Exploring factors causing students’ low achievements in writing: the case of second year students of English at Mohamed Kheider university of Biskra

Abstract EN

Although EFL learners have been learning English for many years, they do not achieve an adequate level when they graduate, specifically when they write.

this research work aims to investigate the factors that cause students" low achievements in writing.

it also seeks to show the kind of strategies that may help students to develop their writing proficiency.

in this study we opted for a qualitative research where a semi-structured questionnaire was administered to eleven (N= 11) second year teachers of written expression at the department of English at Biskra university.

the findings revealed that many factors causing students" low achievements in writing include mainly linguistic, personal, psychological factors besides others related to teachers.

the portfolio is among the suggested strategies that proved to be successful.

it enables students to continually improve previously written paragraphs, or papers guided by the teachers‟ feedback; subsequently, developing their reflection and autonomy.