Factors Contributing to Students’ Difficulties in Academic Writing Class: Students’ Perceptions

Abstract

Writing is one of the most difficult skills in learning English as a Second Language (ESL) or Foreign Language (EFL). Many language learners encountered difficulties from the writing process. At the tertiary level, students require to produce Academic Writing in which causes many students struggling even to fail to pass the course. The purpose of this study was to analyzed factors contributing to students’ difficulties in Academic Writing on the students’ perception, English Language Education program, Faculty of Language and Arts, Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana. This study used a qualitative method. All data were analyzed qualitatively. The instrument used were open-ended questionnaires and interview protocol. In this study, all the participants’ answers were coded and analyzed descriptively. The participants were 22 Academic Writing students who were taking Academic Writing class for Repeaters Semester I 2018/2019, English Language Education Program, Faculty of Language and Arts, Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana, Central Java. Questionnaire data were coded and classified by the researcher. The interviews conducted if there were unique statements from the participants. In conducting the interview, data were audio-recorded and transcribed. Those data were analyzed to answer the research questions in this study. Based on the findings, there were two factors cause students’ difficulties in writing academically. The two factors are internal and external. Internal factors consist of self-motivation, self-confidence, lack of knowledge and feeling of under pressure. External factors consist of a teacher’s teaching style, classroom atmosphere, materials, and writing aspects. Besides the factors, students suggested efforts in which could handle their difficulties in writing. I expect this research can help teachers and instructors in developing appropriate teaching in Academic Writing and minimize students' difficulties in Academic Writing.