CHALLENGES IN TEACHING ACADEMIC WRITING TO EFL LEARNERS IN HIGHER EDUCATION CONTEXTS


Abstrak terlihat: 0 / PDF terunduh: 0

Authors

  • Kristian Florensio Wijaya Cita Hati International School, Samarinda, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37147/eltr.v10i1.276

Keywords:

academic writing challenge, EFL learner, library study, thematic analysis, writing

Abstract

It is an indispensable demand for global EFL learners to entrench the comprehensive mastery of exemplary academic writing skills. In concurrence with this underlying principle, second language educators should establish, nurture, and reinforce their learners’ academic writing competencies in the long run to help them achieve fruitful academic success. The researcher conducted this small-scale library study to unravel probable academic writing challenges experienced by EFL learners in higher education contexts. After completing this library investigation, it is hoped that these specifically generated findings will enlighten the perspectives of second language educational stakeholders regarding the crucial need to embed EFL learners with meaningful, innovative, and contextualized academic writing instructional approaches. To fulfill the aforementioned study objective, the researcher capitalized on a thematic analysis method in analyzing particular research results derived from 30 former academic writing challenges in higher education scientific works. With the help of a thematic analysis method, the researcher could yield more comprehensible and applicable findings as each finding was grouped into similar research themes. The thematically-categorized findings revealed some common academic writing hurdles amidst learners’ regular classroom settings, namely linguist, cognitive, strategic, affective, environmental, and pedagogical barriers.    

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abdullah, H., Harun, H., Ab Wahab, N., Suo, Y. J., & Mohd Ali, M. A. (2022). Teaching English for academic purposes through project-based learning method and process writing approach. Jurnal Antarabangsa Bahasa Dan Pendidikan, 1(1), 48–61. https://doi.org/10.33102/alazkiyaa.v1i1.8

Agustina, R., Ramadhan , S., & Mukhaiyar, M. (2023). Analysis of syntaxic errors in Indonesian writing: A literature review. Indonesian Research Journal in Education |IRJE|, 7(2), 362–384. https://doi.org/10.22437/irje.v7i2.29217

Ahmed, P. H. (2019). Major writing challenges experienced by EFL learners in Soran University. Journal of University of Human Development, 5(3), 120-126. https://doi.org/10.21928/juhd.v5n3y2019.pp120-126

Aknouch, L., & Bouthiche, H. (2022). Types and sources of Moroccan EFL students’ errors in writing: A study of error analysis. Arab World English Journal, 13(4), 67-79. https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol13no4.5

Akram, M., Siddiqa, A., Nabi, A. G., Shahzad, W., & Rashid, M. (2020). Essay writing and its problems: A study of ESL students at secondary level. International Journal of English Linguistics, 10(6), 237-244. https://doi.org/10.5539/ijel.v10n6p237

Alasbali, A. A. F., Baharum, H. I., & Zin, Z. M. (2023). Challenges of English academic writing among Saudi Higher education students. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences Journal, 13(9), 1997–2012. https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarbss/v13-i9/18648

Aldabbus, S., & Almansouri, E. (2022). Academic writing difficulties encountered by university EFL learners. British Journal of English Language Linguistics, 10(3), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.37745/bjel.2013/vol10n3111

Al-Hamzi, A. M. S., Nababan, M., Santosa, R., Djatmika, D., Sumarlam, S., & Yustanto, H. (2023). Frequent linguistic errors in the writing of Yemeni EFL Arabic-speaking learners. Studies in English Language and Education, 10(1), 350–368. https://doi.org/10.24815/siele.v10i1.26022

Alharbi, M. A. (2019). EFL university students’ voice on challenges and solution in learning academic writing. Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 8(3), 576–587. https://doi.org/10.17509/ijal.v8i3.15276

Ali, S., & Abdulhaleem, E. (2024). Do they write differently? Exploring gendered linguistic differences in academic writings of Saudi writers. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 15(4), 1331-1338. https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.1504.31

Al-Khulaidi, M. A., & Abdulkhalek, M.M. (2022). Academic writing problems in L2 settings: Realities and need for intervention. Journal of English Studies in Arabia, 1(1), 42–51. https://doi.org/10.56540/jesaf.v1i1.15

Almarwani, M. (2020). Academic writing: Challenges and potential solutions. Arab World English Journal, 7(6), 114–121. https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/call6.8

Aminah, M., Iskandar, I., & Dewanti, R. (2025). Exploring challenges in academic writing: A case study of final-year English education students. International Seminar on Humanity, Education, and Language Journal, 7(1), 319-324. https://doi.org/10.21009/ishel.v1i1.57110

Aziz, F. I. B. A., & Said, S. B. M. (2020). Developing a persuasive writing model for secondary school. Educational Research for Policy and Practice, 19(2), 143–158. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10671-019-09253-6

Azmar, K., & Razali, A. B. (2024). Problems in teaching English academic writing among ESL lecturers at public and private universities in Malaysia. Problems of Education in the 21st Century Journal, 82(4), 434–455. https://doi.org/10.33225/pec/24.82.434

Batubara, S. F., & Fithriani, R. (2023). Exploring EFL stuednts’ challenges in academic writing: The case of Indonesian higher education. Jurnal Onoma: Pendidikan, Bahasa, Dan Sastra, 9(1), 704–709. https://doi.org/10.30605/onoma.v9i1.2605

Bram, B., & Angelina, P. (2022). Indonesian tertiary education students’ academic writing setbacks and solutions. International Journal of Language Education, 6(3), 267–280. https://doi.org/10.26858/ijole.v6i3.22043

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2022). Conceptual and design thinking for thematic analysis. Qualitative Psychology Journal, 9(1), 3–26. https://doi.org/10.1037/qup0000196

Campbell, M. (2019). Teaching academic writing in higher education. Education Quarterly Reviews Journal, 2(3), 608-614.

Chuenchaichon, Y. (2022). The problems of summary writing encountered by Thai EFL students: A case study of the fourth year English major students at Naresuan university. English Language Teaching Journal, 15(6), 15-31. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v15n6p15

Gheyathaldin, L., & Shishakly, R. (2020). Impact of English language proficiency on the academic performance of business students. The Asian ESP Journal, 16(2), 245-272.

Han, Y., Zhao, S., & Ng, L. L. (2021). How technology tools impact writing performance, lexical complexity, and perceived self-regulated learning strategies in EFL academic writing: A comparative study. Frontiers in Psychology Journal, 12(11), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.752793

Hidayati, K. H. (2018). Teaching writing to EFL learners: An investigation of challenges confronted by Indonesian teachers. Journal of the Association for Arabic and English, 4(1), 21-31. https://doi.org/10.31332/lkw.v4i1.772

Ho, U. (2024). Problems with academic writing encountered by EFL postgraduate students at a university in the Mekong Delta. International Journal of Language Instruction, 3(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.54855/ijli.24311

Khadawardi, H. A. (2022). Saudi learners’ perceptions of academic writing challenges and general attitude towards writing in English. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 13(3), 645–658. https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.1303.21

Lama, A., & Suhodolli, M. (2024). Challenges in mastering academic writing: A case study of English language learners at the university for business and technology. Edelweiss Applied Science and Technology Journal, 8(6), 84–99. https://doi.org/10.55214/25768484.v8i6.1707

Lekamge, R., & Rajavarathan, J. (2024). Enhancing academic writing proficiency among English as a second language users at the undergraduate level: A comparative analysis of student-lecturer perspectives and strategies. Research and Education Journal, 10(7), 37–76. https://doi.org/10.56177/red.10.2024.art.4

Lesmana, N., & Ariffin, K. (2020). Problems in writing scholarly articles in English among Indonesian EFL post-graduate students. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 9(4), 12–24. https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarped/v9-i4/8174

Li, C., & Ngai, J. (2018). Challenges and issues in academic writing: Perspectives from peer tutors. Asian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 5(1), 104–116.

Mahmood, K. (2020). Academic writing challenges of EFL learners and teachers’ proficiency in Pakistani higher education. Journal of Research in Social Sciences, 8(2), 56–77.

Mumtaz, S. N. (2021). Academic writing challenges of foreign language learners in Pakistan. Journal of Arts & Social Sciences, 8(2), 97-103. https://doi.org/10.46662/jass.v8i2.181

Mustafa, A., Arbab, A. N., & El Sayed, A. A. (2022). Difficulties in academic writing in English as a second/foreign language from the perspective of undergraduate students in higher education institutions in Oman. Arab World English Journal, 13(3), 41-53. https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol13no3.3

Nenotek, S. A., Tlonaen, Z. A., & Manubulu, H. A. (2022). Exploring university students’ difficulties in writing English academic essay. Jurnal Pendidikan, 14(1), 909–920. https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v14i1.1352

Nowell, L. S., Norris, J. M., White, D. E., & Moules, N. J. (2017). Thematic analysis: Striving to meet the trustworthiness criteria. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 16(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406917733847

Pasaribu, A. N., Pasaribu, T. K., Siahaan, R. B., & Sitompul, D. S. (2024). Challenges for Indonesian EFL students in English academic writing. Journal of English Education, 12(2), 527–536. https://doi.org/10.25134/erjee.v12i2.9780

Paudel, P. (2022). Analysis of Nepalese post graduate students’ errors in writing research proposals. Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 12(2), 486–498. https://doi.org/10.17509/ijal.v12i2.41113

Phyo, W. M., Nikolov, M., & Hódi, Á. (2024). What support do international doctoral students claim they need to improve their academic writing in English?. Elsevier Journal, 12(3), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amper.2023.100161

Rahman, M., & Hasan, M. K. (2019). Academic writing difficulties of Bangladeshi students at a higher institution academic writing difficulties of bangladeshi students at a higher institution in Malaysia. Journal of Research and Multidisciplinary, 2(2), 145–171. https://doi.org/10.5281/jrm.v2i2.19

Ramzan, M., Mushtaq, A., & Ashraf, Z. (2023). Evacuation of difficulties and challenges for academic writing in ESL learning. Journal of Linguistics and Literature, 7(1), 42-49.

Sajjad, I., Sarwat, S., Imran, M., & Shahzad, S. K. (2021). Examining the academic writing challenges faced by university students in KFUEIT. Palarch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egyptology, 18(10), 1759-1777.

Satake, Y. (2020). How error types affect the accuracy of L2 error correction with corpus use. Journal of Second Language Writing, 50(7), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2020.100757

Siddiqui, S., Ahamed, M. M., Chowdhury, G., Mishu, A., & Monira, S. (2023). Teaching writing skills to EFL learners: Issues and concerns. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 14(6), 1541–1550. https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.1406.12

Singh, M. K. M. (2019). Lecturers’ views: Academic English language-related challenges among EFL international master students. Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, 11(2), 295–309. https://doi.org/10.1108/JARHE-07-2018-0117

Surfaifel, F., Emilia, E., & Gunawan, W. (2023). Students’ engagement in virtual creative writing: Developing a creative writing style. Journal of English Education, 11(3), 787–798. https://doi.org/10.25134/erjee.v11i3.8733

Umar, A., Ajmal, M., & Ajmal, F. (2023). Academic writing problems faced by ESL learners in higher education institutions. UW Journal of Social Sciences, 6(1), 59–70.

Wahyuningsih, S. (2018). Challenges and opportunities of teaching academic writing skills: A case study of students at IAIN Kudus. Jurnal Edulingua, 5(1), 15–24. https://doi.org/10.34001/edulingua.v5i1.820

Wei, W., Cheong, C. M., Zhu, X., & Lu, Q. (2024). Comparing self-reflection and peer feedback practices in an academic writing task: A student self-efficacy perspective. Teaching in Higher Education Journal, 29(4), 896-912. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2022.2042242

Wondim, B. M., Bishaw, K. S., & Zeleke, Y. T. (2024). Effectiveness of teachers’ direct and indirect written corrective feedback provision strategies on enhancing students’ writing achievement: Ethiopian university entrants in focus. Heliyon Journal, 10(2), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24279

Yang, L. F., Liu, Y., & Xu, Z. (2022). Examining the effects of self-regulated learning-based teacher feedback on English-as-a-foreign-language learners’ self-regulated writing strategies and writing performance. Frontiers in Psychology Journal, 13(11), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1027266

Zulfiqae, C., Ikramullah, K., & Shagufta, S. (2024). View of exploring Pakistani EFL learners’ perceptions of the impact of extensive and intensive reading approaches on their grammatical competence. Journal of Academic Research for Humanities, 4(3), 263–273.

Downloads

Published

2026-01-30

How to Cite

Wijaya, K. F. . (2026). CHALLENGES IN TEACHING ACADEMIC WRITING TO EFL LEARNERS IN HIGHER EDUCATION CONTEXTS. ELTR Journal, 10(1), 43-57. https://doi.org/10.37147/eltr.v10i1.276

Issue

Section

Articles