Difficulties and challenges in teaching English as the second language

These days, there is no doubting the fact that thedifferent ways. This also explains why many students
English language is becoming something of ahave great difficulty in understanding native English.
forerunner in global communication. It is the language ofThus, there is a very clear gap to be bridged between
choice in most countries of the word. Almost 70% ofthe teacher and their students before actual
the Internet is in English. A good volume of thecommunication and education starts.
services rendered through the Internet is also in English.Grammar: The fact that English grammar has its own
Thus, English is playing a very significant role in bringingset of complicated rules and regulations makes it a
the world together. Therefore, many people aretough language to conquer. A good number of
involved in the job of teaching English to people ofstudents struggle with these rules, and cannot really
foreign origin. In spite of the heightened interest in theunderstand many of the principles on first or second
English language, teachers often face variousreading. To make matters worse, English itself is of
difficulties and challenges while teaching English as adifferent varieties. Therefore, students may find the
foreign language. There are many reasons for this. LetQueen's English quite different from American English.
us look at some of the most important reasons.These exacting and tricky challenges make it
Attitude: Many people around the world are overawednecessary for any teacher of English to have a formal
by English and English-speaking people. A part of thetraining in teaching practices and methods. It is not
reason is historical, when natives were expected toenough to have sufficient skills in listening and
look up to their British conquerors with fear andunderstanding the language. Even a native speaker of
respect. The subsequent development and prosperitythe English language requires a methodical and
enjoyed by the Western world placed the Englishintensive training program to qualify as a good teacher
speaking people, their countries and cultures on a highof English as a foreign language. Many of the skills like
pedestal. As a result, many natives have an innate andunderstanding specific problems related to particular
unexplained fear of the English language, which makesregions and building basic communication skills in
them shy of handling the language.students etc can only be acquired through a formal
Pronunciation: One of the biggest difficulties a teacherlearning of the same. A commonsensical approach
faces when teaching English as a second language iswould be of no help here. Teachers have to be
to inculcate proper pronunciation in native speakers.prepared for the most bizarre mistakes, and need to
The English language has a number of characteristicknow how to handle these delicate situations with
features which most foreign speakers do not imbibeaplomb. That is why it is important to undergo formal
readily. That is the reason why different regions havetraining in teaching English before you actually begin the
their own English accents. So if English is spoken in 50process of teaching English as a foreign language.
different regions, it is likely that it is spoken in 50