FIRST-YEAR UET (VNU) STUDENTS’ DIFFICULTIES IN WRITING INFORMAL LETTERS (VSTEP WRITING TASK 1) AND PEDAGOGICAL SUGGESTIONS

Abstract

Informal letter and email writing in VSTEP Writing Task 1 appears simple because topics are
familiar and the audience is usually a friend or acquaintance. However, for many first-year students at
the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Vietnam National University, this task presents
multiple challenges. Learners often struggle with vocabulary and grammar control, organizing ideas
coherently, fulfilling all task requirements—including appropriate tone and register—and providing
sufficient elaboration within the limited time. This study investigates these difficulties through a mixedmethods approach combining surveys, analysis of timed written scripts, and focus-group interviews.
Findings reveal that limited language resources and weak awareness of task conventions are the main
obstacles affecting students’ performance. Based on the results, the paper proposes pedagogical solutions
such as genre-based instruction, explicit teaching of tone and register within task fulfilment, use of lexical
bundles for everyday expressions, peer and teacher feedback guided by VSTEP assessment criteria, and
regular timed writing practice to improve both fluency and accuracy