One of the key aspects of writing a well-connected essay is learners' ability to employ cohesive devices: this study aims to investigate how Grade 12 English First Additional Language (EFAL) learners in the Malamulele South circuit use grammatical references to enhance cohesion in their English essays. We employed a qualitative approach and collected data through document analysis. We found that these Grade 12 EFAL learners use all types of grammatical references, such as personal, demonstrative, comparative, and definite articles, as cohesive devices in their English essays. However, we also found errors of addition and mismatches in the learners' essays. The implication is that when learners use cohesive devices incorrectly this may hinder their understanding since these devices play a crucial role in helping readers link information across sentences in a text.
M. Khosa, Hlaviso Motlhaka· Journal of education· 0 citations
English writing proficiency is essential for learners of English as a First Additional Language (EFAL) in South Africa. Achieving this requires writers to use precise vocabulary, appropriate expressions and well-structured sentences, which is challenging for most students. The aim of this study is to identify patterns in the use of grammatical cohesion and to highlight the challenges that learners face in achieving coherent writing. The study explored the use of grammatical cohesion among Grade 12 English First Additional Language (EFAL) learners with particular emphasis on students in the Malanulele South Circuit of South Africa. A qualitative approach was adopted to examine the types of grammatical cohesive devices that learners use in their written texts. Data was collected from learners’ essays and analysed using thematic content analysis. The study found that the Grade 12 First Additional Language learners in the Malamulele South Circuit use all types of grammatical references, such as personal, demonstrative, comparative, and definite articles, as cohesive devices in their English essays. However, the study also found errors in addition and mismatches in the learners’ essays. The results indicate that the Grade 12 First Additional Language learners in the Malamulele South circuit relatively use reference as their cohesive device in English essays. Also, most writing challenges are in the application of personal pronouns, which require special attention from teachers and learners. The study recommends that essay-writing lessons be taught alongside cohesive devices. This study contributes to the scholarship on second language writing by providing context-specific insights into the use of grammatical cohesion among students.
M. Khosa, Hlaviso Motlhaka, E. Klu· E-Journal of Humanities, Art...· 0 citations
