Errors in the Acquisition of Romanian as Second Language. A Case Study

Abstract Problem Statement Teaching Romanian as a second language has always been of great interest in the Petroleum Gas University of Ploiesti, as many foreign students are interested in getting a degree mainly in Petroleum Engineering. Coming from various countries of the world, their cultural background is very different, this leading to various problems related to Romanian language acquision. Purpose of Study The purpose of the present study is to analyse the errors made by students coming from Turkmenistan, Bulgaria, Angola and the Ivory Coast who learn Romanian as a second language, that is classifying errors into categories, identifying causes of error production and ways of avoiding making them by using remedial teaching strategies. We will also in view a comparison between the students’ errors taking into account their mother tongue and other specific factors connected with language aquisition. We will focus on written errors revealed by students’ activity during classes, as well as by the progress tests they take during the semester. Research Methods The research methods used by the study consisted in error analysis applying quantitative methods in order to identify the types of errors the students make. Findings Depending on the students’ background, there were identified different types of errors (spelling, discourse coherence, vocabulary, morphology and syntax) and causes of error production (mother tongue, interferenece with English, students’ level of understanding and acquision of Romanian as a second language etc.). Conclusions Such a case study proves to be useful for teachers from different perspectives: they obtain a more rapid and effective feedback, they correct errors progressively, and they can lay emphasis on different categories of errors. At the same time, remedial teaching strategies may be improved once the teachers become aware of the students’ errors.