A Case Study of Question Formations of the Saudi EFL Learners at Bisha University

This paper has studied the question formation techniques used by the Saudi students at Bisha University. It addresses the problems faced by the students in forming questions in English. The study has identified that a large number of the students suffer from the lack of proper grammar rules in forming various types of interrogative sentences and also from the intense mother tongue interferences. The research has attempted to discover the degree of the students’ difficultness/difficulties in forming questions and analyses the various types of their problems. The paper has also correlated the problems in the area, and the syllabus, the materials, tasks, and methodology prescribed. To achieve this objective, a questionnaire based survey has been used as a research tool to obtain data from both the girls’ and boys’ colleges of the University of Bisha. The survey comprised students’ questionnaire and the tests based on Wh- questions and yes-no question formations in English. The survey has identified that most of the students had problems in forming interrogative sentences due to the mother tongue interferences. The study has also highlighted a few major problems, for instances, the syllabus is indifferent to the needs of the students, and not enough emphasis is done specifically on the English question formation aspect of the grammar. The author concluded the study with the hope that the educationalists and other stakeholders realize that no course is fruitful unless- 1). It is interesting, 2). It effects a progressive change in the ability level of the learners, and 3). It helps the students to use their potentiality to the optimum level.