5 Regular ESL Problems & Their Solutions

Learning to speak and write in another language can be pretty tough, which is why you must be armed with enough patience and will before you even start.  Nowadays, English serves as the language of international business communications, education and politics, representing a necessary skill for almost everyone.

SEE ALSO: 5 Habits You Should Get Rid of if You Want to Speak English Fluently

Knowledge of English can open various opportunities for individuals and this is why billions of people worldwide are trying to learn it.

Quite reasonably, most students are experiencing difficulties with learning English, and there are many possible reasons for this.

While experiencing problems is normal, it can get in the way of developing your English comprehension skills.  You’ll have to overcome any challenging problem that comes your way, and you can start by understanding what the most common ones are.  Here are five problems you are very likely to face once you start learning English.

Problem #1: Having self-doubts

One of the main reasons why some people aren’t doing well at English is the fact they fear someone might tease them when they make mistakes.  Insecurity of this kind can negatively affect your performance and if you allow your fear to beat the best in you, then you wouldn’t be able to show how good you are.

The Solution: There’s no reason to be afraid because making mistakes is a part of your development.  You’re only a human after all.  Forget about the possibility to be mocked and focus on showing off your skills instead.  Ignore the people who mock you for your skills because you’ll always be one step ahead of them if you focus on improvement only.

Problem #2: Memorizing unnecessary words

People tend to spend a lot of time learning different words because they want to impress other people with their expanded vocabulary.  They think that using many words makes people think that they’re very fluent, but the problem is that this doesn’t necessarily improve communication.

The Solution: Expanding your vocabulary is good, but you need to realize that some vocabulary items are unnecessary for you to have casual conversation with others.  It’s better to take things simple rather than using overly-sophisticated words most of the time.  Remember, there’s always a time and place to use every single word you know, so be patient and wait for it.

Problem #3: Neglecting the basics

It’s good to see that there are many people who are eager to improve their English, but some of them are doing it the wrong way.  Most students tend to prioritize advanced lessons rather than the basics, and this can cause a few problems in the long run since they’re lacking fundamentals.

The Solution: You don’t need to be in a hurry because it’ll take some time before you can start using English properly.  Focus on the basics first, so you would make sure the advanced lessons won’t be a problem when you get to them.  Learn the simple words, basic grammar and common phrases first, and then start expanding your knowledge through constant practice.

Problem #4: Having little or no practice outside the classroom

Writing and speaking English exclusively in class is a habit of many students who don’t think they have time for additional practice.  However, individual work can be crucial for your improvement and this is why you should try to practice in every convenient situation.

The Solution: Free writing, practicing, reading out alone in your room or getting a reliable partner to communicate with you are some of the effective ways you can develop your English proficiency skills inside or outside the classroom.

Problem #5: Not enough motivation

Studying a difficult language such as English can really take away the joy of learning, especially in the beginning.  Lacking the motivation to study is quite common and it can certainly lessen your ability to concentrate on the subject.  You’ll need to get motivated again because studying English will always be an agonizing experience if this continues.

The solution: Ask your teacher for advice and see if he or she can revive your interest in learning.  You could also suggest the ways your instructors could make their lessons a lot more engaging for the class.  Challenging yourself to read books or articles on the Internet may also help a lot.

Author Bio: Sophia Jennings is a college student who has a knack for writing and she’s trying to do things that would allow her to improve.  She recently got a part-time job as a writer for a uk essay writing company in order to put her writing skills to the test.

Photo credit: Foter, Free Digital Photos