Issues and Challenges in Learning Writing Skills in English of the Students of Government High Schools in Dehradun Urban Uttarakhand An Analytical Study

Abstract

Command of written English is an essential skill students need to acquire during their schooling. Ability to express oneself in proper written English is a necessary foundation for pursuing their higher education and exploring their career newlineopportunities. Acquiring the necessary skills in speaking and writing in the global newlinelanguage remains a challenge for students who have had their schooling in the newlinevernacular medium. A strong foundation in the second language plays a crucial newlinerole in making students of Uttarakhand competent enough in English language newlineskills for realizing their career aspirations. newlineUnfortunately, most students graduating from colleges in Uttarakhand, India, lack newlinethe required proficiency in English, throwing a significant challenge in getting newlineemployment and career success. The lack of competence in writing skills among tertiary level students whom the researcher taught for more than two decades prompted him to undertake the present study to find out the root causes at the newlineschool level. newlineThe present analytical study was undertaken to examine the issues and challenges newlinein learning and teaching writing skills in English of the students of the newlineGovernment High Schools of Dehradun (Urban). newlineThe study adopted a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and newlinequalitative approaches in getting the data for the analysis. The study administered newlinean extensive survey among students of classes 9th and 10th from the government newlineschools of Dehradun (Urban) and English teachers working in the same. The study newlinealso conducted an assessment test to understand the present performance levels of newlinestudents in written English and if there were any issues and challenges students newlinewere facing while writing in English. newlineThe present study aimed at a) identifying the issues and challenges faced by the newlinestudents of government schools of Dehradun in improving their writing skills in newlineEnglish, b) analyzing the issues and challenges faced by teachers in teaching newlinewriting skills in English c) examining the objectives of teaching writing skills