TITLE:
Issues and Difficulties in Essay Writing When Learning Malay as a Second Language
AUTHORS:
Aman Shah Syed Ali, Zamri Mahamod, Mohamed Azlan Mis
KEYWORDS:
Essay Writing, Non-Native Speakers, Primary School, Malay Language
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.10 No.3,
March
16,
2022
ABSTRACT: This study aims to examine the difficulties encountered by non-native
Malay speakers when writing Malay essays in primary school. Eight primary
school teachers who taught Malay Language subjects were chosen to participate
in the study. Participants must have led the Malay Language to level two
students for at least five years. To this end, all study participants were
randomly recruited from eight primary schools in the Semporna area of Sabah. The
schools chosen as research locations have most kids who are not native Malay
speakers (Bajau ethnic). The interview instruments are semi-structured, and the
results are processed using the Atlas.ti 8.24 software (Mac version). The findings indicate that the most challenging Malay
language skill for non-native speakers to learn is essay writing.
Non-native speakers face difficulties with concept production, technical parts
of essay writing, and limited vocabulary proficiency. Several critical points
should be addressed. First, to address the issue of non-native speakers writing
essays. Increasing students’ language proficiency encourages students to think
and produce ideas and improves students’ command of the essay style and
varieties of student essays. The data from this study are critical for students
who are not native speakers of Malay to enhance their teaching and learning
writing of Malay essays.