An Evaluation of Writing Skills of EFL Learners in Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Abstract

This study attempts to evaluate English as a foreign language (EFL) learners' writing skills using error analysis (EA, hereafter) as a tool for the investigation. EFL is an understudied field in Kurdistan, especially in terms of writing skills and writing errors. The aim of the research is to identify, describe, analyze, and evaluate writing errors, their causes and sources, as well as discussing the role of EFL materials and their relation to EFL writing errors. Therefore, permission was gained to use a Cambridge standard writing test to examine the writing skills of EFL learners from two universities in Kurdistan using informal piloting. Furthermore, the study shows that these particular Kurdish EFL learners have serious problems in writing generally, and have weaknesses leading to errors in grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation - and particularly grammar. Hence, this paper can be a practical ground for EFL teachers, scholars, researchers, and students to understand Kurdish adult learners' writing errors and problems.