STUDENTS' CHALLENGES IN USING PASSIVE VOICE IN ESL/EFL WRITING

This study aimed to investigate the difficulties faced by English as a Second Language learners of A/Kallanchiyagama Arafa Muslim M. V (KAMMV) in using passive voice in EFL/ESL students’ written communication. The objective of the study was to identify the difficulties grade 11 students of KAMMV encounter in using passive sentences in their writing, to explore the reasons for finding challenges in the usage of passive voice, to suggest suitable remedies and recommendations to overcome the difficulties in using passive voice in written communication and to improve the ability to use passive sentences in writing. This study focused on passive constructions, written communication, and difficulties faced by the learners in using the passive voice. The study used a mixed methods approach, both quantitative and qualitative. In this study, 35 grade 11 students were selected as the sample population, and two quantitative instruments: a writing test and a questionnaire were used to collect primary data. The findings of the data analysis of the writing test show that a large number of students (82%) had used only active voice in the test, although their writing was perfect. Further, the findings of the data analysis of the questionnaire show that most of the students (34%) like grammar, but they face difficulties in learning passive voice and in using it in their writing. Lack of training is a major reason for finding difficulties in using passive voice in pupils’ writing. This problem can be overcome when grammar is taught inductively and more emphasis is given to the four skills. Moreover, ESL curriculum and activities should be designed based on application of grammar in verbal communication.