Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Kazhaw Barazanja ¹
• Ayad Mahmood ²
• Wirya Ameen ³

¹ English Department, College of Education, University of Garmian, Kurdistan Region – Iraq

² English Department, College of Education for Humanities, University of Diyala, Kurdistan Region - Iraq

³ English Department, College of Education for Humanities, University of Diyala, Kurdistan Region – Iraq

Abstract

A Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) affects a learner's handwriting ability and fine motor skills which is essential for learning the writing of any language including English as a Foreign Language (EFL).  Learners with SLDs are characterized by poor writing skills. The aim of study is to find the significance of differences between normal learners and those who suffer from SLDs in terms of their performance in the area of transcription and handwriting including writing style, size, and shape of letters, writing on straight lines, usage of the upper and lower case, punctuation marks, spaces between words, page layout, and letter joins. The study is based on the hypothesis that there is no significant difference between learners with SLDs and learners without SLDs in transcription and handwriting skills. To achieve the study aims, and verify its hypothesis, a sample comprising thirty-four learners seventeen normal, and seventeen with SLDs studying EFL in the 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th grade, has been selected to participate in a writing test constructed for the study purpose. The study concludes that there is a significant difference between the performance of normal learners and those who suffer from SLDs in the examined area.

Keywords

• Writing Disorder
• Transcription and Handwriting
• Differences
• Students with SLDs and without SLDs