Error-based interlinguistic comparisons as a learner-centred technique of teaching English grammar to Arab students
English is taught as a compulsory subject in general education and some higher education institutions in Sudan. Students are totally dependent on the five to six hours per week of language input provided through formal classroom instruction. Besides limited exposure to the language, there are other factors confounding the teaching and learning of English such as large classes, lack of books, untrained teachers, examination _oriented teaching and learning, and teaching grammarians' grammar. Such factors have contributed to the decline of standards in English to the extent that the pass mark in English has been reduced to 30 percent in the secondary school certificate examination. The students' interlanguage exhibits features indicating heavy reliance on literal translation from Arabic. At least 50% of their errors could be attributed to this interlinguistic transfer, a strategy which is frequently employed due to the lack of the requisite knowledge of the target language. Of all the detrimental factors, the teaching of grammar seems to be the one that is most directly related to the deterioration of the standard in English. It usually takes the form of giving rules, facts and explanations couched in metalinguistic
Mohammed, A. M. M.
LB1603 Secondary Education. High schools ; PB0001 Modern languages ; LB2300 Higher Education ; Memory, Text and Place
Error-based interlinguistic comparisons as a learner-centred technique of teaching English grammar to Arab students. English is taught as a compulsory subject in general education and some higher education institutions in Sudan. Students are totally dependent on the five to six hours per week of language input provided through formal classroom instruction. Besides limited exposure to the language, there are other factors confounding the teaching and learning of English such as large classes, lack of books, untrained teachers, examination _oriented teaching and learning, and teaching grammarians' grammar. Such factors have contributed to the decline of standards in English to the extent that the pass mark in English has been reduced to 30 percent in the secondary school certificate examination. The students' interlanguage exhibits features indicating heavy reliance on literal translation from Arabic. At least 50% of their errors could be attributed to this interlinguistic transfer, a strategy which is frequently employed due to the lack of the requisite knowledge of the target language. Of all the detrimental factors, the teaching of grammar seems to be the one that is most directly related to the deterioration of the standard in English. It usually takes the form of giving rules, facts and explanations couched in metalinguistic
error based comparison learner centred technique teach_english grammar arab_student english teach compulsory subject general education high_education institution sudan students totally dependent hours per week language input provide formal classroom instruction besides limited exposure language factor confound teach_learn english large_class lack book teacher examination oriented teach_learning teach grammarian grammar factor_contribute decline standard_english extent pas mark english reduce percent secondary_school certificate examination student interlanguage exhibit feature indicate heavy reliance literal translation_arabic least error could attribute transfer strategy frequently employ due_lack knowledge target_language detrimental factor teach_grammar seem directly_relate deterioration standard_english usually take_form give rule fact explanation couch metalinguistic