(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT A) (NN study)) (PP (IN of) (NP (JJ English) (NN learning) (NNS problems)))) (VP (VBD was) (VP (VBN carried) (PRT (RP out)) (PP (IN among) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN total)) (PP (IN of) (NP (CD 106) (JJ foreign) (NNS students))))))) (. .)))
A study of English learning problems was carried out among a total of 106 foreign students.
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
A
DET
DT
nsubj:pass
Number=Sing
study
study
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
English
English
ADJ
JJ
compound
Number=Sing
learning
learning
NOUN
NN
nmod
Number=Plur
problem
problems
NOUN
NNS
aux:pass
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
be
was
AUX
VBD
root
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass
carry
carried
VERB
VBN
compound:prt
out
out
ADP
RP
case
among
among
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
total
total
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nummod
NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card
106
106
NUM
CD
amod
Degree=Pos
foreign
foreign
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Plur
student
students
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP It)) (VP (VBZ shows) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (JJS most) (NNS students)) (VP (VBD considered) (S (VP (VBG understanding) (NP (VBN spoken) (NNP English)) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB be) (NP (NP (PRP$ their) (JJS biggest) (NN problem)) (PP (IN on) (NP (NN arrival))))))))))))) (. .)))
It shows that most students considered understanding spoken English to be their biggest problem on arrival.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
It
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
show
shows
VERB
VBZ
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
amod
Degree=Sup
most
most
ADJ
JJS
nsubj
Number=Plur
student
students
NOUN
NNS
ccomp
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
consider
considered
VERB
VBD
xcomp
VerbForm=Ger
understand
understanding
VERB
VBG
amod
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
speak
spoken
VERB
VBN
obj
Number=Sing
English
English
PROPN
NNP
mark
to
to
PART
TO
cop
VerbForm=Inf
be
be
AUX
VB
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
their
their
PRON
PRP$
amod
Degree=Sup
big
biggest
ADJ
JJS
xcomp
Number=Sing
problem
problem
NOUN
NN
case
on
on
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
arrival
arrival
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (DT This)) (VP (VBD was) (VP (VBN followed) (PP (IN by) (NP (VBG speaking))))) (. .)))
This was followed by speaking.
nsubj:pass
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
this
This
PRON
DT
aux:pass
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
be
was
AUX
VBD
root
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass
follow
followed
VERB
VBN
mark
by
by
SCONJ
IN
advcl
VerbForm=Ger
speak
speaking
VERB
VBG
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (NN Writing)) (VP (VBN increased) (PP (IN as) (NP (DT a) (NN problem))) (SBAR (IN as) (S (NP (NNS students)) (VP (VBD discovered) (NP (NP (NP (NNS difficulties)) (PP (IN in) (S (VP (VBG writing) (NP (NNS papers)))))) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT that)) (S (NP (PRP they)) (VP (VBD were) (ADVP (RB now)) (VP (VBN expected) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB hand) (PRT (RP in)))))))))))))) (. .)))
Writing increased as a problem as students discovered difficulties in writing papers that they were now expected to hand in.
root
Number=Sing
write
Writing
NOUN
NN
xcomp
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
increase
increased
VERB
VBN
case
as
as
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
problem
problem
NOUN
NN
mark
as
as
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Number=Plur
student
students
NOUN
NNS
advcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
discover
discovered
VERB
VBD
obj
Number=Plur
difficulty
difficulties
NOUN
NNS
mark
in
in
SCONJ
IN
acl
VerbForm=Ger
write
writing
VERB
VBG
obj
Number=Plur
paper
papers
NOUN
NNS
obj
PronType=Rel
that
that
PRON
WDT
nsubj:pass
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
they
PRON
PRP
aux:pass
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
be
were
AUX
VBD
advmod
now
now
ADV
RB
acl:relcl
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass
expect
expected
VERB
VBN
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
hand
hand
VERB
VB
case
in
in
ADP
RP
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (NN Reading)) (VP (VBD remained) (PP (IN as) (NP (DT a) (JJ big) (NN problem)))) (. .)))
Reading remained as a big problem.
nsubj
Number=Sing
reading
Reading
NOUN
NN
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
remain
remained
VERB
VBD
case
as
as
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
big
big
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
problem
problem
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (NN Information)) (VP (VBN gained))) (VP (VBD helped) (NP (PRP us)) (PP (IN in) (S (VP (VBG determining) (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB where)) (S (NP (JJ special) (NN attention)) (VP (MD should) (VP (VB be) (VP (VBN paid) (PP (IN in) (NP (PRP$ our) (NN course)))))))))))) (. .)))
Information gained helped us in determining where special attention should be paid in our course.
nsubj
Number=Sing
information
Information
NOUN
NN
acl
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
gain
gained
VERB
VBN
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
help
helped
VERB
VBD
obj
Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
us
PRON
PRP
mark
in
in
SCONJ
IN
advcl
VerbForm=Ger
determine
determining
VERB
VBG
advmod
PronType=Int
where
where
ADV
WRB
amod
Degree=Pos
special
special
ADJ
JJ
nsubj:pass
Number=Sing
attention
attention
NOUN
NN
aux
VerbForm=Fin
should
should
AUX
MD
aux:pass
VerbForm=Inf
be
be
AUX
VB
ccomp
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass
pay
paid
VERB
VBN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
our
our
PRON
PRP$
obl
Number=Sing
course
course
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (SBAR (IN Although) (S (NP (JJ many) (NNS students)) (VP (VBP have) (VP (VBN chosen) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB join) (NP (DT the) (NN course)) (PP (IN with) (NP (DT a) (JJ reasonable) (NN motivation)))))))))) (, ,) (NP (PRP we)) (VP (VBD considered) (S (NP (NP (PRP it))) (ADJP (JJ important)) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB note) (SBAR (WHNP (WP what)) (S (VP (VBD seemed) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB encourage) (NP (NN interest))))))))))))) (. .)))
Although many students have chosen to join the course with a reasonable motivation, we considered it important to note what seemed to encourage interest.
mark
although
Although
SCONJ
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
many
many
ADJ
JJ
nsubj
Number=Plur
student
students
NOUN
NNS
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
have
have
AUX
VBP
advcl
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
choose
chosen
VERB
VBN
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
join
join
VERB
VB
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
course
course
NOUN
NN
case
with
with
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
reasonable
reasonable
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
motivation
motivation
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
we
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
consider
considered
VERB
VBD
expl
Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
xcomp
Degree=Pos
important
important
ADJ
JJ
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
note
note
VERB
VB
obj
PronType=Rel
what
what
PRON
WP
acl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
seem
seemed
VERB
VBD
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
encourage
encourage
VERB
VB
obj
Number=Sing
interest
interest
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (QP (RB Nearly) (PDT all)) (DT the) (NNS students)) (VP (VBP have) (VP (VBN experienced) (NP (NP (DT some) (NN kind)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (JJ grammar-based) (JJ English) (NN teaching)) (PP (IN in) (NP (PRP$ their) (JJ own) (NN country)))))))) (. .)))
Nearly all the students have experienced some kind of grammar-based English teaching in their own country.
advmod
nearly
Nearly
ADV
RB
det:predet
all
all
DET
PDT
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Plur
student
students
NOUN
NNS
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
have
have
AUX
VBP
root
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
experience
experienced
VERB
VBN
det
some
some
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
kind
kind
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
grammar-based
grammar-based
ADJ
JJ
amod
Degree=Pos
English
English
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Sing
teaching
teaching
NOUN
NN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
their
their
PRON
PRP$
amod
Degree=Pos
own
own
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Sing
country
country
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (S (VP (TO To) (VP (VB use) (NP (DT the) (JJ same) (NN method))))) (VP (MD would) (VP (VB be) (ADJP (JJ self-defeating)) (SBAR (IN because) (S (NP (PRP it)) (VP (MD might) (VP (VB reduce) (NP (NN motivation)) (, ,) (SBAR (ADVP (RB especially)) (IN if) (S (NP (PRP it)) (VP (VBZ has) (VP (VBN failed) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT the) (NN past))))))))))))) (. .)))
To use the same method would be self-defeating because it might reduce motivation, especially if it has failed in the past.
mark
to
To
PART
TO
csubj
VerbForm=Inf
use
use
VERB
VB
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
same
same
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
method
method
NOUN
NN
aux
VerbForm=Fin
would
would
AUX
MD
cop
VerbForm=Inf
be
be
AUX
VB
root
Degree=Pos
self-defeating
self-defeating
ADJ
JJ
mark
because
because
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
aux
VerbForm=Fin
might
might
AUX
MD
advcl
VerbForm=Inf
reduce
reduce
VERB
VB
obj
Number=Sing
motivation
motivation
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
advmod
especially
especially
ADV
RB
mark
if
if
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
have
has
AUX
VBZ
advcl
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
fail
failed
VERB
VBN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
past
past
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (ADVP (RB Therefore)) (NP (DT a) (JJ different) (NN method)) (VP (MD may) (VP (VB help) (SBAR (IN because) (S (NP (PRP it)) (VP (VBZ is) (ADJP (JJ different))))))) (. .)))
Therefore a different method may help because it is different.
advmod
therefore
Therefore
ADV
RB
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
different
different
ADJ
JJ
nsubj
Number=Sing
method
method
NOUN
NN
aux
VerbForm=Fin
may
may
AUX
MD
root
VerbForm=Inf
help
help
VERB
VB
mark
because
because
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
advcl
Degree=Pos
different
different
ADJ
JJ
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (NN Variety)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN activity)))) (VP (VBD was) (ADVP (RB also)) (VP (VBN seen) (PP (IN as) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN way)) (PP (IN of) (S (VP (VBG maintaining) (CC or) (VBG increasing) (NP (NN motivation))))))))) (. .)))
Variety of activity was also seen as a way of maintaining or increasing motivation.
nsubj:pass
Number=Sing
variety
Variety
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
activity
activity
NOUN
NN
aux:pass
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
be
was
AUX
VBD
advmod
also
also
ADV
RB
root
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass
see
seen
VERB
VBN
case
as
as
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
way
way
NOUN
NN
mark
of
of
SCONJ
IN
acl
VerbForm=Ger
maintain
maintaining
VERB
VBG
cc
or
or
CCONJ
CC
amod
VerbForm=Ger
increase
increasing
VERB
VBG
obj
Number=Sing
motivation
motivation
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (S (ADVP (NP (JJ Several) (NNS years)) (RB ago)) (NP (PRP we)) (VP (VBD had) (NP (NP (CD one) (NN timetable)) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT that)) (S (VP (VBD operated) (PP (IN throughout)))))))) (, ,) (CC but) (S (NP (PRP we)) (ADVP (RB soon)) (VP (VBD found) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (CC both) (NP (DT the) (NNS students)) (CC and) (NP (DT the) (NNS teachers))) (VP (VBD lost) (NP (NN interest)) (PP (ADVP (RB about) (RB halfway)) (IN through) (NP (DT the) (CD ten) (NNS weeks)))))))) (. .)))
Several years ago we had one timetable that operated throughout, but we soon found that both the students and the teachers lost interest about halfway through the ten weeks.
amod
Degree=Pos
several
Several
ADJ
JJ
obl:npmod
Number=Plur
year
years
NOUN
NNS
advmod
ago
ago
ADV
RB
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
we
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
have
had
VERB
VBD
nummod
NumForm=Word|NumType=Card
one
one
NUM
CD
obj
Number=Sing
timetable
timetable
NOUN
NN
nsubj
PronType=Rel
that
that
PRON
WDT
acl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
operate
operated
VERB
VBD
obl
throughout
throughout
ADP
IN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
but
but
CCONJ
CC
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
we
PRON
PRP
advmod
Degree=Pos
soon
soon
ADV
RB
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
find
found
VERB
VBD
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
cc:preconj
both
both
CCONJ
CC
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Plur
student
students
NOUN
NNS
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
conj
Number=Plur
teacher
teachers
NOUN
NNS
ccomp
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
lose
lost
VERB
VBD
obj
Number=Sing
interest
interest
NOUN
NN
advmod
about
about
ADV
RB
advmod
halfway
halfway
ADV
RB
case
through
through
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nummod
NumForm=Word|NumType=Card
ten
ten
NUM
CD
obl
Number=Plur
week
weeks
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (S (NP (DT This)) (VP (VBD led) (NP (PRP us)) (PP (IN to) (NP (DT a) (JJ major) (NN re-think))))) (, ,) (RB so) (S (PP (IN in) (NP (DT the) (NN end))) (NP (PRP we)) (VP (VBD brought) (NP (PRP it)) (PP (IN into) (NP (NP (NN line)) (PP (IN with) (NP (NP (DT the) (VBN expressed) (NN language) (NNS needs)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT the) (NNS students))))))))) (. .)))
This led us to a major re-think, so in the end we brought it into line with the expressed language needs of the students.
nsubj
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
this
This
PRON
DT
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
lead
led
VERB
VBD
obj
Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
us
PRON
PRP
case
to
to
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
major
major
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
re-think
re-think
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
advmod
so
so
ADV
RB
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
end
end
NOUN
NN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
we
PRON
PRP
parataxis
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
bring
brought
VERB
VBD
obj
Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
case
into
into
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Sing
line
line
NOUN
NN
case
with
with
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
express
expressed
VERB
VBN
compound
Number=Sing
language
language
NOUN
NN
nmod
Number=Plur
need
needs
NOUN
NNS
case
of
of
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nmod
Number=Plur
student
students
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
A study of English learning problems was carried out among a total of 106 foreign students. It shows that most students considered understanding spoken English to be their biggest problem on arrival. This was followed by speaking. Writing increased as a problem as students discovered difficulties in writing papers that they were now expected to hand in. Reading remained as a big problem.  Information gained helped us in determining where special attention should be paid in our course. Although many students have chosen to join the course with a reasonable motivation, we considered it important to note what seemed to encourage interest. Nearly all the students have experienced some kind of grammar-based English teaching in their own country. To use the same method would be self-defeating because it might reduce motivation, especially if it has failed in the past. Therefore a different method may help because it is different.  Variety of activity was also seen as a way of maintaining or increasing motivation. Several years ago we had one timetable that operated throughout, but we soon found that both the students and the teachers lost interest about halfway through the ten weeks. This led us to a major re-think, so in the end we brought it into line with the expressed language needs of the students.