Mother Tongue Interference in English Writing among Tamil School Students

Writing is considered one of the most challenging language skills that students need to acquire. In Malaysia’s vernacular schools, encounter several challenges as they write in variety languages: their mother tongue, Malay and English. The students’ tongue can interfere when writing English due difference structures between these languages. This paper aims explore this issue further by examining how Tamil particular influences its young native speakers’ essays. For purpose study, 30 samples Year 5 from a school were studied terms structure, vocabulary usage, spelling. Errors committed essays identified, categorized scrutinized. findings reveal main issues writings are related grammar, direct translation language, While we understand why interference affects writing, it crucial curb at primary level so such errors be minimized will doing higher levels writing. study suggest recognise differences first (L1) learn different features languages order communicative correct sentences.