Sharifah Nor Puteh, Rashidah Rahamat & Aidah

Abdul Karim

The problems:*the struggle to write, lack of

ideas, cannot think of anything interesting or significant to write are some of the situations faced by low proficiency students

The MethodologySmall surveyThe respondents:29 four

students of a daily secondary school in Malaysia

• The low proficiency students • Majority got D and E for their

English paper in the PMR exam• Adapted questionnaire

DIFFICULTIES DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTEREDENCOUNTERED

SUPPORT SUPPORT PREFEREDPREFERED

SUPPORT PREFERED

1 2 3 4

face-to-face individually with teachers

6.9 44.8 27.6 20.7

An online teacher 41.4 27.6 20.7 10.3

A resource center 3.4 27.6 41.8 27.6

A self-access lab 48.3 13.8 17.2 7.2

A telephone hotline. 27.6 44.8 13.8 13.8

A website 10.3 37.9 31 20.7

A print journal 24.1 27.6 24.1 24.1

An electronic journal 17.2 44.8 24.1 13.8

A web forum on writing 20.7 34.5 31 13.8

WAYS TO IMPROVE WAYS TO IMPROVE WRITINGWRITING

ConclusionConclusionLow achievers have

positive views towards writing in English

Low achievers need face-to-face support, warm, accepting and trusting climate from their English teachers

Teachers need to change their instructions and approaches to help built these low achievers’ confidence in writing