Investigating Jordanian EFL Students’ Spelling Errors at Tertiary Level

Abstract

This paper presented a study in which the researchers examined spelling mistakes made by 43 Learners of English in a written composition. They analyzed a total of 228 spelling errors that occurred in 43 written papers and subsequently classified them into four types: (a) Insertion (b) Substitution (c) Omission (d) Transposition, they also determined the kinds and frequencies of errors that can occur. In addition, the researchers interviewed teachers to choose a suitable topic that students can write about it. Results indicate that most of the spelling errors are substitution and omission errors. Moreover, students have a problem in using actual words in their writing. The researchers suggest strategies, which support teachers to help their students to be good at spelling, such as doing more practices in spelling to get a better understanding of spelling.