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8 Common Challenges ESL Students Face

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Many people believe that English is one of the most difficult languages to learn. The pathway to being fluent in English when it is not your native language is usually rough. The grammar structures are odd, and the spellings and pronunciations of certain words do not make sense. There are countless reasons why students who study English as a second language struggle with learning it.

We will be looking at some common challenges ESL students face in this article.

Students' struggle with learning the English language is why many agencies specialize in translation. Translation companies ensure that important documents are properly translated so that meaning is not lost and messages are passed across in an intended manner.

The availability of essay writing services has also, to some extent, reduced the challenge that ESL students have to face when they have assignments or papers to do. At premieressay.org, you are offered quality writing services backed up by detailed research, so you can be sure that your essays follow the structure and are well edited and proofread.

Below are some of the challenges that ESL students encounter: 

  • Not having a goal for learning the language

  • Traditional methods of learning are boring

  • Feeling shame and embarrassment

  • Feeling like time is insufficient for learning

  • Not interacting with native speakers

  • Not enough confidence

  • Overambitious disposition

  • Unqualified teachers

We shall discuss each point briefly.

  • Not having a goal for learning the language

This particular challenge is the first and most important one that ESL students must overcome. To succeed in anything, you first have to have a goal for which you must succeed, and learning the English language – or any other language for that matter – is not an exception. If your reason or goal for learning the English language is emotional, it will be easier for you to succeed.

If your reason is not significant, you will have less motivation to learn the language. Learning the English language requires you to be passionate about the language because your passion will motivate you even at times when studying and using the language becomes difficult.

  • Traditional methods of learning are boring

The classroom method of teaching can sometimes be a bit rigid. ESL students will have a better chance of learning the English language if they are provided with an avenue to see the language being used in a topic or setting that delights them. To better motivate ESL students to learn the English language, teachers should look for better ways to engage the students and make the language interesting. If you want to spice up your learning journey, you can exploit activities like watching movies and playing video games in English.

Students can also engage in topics they enjoy and learn on their own. Since they already enjoy it, they will find it easier to learn.

  • Feeling shame and embarrassment

Learning any language for the first time can be daunting, and having to practice in the presence of people – particularly those already fluent in the language – can be embarrassing. Anyone would naturally feel embarrassed if they feel like they cannot properly express themselves.

However, an ESL student cannot learn English without practice. So, if you are uncomfortable with practicing the language when people are around, you can practice when you are alone and do so regularly.

  • Feeling like time for learning is insufficient

Many people who want to learn English or any other language as a second language usually feel that they might not have sufficient time to commit to the language they want to learn. In most cases, ESL students end up not learning the language at all or as well as they should.

This all boils down to proper time management. Setting aside a period each day to practice the language will ultimately help you on your quest.

  • Not interacting with native speakers

To learn English as a second language, you need a partner to help you practice how to communicate with the new language. When you don't communicate with people who speak English as a native language, you won't be able to get much practice.

The quickest and better way to learn is to try to communicate with people using English frequently. Teachers use a strategy to allow ESL students to combine speaking English with their native language. This is especially useful when students have to communicate about complicated ideas or topics as it lessens the nervousness of speaking a second language.

  • Not enough confidence

This is yet another challenge that is common among ESL students. When you are not confident in your native language, it will be difficult to be confident in learning a second language. Lacking confidence will prevent you from practicing the language, ultimately truncating your progress.

  • Overambitious disposition

Another challenge that can hinder ESL students from learning is setting a very high standard or having an unrealistic goal. The problem with this is that the student will work hard to outperform their peers, especially if they aim to win the favor of their teacher.

However, when they fail to meet their standards or achieve their goals, it could affect them emotionally and demotivate them from learning the language.

  • Unqualified teachers

This is a problem that is sometimes overlooked. The major problem is that most countries are still learning English, so there is difficulty in picking out those who can teach the language properly. If the teachers are not qualified, then it will be hard to teach the students; after all, you can't give what you don't have. 

Summary

Having considered some of the common challenges to ESL students, you now understand the cause of the struggle they face. Finding good teachers of the English language and regular practice on the part of students are among some of the ways these challenges can be overcome.

Author’s Bio

Jessica Fender is a professional in the educational sector. She has published several articles on blogs and websites covering several grounds on education, and languages. She loves her work, and dedicates her free time to research on more ways to assist students in their academic journey. 

 

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