Exploring EFL learners' writing difficulties and their attitudes towards reading

Abstract EN

English has become the most prominent means of global communication, and the most important means of acquiring access to the world’s intellectual, cultural and technical resources.

the teaching of EFL aims to enable the learners to master its four skills : listening, reading, speaking, and writing.

writing is one of the main language skills.

it plays an essential role in expressing one’s ideas, opinions and attitudes.

nevertheless, many EFL learners cannot develop their writing skill, and they encounter several difficulties when they write.

the current study aimed at exploring English as a foreign language (EFL) learners’ writing difficulties, and their attitudes towards reading.

the data were collected through a structured questionnaire oriented to a sample of fourth year middle school (4th YMS) learners at Hadri Miloud middle school, Ouled M’hala, Setif, Algeria.

the obtained results revealed that learners’ major difficulties lie mainly in vocabulary, grammar and spelling.

moreover, the results show that the learners have a positive attitude towards reading and consider it as important in improving their writing skill.

these results can be used by EFL teachers to design remedial activities in order to strengthen EFL learners’ weaknesses in writing.