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The presumption that learning English is an easy, uniform process presents a challenge to students and ESL instructors alike. When students enroll in English lessons at higher institutions of learning, they choose to learn English as a Second Language. However, they don’t have options to choose from the many accents that are representative of the USA. These nuanced versions of English exist and greatly impact the way people in these areas speak.
Different forms of English also impact the vocabulary that is taught to ESL students. If you live in Boston, MA, you buy a tonic. If you live in Ohio, you buy a pop. In other areas, it is called a soda. So, if you are in a classroom, which word is correct? They are all correct if you use them in the appropriate regions of America.
Learning English has many challenges; however, some are more difficult than others. Below we will examine seven reasons that ESL students find the study of English so challenging.
Versions of English
Is it the English from Canada, America, England, or Australia? Currently, English is an official language in 41 countries; however, students often learn English from America, England, and Australia. As you can imagine, all English vocabulary and grammatical rules are not the same even though their residents all speak English. For example, in America, you can ride an elevator. In England, you can go up in a lift. Australians and Canadians say both. These are important because, should the ESL student move from one English-speaking country to another, they will need to learn new vocabulary words and expressions.
Punctuation
Writing is one of the core skills of English and learning how to write well includes correct punctuation. Yet, punctuation on paper can be daunting, a fact that even native speakers would readily admit. While grammatical rules are complex and challenging to master, correctly punctuating sentences can be labor intensive. For example, if “labor intensive” is used as an adjective within the sentence, it needs a hyphen, i.e., “He is a labor-intensive worker.” However, if it’s used at the end of a sentence, the hyphen is removed. There are style guides some Americans use to correctly punctuate sentences. Yet, punctuation is not uniform in both guides. And this adds an additional layer of confusion for the ESL learner.
My other teacher told me…
These five words can sometimes cause a sinking feeling in the heart of an ESL instructor. It usually means that the instructor provided an answer that contradicts what the student already learned. So, at this stage, the instructor doesn’t know if the answer is for an archaic use of English, or one that they do not know. For example, a student might state that their previous teacher told them that one does not use “And” or “But” at the beginning of a sentence. So, what does a teacher do when the student is right? Why, explain to them how American English changes with the times.
In the past, that rule would have been correct. However, punctuation has caught up to the practical way natives speak English. Because “And” at the beginning of a sentence is how Americans speak, using these conjunctions at the beginning of a sentence is now acceptable, particularly in informal English. This example is one of many in which punctuation rules have changed over time and will continue to expand in the future. Therefore, what the ESL student learns this year could be modified next year.
Speaking English with a Foreign Accent
Many ESL students find speaking English in a neutral manner to be very difficult. Even if they speak fluent English, a foreign accent can interfere with listener comprehension. This is problematic when foreign citizens need to speak to their American co-workers or have a meeting on Zoom. To conquer this problem, some students watch American television and YouTube videos. Some study accent reduction techniques that advise the student to slow down and enunciate.
Inconsistent Sounds for the Same Word Patterns
In the English language, there are words that use the same consonants and vowels but have completely different sounds. All three of these words have the “ough” pattern but sound completely different. “Tough” is pronounced like “tuff.” The word “through” sounds like “threw.” “Though” sounds like “doe.” Therefore, the ESL student cannot assume that “ough” has the same sound in every “ough” word. Therefore, it is necessary to learn how to pronounce these words individually.
The same confusion extends to plural words. The plural of goose is geese; yet the plural of moose is moose. The plural of mouse is mice, yet the plural of house is houses. The plural of box is boxes; but the plural of ox is not oxes. It’s oxen. The English language is full of these inconsistencies which contribute greatly to the difficulty of mastering the language.
Other words defy explanation, and you cannot look to the prefixes and suffixes to try and guess what their meanings are. A pineapple has no pine or apple in it. The words “look” and “see” are similar in meaning, yet “overlook” and “oversee” are two totally different meanings. Sometimes, you can have words such as “see” and “watch” which also have similar meanings. However, they are not always interchangeable. While I can watch television, I can’t see the television.
The Culture’s Influence on the Language
Pop culture is a huge influence on how English speakers write and talk. There are megastar social media influencers, music that has impacted the whole world, reality shows, and other avenues of fame that have been created by the people. This part of American culture is often popular worldwide and a reason why people think America is the greatest country.
Culture also has a major impact on language. Words and expressions that are heard through the pop culture pipelines influence the way Americans communicate, particularly younger ones. These expressions may or may not be in the dictionary yet.
Furthermore, long statements are quickly losing their appeal and are being replaced by acronyms. For example, a popular statement made when learning something surprising was “Oh my God.” Now, it’s “O-M-G.” Or the American might say “SMH” for shaking my head, an expression often used to indicate disbelief (negatively).
The digital revolution has produced its own language of sorts, with words and phrases like, algorithms, chat gpt, clickbait, blogs, and click-like-and-subscribe. This is a sign of the constant change of the English language and one of the many reasons students find it so challenging.
Staying Disciplined
Learning any language takes discipline. This is especially true of complex languages like English. There will be times when you don’t “feel” like studying. Maybe you’re too tired after a long day at work or school. So, the motivation needed to learn those vocabulary words today just isn’t there. This is one reason why you need to be disciplined. To be disciplined means that you do what is necessary to get the job done. This decision is independent of how you feel. You sometimes must use willpower and sheer determination.
The appropriate language usage of a culture is best learned through immersion. Take a leap of faith and jump right in. This means going to the English-speaking area of your choosing and taking Vocational ESL classes. Take advantage of the opportunities that come your way to speak to the locals. When in the US, it is easier to learn about the culture and its language than it would be from a book.
Vocational ESL programs have a strong track record for equipping their graduates with the knowledge and practical training for success in their jobs. Many Vocational ESL graduates become managers in their respective fields and lead very productive lives.
Vocational ESL programs are part of a growing number of vocational schools whose aim is to train graduates for jobs in different fields with relevant English instruction. They do this by homing in on specific training pursuant to their desired profession. Students take only classes they need. This means that some students can graduate in less than a year. As the name indicates, VESL courses have strong ESL classes, for adult learners that work.
So, if you are interested in a training program that can help you communicate in your career field, treat yourself to a first-class Vocational ESL education. You don’t have to get trained for your career at one school and take English classes at another. Vocational ESL training is usually taught at a college where you can learn other career skills.
Vocational ESL programs are very thorough in preparing its graduates with state-of-the art training and a strong English curriculum. In the program, you will learn the core skills of the English language: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. You will meet in small groups, and this aids the learning process. You will also engage in daily conversations with your classmates and have greater access to your instructor.
Contact Interactive College of Technology and tell us you are ready. Why not visit us to meet the admissions counselor and career advisor? They will be able to answer your questions and help you get enrolled. Today is a good day to jump start the rest of your life.
Our Vocational English as a Second Language (ESL) training program is designed for student success. Interactive College of Technology offers live online and in-person English classes that fit into your busy schedule.
Our Vocational ESL classes are set up, so your English develops skill by skill. Four levels of rigorous courses help you to comprehend the English language by combining lecture, lab, class discussion, and group activities. This effective method ensures Vocational ESL students are provided English language skills as well as cultural transference.
You receive all Vocational ESL program materials to keep. You’ll also be provided with a personal email account, resume writing, and job placement assistance, media center access, and more! Our campuses are located across Georgia and Texas.
Let’s learn English together! Contact us now to learn more.