A case study into the possible causes of errors made in the formation of English tag questions among learners of Dagoretti mixed secondary school in Nairobi

Abstract

The present case study sets to investigate the possible causes of errors made in the formation of English tag questions among learners of Dagoretti Mixed Secondary School in Nairobi. Census method was used in the collection of data (one class of forty students' written compositions were used). It is normally assumed that most errors are caused by the first language interference. However, this study attempts to explore the other possibilities that could also be responsible for these errors. Selinker's (1969) theory of inter-language that reflects the learners evolving system of rules and results from a variety of processes including language transfer, transfer of training, strategies of second language learning, strategies of second language communication and over generalization is majorly used as the guiding framework. The literature reviewed on the teaching and learning of second or foreign language laid the foundation for the study. The instruments used were the composition production task and oral interview. The errors were categorized and analysed in terms of percentages. The responses from the English teacher who was interviewed were also analysed accordingly .