A Linguistic Investigation of Competency in Tense Categories among Omani EFL Students

Abstract

This study investigates the competency levels in tense categories among Omani EFL students at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences-Salalah. The sample included 120 students: 30 students from each level, covering the four levels of the General Foundation Program (GFP). A quantitative research approach was employed, whereby descriptive statistics and t-tests were carried out. It was revealed that the level of competency for levels one and two in tense categories is low. The t-value for the total score of level one is (6.83, P< 0.05) with a real mean (5.96) which is significant at a level of 0.05. As for students in level two, they have a total score (3.27, P< 0.05) with a real mean (7.40) which is significant at a level of 0.5. On the other hand, the level of competency for level three students is at a moderate point. The t-value for the total score (0.45, P >0.01) is not significant compared to the real mean (8.80). Unlike all other foundation (GFP) levels, level four students obtained the highest level of competency in tense categories with a t-value (4.96, P< 0.05) which is significant at the level of 0.5, and the real mean (12.03) is higher than the assumed mean (9). Furthermore, the t-test values are not significant (P >0.05), thereby confirming that no significant difference exists in precision in the level of competency in tense categories among male and female students. Finally, the future tense category proved to be the most challenging one.