In greater details, Chapter I reviews he theoretical backgrounds to Linglish article system, error and error analysis in second language learning, Chapter 2 describes the methods used to
Methods of the study 3 6 Significance of the stuy in neo 13 7 Design of the study 3
In order to complete the paper, the main rescarch methods employed are
- Slatistical methods are used Lo find out and classify the learners’ errors
- Descriptive methods are used lo describe the acluat errors commilled hy the learners
This study will benefit both educators and students by improving teaching quality and addressing students’ errors in using English articles The findings will serve as a foundation for developing effective solutions to common language mistakes, enhancing language learning outcomes Additionally, the study aims to contribute to the field of teaching methodology, offering valuable insights for educators to refine their instructional strategies.
This research study is structured into three main parts Part A offers an introduction to the research topic and an overview of the paper’s objectives Part B comprises three chapters: the Literature Review, Research Methodology, and Data Analysis and Discussion The Literature Review (Chapter 1) explores the theoretical foundations of the Linglish article system, error types, and error analysis in second language learning Chapter 2 details the research methods employed and provides an overview of the study’s context at Hung Yon Industrial College Chapter 3 presents data collection, analysis, and discussion of errors made by students, along with proposed solutions to improve English article teaching The section also offers recommendations for enhancing English language instruction Part C summarizes key findings, discusses research limitations, and suggests directions for future research The document concludes with references and an appendix.
1.1 Am overview of English article system
Mastering English articles is a significant challenge for non-native speakers, as misuse of articles often indicates a lack of fluency Proper understanding of the English article system is essential for effective communication and demonstrating grammatical proficiency This article provides an overview of the English article system, highlighting its rules and common pitfalls.
Determiners are an important subset of adjectives in English, serving to specify which noun is being discussed This category includes articles such as "a," "an," and "the," as well as possessive words like "my," "your," and "their." Demonstratives like "this" and "that" also function as determiners, along with numerals such as "three" and "first." Additionally, quantifiers like "some" and "many" are part of the determiner category, helping to provide clear context and specificity to nouns.
Determiners are words that are used with nouns to limit or specify their meaning, making the reference clearer According to Richards and Schmidt (2002), a determiner is a word that limits the meaning of a noun in some way, with the most common type in English being the article Alexander (1998) further explains that articles are a specific type of determiner that affect the meaning of a noun by indicating which particular thing is being referred to, thereby enhancing clarity.
English articles are classified into two main types: the definite article "the" and the indefinite articles "a/an," as outlined by Thomson and Martinet (1986) Quirk and Greenbaum (1987) expand this classification to include the zero article "@" (null marker), which Yolsukura (1970) was the first to propose adding as a distinct category Therefore, English articles consist of "a/an," the zero article "@" (null marker), and "the." Singular count nouns typically use "a" or the zero article as indefinite articles, while plural and non-count nouns generally take "as" (presumably "the") as the definite marker All noun categories are associated with "the" as the definite article This classification system is summarized in a comprehensive table for clarity.
In order to complete the paper, the main rescarch methods employed are
- Slatistical methods are used Lo find out and classify the learners’ errors
- Descriptive methods are used lo describe the acluat errors commilled hy the learners
This study aims to enhance teaching quality for educators and provide meaningful benefits to students learning English It will serve as a foundation for identifying and addressing students' common errors in using English articles Additionally, the research makes a valuable contribution to the field of teaching methodology, offering insights for effective language instruction.
This research study is divided into three main parts Part A offers an introduction to the research topic and an overview of the paper’s structure Part B encompasses three chapters: Chapter 1 reviews theoretical backgrounds related to the Linglish article system, error analysis, and second language learning; Chapter 2 details the research methodology and provides context for the study; Chapter 3 analyzes the collected data, discusses student errors at Hung Yon Industrial College, and offers potential solutions to improve English article learning Additionally, suggestions for enhancing teaching and learning are included Part C summarizes the key findings, discusses research limitations, and proposes directions for future studies The paper concludes with references and an appendix, providing comprehensive insights into the study.
Table 1: Summary of English articles
According to Whitman (1974), the common practice of categorizing articles simply as "the" for definite and "a" or "an" for indefinite is a misconception He clarifies that understanding articles involves more nuanced usage beyond these basic labels, emphasizing the importance of context in proper article application for clearer communication.
The common misconception is that "a/an" and "the" are simply different forms of the same article, differing only in terms of definiteness or specificity However, "a/an" and "the" are actually entirely distinct syntactic entities with different functions within sentences While both articles appear within similar grammatical structures, they are unrelated in form and usage beyond their presence in the same lexical environment.
For consistency with other grammarians and textbooks, the terms "indefinite" and "definite" articles will be maintained For example, in the sentence “I have a book you may be interested in,” the indefinite article "a" indicates that the book is not specifically known to the listener, despite referring to a particular book.
“The definite article #e never varies in form whether it refers to people or things, singular or plural” (Alexander, 1998:55)
(1) a, Annis in the garden, (the garden of this house) b Please pass the wine (he wine on the table)
According to Halliday and [lasan,
The detinite article has no content It merely indicates that the item in question is specific and idenlifiable; (hal somewhere the information necessary for identifying it is recoverable (1976.71)
Learning the English article system poses significant challenges for students whose first language is Vietnamese, as they find it difficult to acquire due to the absence of articles in Vietnamese This difficulty is primarily caused by the lack of an independent grammatical category for articles in Vietnamese, making it hard for learners to understand and correctly use English articles While these challenges are common for learners of article-based languages, identifying which specific parts of the English article system are most difficult for Vietnamese students remains an important area for targeted instruction and learning strategies.
This study is cauried out with the aims
This study aims to identify the common types of errors made by students when using English articles It also seeks to understand the underlying causes of these errors among students at I Tung Yen Industrial College By analyzing students' mistakes, the research provides insights into specific challenges faced in mastering English articles Understanding these causes can help in developing effective teaching strategies to improve students' article usage Overall, the findings contribute to enhancing English language instruction and reducing article errors among college students.
* To work oul possible solutions lo the problems identified
In order to achieve the above mentioned aims, the study will be conducted to answer the three following research questions:
1) What arc the common lypes of arlicle errors made by firsl-ycar students al
2) What are the possible causes of the crrors the sludents make in the use of English articles?
3) What are the recommendations for the teachers to teach English articles effectively?
This research investigates common errors in the use of English articles among first-year students at Tung Yen Industrial College The study focuses on 90 general L2 learners to identify typical mistakes and improve their writing skills The findings aim to provide valuable insights for enhancing English language instruction and helping students achieve better writing accuracy.
1.3.3.3, Stages in error anab 1.4, Causes of errors in second language leaming
1ALL Causes of interlingual errors
1.42 Canses of intralingual and developmental errors
CHAPTER 3: FINDINGS, DISCUSSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
3.1.1 General evaluation of the students’ performance
2 Limitations and suggestions for further study
Table 1: Summary of English articles
Whitman (1974) emphasizes that misunderstandings often arise from misconceptions about grammatical articles, such as confusing "a" as the indefinite article and "the" as the definite article He clarifies that these articles serve distinct functions in language and should not be seen as interchangeable Recognizing the proper usage of "a" and "the" is essential for clear and accurate communication.
LITERATURE REVIEW 1.1, An overview of Biglish arlicle syskeld các se, we 1.1.1 Dofinitions of English artiele se wa 1.1.2 Types of Linglish articles ecscsnssnsnsesesnsneenee " 1.1.2.4 Definite article we 1.1.2.2, Indefinite articles 6 1.1.2.3, Zero article 1.1.3 Usage of English articles
The notions of errors in language learning 12 1.3.2 Classificatioius OŸ GHOS ào ninh no „13 1.3.3 Error analysis
1.3.3.3, Stages in error anab 1.4, Causes of errors in second language leaming
1ALL Causes of interlingual errors
1.42 Canses of intralingual and developmental errors
CHAPTER 3: FINDINGS, DISCUSSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
3.1.1 General evaluation of the students’ performance
2 Limitations and suggestions for further study
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ANT SYMBOLS iv
6 Significance of the stuy in neo 13
1.1, An overview of Biglish arlicle syskeld các se, we 1.1.1 Dofinitions of English artiele se wa 1.1.2 Types of Linglish articles ecscsnssnsnsesesnsneenee "
1.2 The determiners in Vietnamese language 10
13.1 The notions of errors in language learning 12 1.3.2 Classificatioius OŸ GHOS ào ninh no „13
The English article system is particularly challenging for Vietnamese students, as their first language lacks an independent grammatical category for articles, making it difficult for learners to grasp their correct usage These errors often stem from the absence of articles in Vietnamese, leaving learners without a clear reference point While this difficulty is common among speakers of article-less languages, identifying the specific parts of the English article system that pose the greatest challenges to Vietnamese learners remains an important area for further study in language education.
This study is cauried out with the aims
This study aims to identify the common errors made by students at Tung Yen Industrial College when using English articles It investigates the underlying causes of these mistakes to improve students’ understanding and application of English articles By analyzing these errors, we can develop targeted teaching strategies that address students' specific difficulties, ultimately enhancing their overall proficiency in English Understanding the reasons behind these errors is essential for effective language instruction and for helping students use English articles more accurately and confidently.
* To work oul possible solutions lo the problems identified
In order to achieve the above mentioned aims, the study will be conducted to answer the three following research questions:
1) What arc the common lypes of arlicle errors made by firsl-ycar students al
2) What are the possible causes of the crrors the sludents make in the use of English articles?
3) What are the recommendations for the teachers to teach English articles effectively?
This research focuses on the common errors in the use of English articles in the writing of first-year students at Tung Yen Industrial College The study examines 90 general learners to identify patterns and frequent mistakes The findings aim to improve students' understanding and application of proper article usage, enhancing their overall writing skills By analyzing these errors, the research seeks to provide effective teaching strategies to reduce mistakes and foster better language proficiency among beginner learners.
In order to complete the paper, the main rescarch methods employed are
- Slatistical methods are used Lo find out and classify the learners’ errors
- Descriptive methods are used lo describe the acluat errors commilled hy the learners
This study will enhance teaching quality for educators and benefit students by providing valuable insights Its findings will serve as a foundation for developing effective solutions to students’ errors in using English articles Additionally, the research will contribute to the field of teaching methodology, promoting improved instructional strategies in language education.
This study is organized into three main parts: Part A offers an introduction to the issue and an overview of the paper, while Part B consists of three chapters—literature review, research methodology, and data analysis and discussion The literature review (Chapter 1) examines the theoretical background of the Linglish article system, errors, and error analysis in second language learning, providing essential context for the research Chapter 2 details the research methods used, including an overview of the study's setting at Hung Yon Industrial College and the approaches employed to gather data In Chapter 3, the collected data is analyzed and discussed, identifying common student errors and proposing solutions to improve English article instruction The study also offers suggestions for enhancing teaching and learning of the English article system Part C summarizes key findings, discusses research limitations, and recommends directions for future research The paper concludes with references and an appendix, supporting the overall research framework.
The English article system is one of the most challenging aspects of Linglish grammar for ESL students, as incorrect use can negatively impact communication Master (2002) identifies three main reasons for this difficulty: first, the frequent use of English articles like "the," "a," and "zero" makes rule application complex over extended discourse; second, function words often carry stress and are spoken quickly, making them hard for non-native speakers to hear and understand in spoken language; third, the article system combines multiple functions into a single morpheme, placing a significant burden on learners who seek a clear link between form and meaning, especially during early language acquisition.
Function words, such as articles, are often omitted in telegraphic speech like telegrams and headlines because they carry minimal informational content Learners tend to overlook function words when processing language primarily for meaning, focusing more on content words According to Pienemann (1998), understanding the meaning of articles depends on the novelty and abstractness of the concept they represent, which can impact language comprehension Additionally, learners’ evolving hypotheses about article usage at different stages of interlanguage development and the influence of their native language can further complicate the correct application of articles.
The motivation for my research stems from prior findings by researchers like Newman (1977, cited in Master, 1988) and Barry Lush (2002), who analyzed EFL learners' common error patterns Their studies revealed that among various error types, errors related to the use of definite and indefinite articles are the most prevalent, highlighting a significant area for language learning improvement.
The English article system is one of the most challenging aspects of Linglish grammar for ESL students due to its frequent use and the potential negative impact of incorrect application on communication Master (2002) explains that this difficulty arises from three main factors: first, English articles such as "the," "a," and "an" are among the most commonly used words, making consistent rule application challenging over extended discourse; second, these function words are often spoken with weak stress, rendering them inaudible and hard for non-native speakers to recognize, which affects their input understanding in spoken language; and third, the article system combines multiple functions into a single morpheme, creating a significant cognitive load for learners who seek a clear one-to-one correspondence between form and function, especially during early stages of language acquisition.
Function words, such as articles, are often omitted in telegraphic speech, telegrams, and newspaper headlines due to their limited informational content Learners tend to overlook these words when processing language primarily for meaning, focusing more on content words According to Pienemann (1998), the difficulty in understanding the meaning of articles depends on their novelty and abstractness, which varies throughout interlanguage development Additionally, learners' evolving hypotheses about article usage and the influence of their native language can further complicate mastering the correct application of articles.
The motivation for conducting my research stems from prior studies by researchers like Newman (1977, cited in Master, 1988) and Barry Lush (2002), who analyzed EFL learners' common errors These studies revealed that among various error types, mistakes related to definite and indefinite articles are the most prevalent.
1.3.3.3, Stages in error anab 1.4, Causes of errors in second language leaming
1ALL Causes of interlingual errors
1.42 Canses of intralingual and developmental errors
CHAPTER 3: FINDINGS, DISCUSSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
3.1.1 General evaluation of the students’ performance
2 Limitations and suggestions for further study
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ANT SYMBOLS iv
6 Significance of the stuy in neo 13
1.1, An overview of Biglish arlicle syskeld các se, we 1.1.1 Dofinitions of English artiele se wa 1.1.2 Types of Linglish articles ecscsnssnsnsesesnsneenee "
1.2 The determiners in Vietnamese language 10
13.1 The notions of errors in language learning 12 1.3.2 Classificatioius OŸ GHOS ào ninh no „13
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ANT SYMBOLS iv
6 Significance of the stuy in neo 13
1.1, An overview of Biglish arlicle syskeld các se, we 1.1.1 Dofinitions of English artiele se wa 1.1.2 Types of Linglish articles ecscsnssnsnsesesnsneenee "
1.2 The determiners in Vietnamese language 10
13.1 The notions of errors in language learning 12 1.3.2 Classificatioius OŸ GHOS ào ninh no „13
In order to complete the paper, the main rescarch methods employed are
- Slatistical methods are used Lo find out and classify the learners’ errors
- Descriptive methods are used lo describe the acluat errors commilled hy the learners
This study will benefit both educators and students by improving teaching quality and addressing students’ errors in using English articles The findings will provide a solid foundation for developing effective solutions to common language mistakes Additionally, the research will contribute valuable insights to the field of teaching methodology, enhancing instructional strategies and fostering better language learning outcomes.
This study is organized into three main parts Part A introduces the research topic and provides an overview of the paper Part B comprises three chapters: Chapter 1 reviews the theoretical background of Linglish article system, errors, and error analysis in second language learning; Chapter 2 discusses the research methodology and the study's context; and Chapter 3 presents data analysis, discusses findings, and offers solutions to common errors made by students at Hung Yon Industrial College, along with suggestions for improving English teaching and learning Finally, Part C summarizes key findings, discusses research limitations, and provides recommendations for future studies The paper concludes with references and an appendix.
1.3.3.3, Stages in error anab 1.4, Causes of errors in second language leaming
1ALL Causes of interlingual errors
1.42 Canses of intralingual and developmental errors
CHAPTER 3: FINDINGS, DISCUSSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
3.1.1 General evaluation of the students’ performance
2 Limitations and suggestions for further study
Table 1: Summary of English articles
According to Whitman (1974), thinking about articles solely in terms of "a" as the indefinite article and "she" as the definite article is a misconception He emphasizes that understanding the true function of articles is essential for proper language comprehension and usage.
Many people mistakenly believe that "a/an" and "the" are interchangeable articles that mainly differ in terms of "definiteness" or "specificity." However, these two articles are fundamentally distinct syntactic entities and are not directly related Although they both appear within similar grammatical structures, "a/an" and "the" serve different functions in English syntax, highlighting their unique roles beyond just a matter of specificity.