Abstract
Students in higher learning institutions need to write lots of reports based on the projects done. Since they are at the tertiary level of education, they are required to use English in their reports. This is to ensure that they are able to function well in English later at the workplace. Writing requires students to apply rules regarding sentence structures, grammar and also its mechanic that refers to punctuation and capitalization. However, many of the students have problems in applying these rules in their writing even though they have been learning English for about 12 years in school. This is a case study on BEL 311, semester 3 students at one local higher learning institution that comprises ‘Bumiputra’ (a Malay term widely used in Malaysia, embracing ethnic Malays, Javanese, Bugis, Minang and other indigenous ethnic groups such as the Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia and the tribal peoples in Sabah and Sarawak) students regarding their problems with subject-verb agreement in their writing. These students are required to write a term paper that worths 30% out of their 100% total score. They are taking their BEL 311, English for Academic Purposes –an undergraduate diploma course. The researcher gathered information for this study through her observation, interview and written assignment given to students. The findings from the study are of significant important since this will help the lecturers to further enhance their teaching methods and find ways to help students improve their writing and avoid making errors in subject-verb agreement as possible.
Highlights
“I always have lots of errors in my writing
The samples involved in this study are the L2 learners of English since they use Bahasa Malaysia as their L1
In order to get information needed for the study, the researcher who is the lecturer at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) interviewed some students randomly in her class regarding their problems in using the subject-verb agreement in their writing
Summary
“I always have lots of errors in my writing. I am not confident with my English.”. I don’t have this kind of rule in Bahasa Malaysia (the Malay Language spoken in Malaysia).”. These are some of the statements and complaints received from my students. A plural subject takes a plural verb This rule applies greatly in Simple Present Tense. In Simple Past Tense, only the verbs ‘was’ and ‘were’ need to be considered. This is the general rule for subject-verb agreement. I noticed that my students have mistakes in these both general and sub-rules of subject-verb agreement in their writing. The researcher tried to investigate the difficulties in the use of subject-verb agreement in their writing and to determine remedial actions that need to be taken in order to overcome their difficulties in using subject-verb agreement correctly in their written performance
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