Difficulties in Using Articles among EFL University Students: An Experimental Study

Abstract

Abstract

Starting to learn English articles ‘a/an, the, and the zero article’ is a major challenge for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students. Articles are very common morphemes, and their usage is difficult for EFL learners, and it usually causes even the most advanced non-native speakers of English (NNS) to commit mistakes. Iraqi EFL students have difficulties when using English articles. This may affect negatively their exam scores. The current study conducted in the Department of English, College of Education for Women, University of Baghdad, Iraq. This research highlights Iraqi EFL first-year students’ mistakes and difficulties in using English articles. The study aims to investigate these mistakes and tries to find an appropriate solution for them. To fulfil the aims of this study, the researcher adopted pre and posttests as instruments for collecting data. The data has been analyzed by the statistical program SPSS. This study identifies the difficulties that are encountered when Iraqi EFL students use English articles.