still not fluently I have drown an important lesson that is: to live with all my heart, Unidiomatic friendly, and good-natured Learning English as well as part important in life of me Unidiomatic I am student university Unidiomatic Have many reason when I choose learn English Unidiomatic In the computer use English is language main Unidiomatic The most information international written in English is main Unidiomatic English is the most international of languages Unidiomatic VIII I know that tell lie is a bad person Unidiomatic It make other people bored with me and don’t believe you Unidiomatic Many advantages when studying English Unidiomatic It is not difficult to image some situations when knowing English Unidiomatic give me a great feeling After that having a girl at the age of Unidiomatic If don’t have my parents, I can’t be there now Unidiomatic That is where I was born and grew Unidiomatic English have much in the computer Unidiomatic Studying English is very required for every body Unidiomatic Since then, I’m always hard learn my parents and my teacher are Unidiomatic always happy In life, we are have lesson to learn Unidiomatic We are learn to books and to people around Unidiomatic I am saw a grandmother waiting go to way Unidiomatic After a children about to approached taking hand her and Unidiomatic leaded her go to way I’m feel is a person very hard-hearted Unidiomatic Why I want to learn English is so that can travel to English Unidiomatic speaking country English is a language that very important to me Unidiomatic In life of everyone have valuable lesson Unidiomatic …my time was very much Unidiomatic I still played a lot more to learn Unidiomatic It is face my fear Unidiomatic When I give into fear Unidiomatic I had overcome the fear by I must first ask myself a simple Unidiomatic question IX Why be angry, I went to my grandmother is house College is not the only way, but it is the surest way of me Unidiomatic Wp On that day, after finishing at school, I did not see my Unnecessary grandmother waiting me at the school gate prep/omitted prep My mother whisper with me Wp For the next day, I couldn’t go to school Wp I remember that day, after studying at school, I came back home Omitted prep He had left to me when I was born Unnecessary prep It is so important with me Wp My younger brother and I went to there without asking my Unnecessary mother’s permission prep/omitted prep I want to say with the world that “I love my parents very much” I often learned by myself through books, internet to seek some Wp Omitted prep information which was useful for me and involved my lessons The first day of school … Wp The other children the same age Omitted prep It is easy for communicate Wp It is the best medium that can help us reach with advanced Unnecessary technology and the development of the world prep English helps improve international friendship and expand our Wp knowledge with other countries Learning English help me can listen English song Omitted prep I will be a teacher English in the future Omitted prep We can use English to talk each other Omitted prep We can listen, speak, and write by English X Wp Also, we can communicate and talk with them about everything Wp 10 p.m, my mother did not see me Omitted prep It makes other people bored with you and don’t believe you Omitted prep In that day, I did not have to go t school Wp I can go many places Omitted prep English is important with me Wp Everybody use it as language communication Omitted prep I fell down road Omitted prep I stayed at hospital one week Omitted prep The important lessons we have learnt in life have a great influence Wp in building our character Today English is used in over the world Wp After graduating university … Omitted prep We are learn to books, and learn to people around Conclusion, English is a language that is important to me Wp Omitted prep It is very good if you practice with your mirror Wp In that day, I had some mistakes Wp I stayed at there a few days Unnecessary prep I did not know that my parents looked me everywhere Omitted prep English really important now and the future Omitted prep He advised me to think of things positive Adj Because she doesn’t want me person lonely Adj I promise myself that I will learn well Other elements But then have a boyfriend very friendly Adj This is a thing wonderful Adj My mother always taught me to live honest, kind and friendly Adj XI I am a girl selfish, unfriendly Adj Although I am learning English not good Adj English is the most speak country in the world Adj I can visit country different Adj I like English and I want to speak good English Adj If I able to speak English proficiently, I will able to communicate Adj with more people I able to understand the lyrics of my favorite English song Why you are learning English? Adj Other elements … from the lessons simple to the lessons important and difficult After a children abour to approached taking hand her Adj Other elements When she knew we had gone fishing she was angry and called us Adv clause come home The day my father died is an important event in my life and maybe Adv I will never forget it He likely an apple Adv When I cried so much because my mother didn’t in class Adv clause Learning English is very much an integral part of our life Adv English is the most commonly language in the world Adv Finally reason … Adv My English is really well Adv XII