An error analysis on the commonly misspelled words of Grade 7 learners

Abstract

Misspelling of English words has always been one of the problems encountered by teachers in the discipline. As a result, the researcher conducted a study following a mixed-method design in one of the public high schools in Oton that aimed to determine the top 10 commonly misspelled words of Grade 7 learners, reasons of their spelling errors and experiences in spelling English words. The researcher conducted the study with 51 respondents whose descriptive essay was collected. Their essay revealed Top 10 commonly misspelled words: 1) beautiful, 2.5) friendship, and friend, 4) helping, 5) attitude, 6) always, 7) realized, 8) and , 9) very, and 10) their. These errors were caused by lack of focus on spelling rules in the education curriculum that lead insufficient mastery of spelling rules, and confusion of word patterns. Also, the lack of practice in spelling pose problem on the proficiency in spelling. Furthermore, three themes had emerged on their experiences in spelling English words: 1) Experiencing Difficulty in Spelling English Words, 2) Using Learning Resources to Improve Spelling Skills, and 3) Seeking Feedback and Guidance. The respondents' spelling difficulties were caused by unfamiliar words and confusion over spelling patterns. The learners also employed educational tools including games, dictionaries, and books, and seek help from their family members, teachers, and colleagues to help with their spelling. The study recommended to improve spelling proficiency by giving focus on spelling patterns in the curriculum, providing innovation to enhance spelling skills, varied spelling activities and extended practice on spelling.