AN ANALYSIS OF ENGLISH EDUCATION STUDENTS’ CHALLENGES IN GRAMMATICAL KNOWLEDGE AT BATURAJA UNIVERSITY

This study investigates the grammatical learning challenges experienced by students in the English Education Program at Baturaja University. Employing a descriptive quantitative approach supported by qualitative data, the researcher
distributed a 15-item close-ended questionnaire to 48 students from semesters 4 and6 and conducted interviews with six participants. The questionnaire focused on four
categories of challenges: cognitive challenges, psychological factors,environmental constraints, and instructional shortcomings. The results indicated that students generally perceived grammar learning as a low challenge across all
categories, with mean scores ranging from 2.11 to 2.56. However, interview findings revealed deeper challenges, particularly in the areas of psychological factors and instructional shortcomings, which were mentioned by five out of six students. Students reported feeling nervous during grammar tasks, struggling with understanding explanations, and lacking sufficient practice and examples. Thes findings suggest that while students may appear confident in self-repor questionnaires, qualitative data uncovers hidden challenges that affect their grammar learning. The study emphasizes the importance of combining quantitative and qualitative methods to gain a more accurate and holistic understanding of students' learning experiences.

Keywords: grammatical knowledge, grammar challenges, EFL students, English education, Baturaja University