COSTECH Integrated Repository

Corpus-based Analysis of Academic Writing Errors by First Year Tanzanian University Students: Cases from UDSM, SUA and TUICO

Show simple item record

dc.creator Mapunda, Gastor
dc.creator Mafu, Safari, T.
dc.date 2016-05-06T14:47:07Z
dc.date 2016-05-06T14:47:07Z
dc.date 2014-12
dc.date.accessioned 2018-03-27T08:45:28Z
dc.date.available 2018-03-27T08:45:28Z
dc.identifier 0856-9965
dc.identifier http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/1895
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/1895
dc.description Across three universities in Tanzania first year students have been seen to manifest serious problems in their essay writing. This calls for rethinking as to what kind of content and pedagogical communication skills universities should provide.
dc.description The study looked into errors committed by first year university students in three universities in Tanzania. While errors can be indicative of a developmental stage in the learning of a second language, formal English language learning in Tanzania culminates at the secondary school level and, for some, at the university level. For many at the University level, a related subject is Communication Skills. As such, one would expect students at this level to learn advanced communication skills. Students‘ essays were analyzed, errors identified, and discussed. The findings show that, besides errors in writing skills in terms of the mechanics and logic, there were many other types of errors from improperly learnt structures, language transfer, and unclear expression. It is suggested here that something needs to be done regarding the content of curricula and pedagogical processes both in secondary and tertiary education. Since the errors made were from first year university students, they must have had their origin in secondary and primary schools where the students have come from. We are of the view that, when students come to the university, they should be subjected to screening to identify their communication skills problems so as to expose them to relevant remedial classes.
dc.description self-sponsored
dc.relation Vol. 8;Issue No. 2, pp. 46-65
dc.subject errors
dc.subject language transfer
dc.subject fuzzy expression
dc.subject tertiary education
dc.title Corpus-based Analysis of Academic Writing Errors by First Year Tanzanian University Students: Cases from UDSM, SUA and TUICO
dc.type Journal Article, Peer Reviewed


Files in this item

Files Size Format View

There are no files associated with this item.

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record

Search COSTECH


Advanced Search

Browse

My Account