[English-coach]

Hi Everyone,

This question is directed at students but teachers can reply also.

I'd like to know what frustrates you or causes you the most problems regarding learning English?

Is there a certain grammar point that you can't seem to get right?
Do you struggle with listening comprehension?
Do you have a high level of English but struggle with one last area of English?

I'd really like to find out what people struggle with the most.

From my experience people have a hard time with;

Phrasal verbs
Prepositions
Understanding native speakers and different accents
Slang or contractions
Lack of self confidence.

What can you add to the list?

All the best,
Diana

[English-coach]

This is interesting...154 views and no posts. I guess people don't want to air their frustrations.

[MelissaC]

Hello Diana!
I totally agree with the points you listed, ESPECIALLY Phrasal Verbs and Slang!
After teaching in a number of countries for almost as many years the two biggest problems I'VE encountered is ...

A) A lack of confidence
B) (especially if they are adults) Using their native language grammar when speaking English (e.g. "I can English speak." instead of "I can speak English.")

"A" is easily remedied by just getting the student to speak more and to more people (i.e. take them out to a coffee shop and have them order in English). "B" requires a bit more work on the students part. Best thing YOU can is giving the student much Tense work and exercises.

I found this page while doing a Google search and thought it might help a bit more...
Do students with limited spoken English have to push themselves? - TOPICS Online Magazine for Learners of English


I know you were hoping for a students opinion but I hope this helps!
Best!
Melissa

[susan53]

Hi Diana,

I think you probably had two problems :
1. I don't think many students actually come into this forum - or at least, they don't tend to contribute.
2. It was really in the wrong place. People come here looking for explanations of language items. Your question might do better if you posted it on the "Teaching ESL" forum, where people are more interested in general issues.

Hope that helps.
Sue

[mesmark]

I think it's OK to just add what teachers feel their students might say or what their students have difficulties with, but narrowing it down to just one point or a few points would be quite hard.

Sorry, Diana, I'm not dismissing the question, just trying to explain why there may not be many responses.

[English-coach]

Thanks for the feedback guys. No worries. Just trying to spark some conversation.

[teachingenglishmadeeasy]

It'll be interesting to read students' responses. I believe we'll get a lot of valuable information.

[Beatrix]

Students have difficulties with everything that's new or different from their mother tongue. for example, there are no articles in Serbian and they give everyone a hard time. Some tenses that don't exist in their mother tongue are also difficult for them.

[Ishu]

Hi,

As an ex-ESL student and a current ESL teacher who was born and raised in Turkey, I'd say I had problems and see my students experience the same problems with pronuncing certain sounds like "th" sound or "w", articles (the or zero?), style & register, and perfect tenses as they don't exist in Turkish.

Oh and, I sometimes still say "he" for "she" or the other way round when I talk fast - but I also confuse the Turkish words for left and right, so it shouldn't count, right?

[English-coach]

Exactly...I mean, who says that native speakers are perfect. Not me!

[MelissaC]

Agreed!
I've noticed that Americans (of which I am one) seem to have some pretty big mistakes when it comes to grammar, both in their speaking AND writing.
There is no need to become discouraged if you make mistakes often, we ALL do!