Evaluating Iraqi EFL College Students' Performance in Using English Prepositions

Abstract

Prepositions are words in language used for compressing meaning into few words. The correct use of preposition constitutes a problematic area in language practice for Iraqi EFL students even advanced ones (Nasir 2001:1).The significance of mastering the use of prepositions requires paying closer attention on the part of teachers of English to this learning area. The problem of mastering English prepositions has three dimensions :form, meaning and use. One of the problems which contributes to misuse of prepositions is that foreign students confuse their meaning by using one preposition instead of another(Fitikdes,2002:83).The significance of study stems from the significance of English prepositions as well as errors analysis study. This study aims at evaluating college students' performance in using prepositions. Since the hypothesis is the basis of a research study, it is hypothesized that most Iraqi EFL college students encounter difficulties in using English prepositions . This study is limited to the evaluation of fourth year students' performance (morning studies )in using English prepositions (place and time )at the college of Basic Education/Diyala University during the academic year (2012-2013) , and since the population of the study is limited, they are all considered as a sample of the current study. A test of 20 items is constructed to achieve the aim of the study ; ten items are designed to evaluate college students' performance in using prepositions of place , and ten items are designed to evaluate college students' performance in using prepositions of time. The test is duly validated by experts to be used for collecting data. The results of the study reveals that the misusing prepositions constitute a serious learning problem . Thus the results reveal that Iraqi EFL college students are not aware of using prepositions correctly due to the lack understanding the relationship of an object to its environment, or its place in a proper phrase. Thus , basic preposition use begs an understanding of what these relationships are.This may be the reason behind the inability of answering correctly. In the light of the results of the study, the researcher has presents a number of suggestions and recommendations.