First Year University Students’ Perception towards Grammar and Their Mastery in Understanding Basic Grammar

Tias Sil Romansyah; Evi Lestaria

Authors

Tias Sil Romansyah Universitas Muhammadiyah Mahakarya Aceh Author
Evi Lestaria Universitas Muhammadiyah Mahakarya Aceh Author

Keywords:

English grammar, students’ perceptions, language learning, grammar mastery, qualitative research

Abstract

This study explored the first-year university students’ perceptions of grammar, their level of mastery in basic grammar structures, and the factors influencing their learning experiences. This study employed a qualitative research method. All 35 participants were the first-year students in a private university from several programs such as Psychology, Information Technology, Special Education, Management, and Communication. Various data collection techniques were employed: a survey and a semi-structured interview about students’ perception towards grammar, a semi-structured interview about students’ mastery in understanding basic grammar, and a semi-structured interview about students’ learning environment and motivation. Data collection lasted 4 weeks. The data collected from the survey questionnaire were analyzed descriptively. The data from the semi-structured interviews were analyzed using content analysis. The findings revealed that while most students acknowledge the importance of grammar in communication, a significant portion finds it frustrating and difficult to master. The most common challenges include verb tense agreement, the use of conjunctions, and pronoun consistency. Factors such as learning environment, confidence levels, and teaching methods significantly influence students’ grammar acquisition. Many students reported experiencing anxiety when making grammar mistakes, which hindered their willingness to practice.

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