Research Article
Decoding Challenges: EFL Learners' Struggles in Mastering Passive Voice
@INPROCEEDINGS{10.4108/eai.14-10-2024.2355620, author={Dian Purnama Sari and Moh. Rofid Fikroni}, title={Decoding Challenges: EFL Learners' Struggles in Mastering Passive Voice}, proceedings={Proceedings of the 3rd Annual Conference of Islamic Education, ACIE 2024, 14-15 October 2024, Jember, East Java, Indonesia}, publisher={EAI}, proceedings_a={ACIE}, year={2025}, month={6}, keywords={passive voice efl learners grammatical challenges language acquisition}, doi={10.4108/eai.14-10-2024.2355620} }- Dian Purnama Sari
Moh. Rofid Fikroni
Year: 2025
Decoding Challenges: EFL Learners' Struggles in Mastering Passive Voice
ACIE
EAI
DOI: 10.4108/eai.14-10-2024.2355620
Abstract
This study investigates EFL learners' challenges in mastering the passive voice—a critical grammatical structure that has persistently resulted in low test scores. A qualitative case study was conducted with 20 fourth-semester students from a college in Indonesia. Data were collected through a diagnostic completion test focusing on present and past passive constructions and preliminary interviews. Analysis revealed that students committed 155 errors due to omitting essential auxiliary verbs and incorrect verb forms. Using the Surface Strategy Taxonomy, these errors were categorized as omission (55%), misformation (27%), misordering (13%), and addition (5%). The findings highlight a significant gap in learners' understanding of passive voice structures and underscore the need for targeted instructional strategies. Recommendations include using simplified examples, explicit practice with auxiliary verbs and verb forms, and integrating communicative, task-based activities to reinforce correct syntactic order. This study provides valuable insights for educators and curriculum designers seeking to enhance the teaching and learning of passive voice in EFL contexts.
