International eColloquium in Language and Humanities

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the grammatical problems faced by the English for Science students in Universiti Malaysia Kelantan. It also examines the common grammatical problems encountered by Malaysian undergraduate students in using English language as well as the possible causes that contribute to the difficulties. The study employs content analysis to evaluate students’ written texts as well as group interview with language instructors for the possible causes. The respondents involved 20 Universiti Malaysia Kelantan English for Science students in which their written works were collected and analysed, and three English for Science language instructors for the group interview. The results indicate that verb, noun, preposition and article as the most common errors committed by the students and that the interlanguage factor, ignorance of grammar rules and overgeneralisations of grammar rules as the possible causes to the errors. The findings of the study provide English language instructors at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan with a brighter understanding of grammatical problems in writings in particular the types of grammatical errors performed. The findings of this study will be extremely helpful in hinting the instructors on the effectiveness of the lessons conducted, as well as what to focus on in order to reduce the grammatical problems occurred.