What Are The Challenges Of Teaching And Learning English For Non-Native Speakers

According to the framework of NCERT (2005),

“English in India today is a symbol of people’s aspirations for quality in education and fuller participation in national and international life … The level of introduction of English has now become a matter of political response to people’s aspirations, rendering almost irrelevant an academic debate on the merits of a very early introduction.”

Challenges of Teaching English to Non-Native Speakers

The challenges of teaching English to non-native speakers are as follows:

Grammatical Rules

Teaching grammatical rules to learners and helping them remember the same can be difficult.

Lack of Encouragement

Some parents may encourage learners to speak in English while some do not which provides a lack of assistance to teachers.

Limited School Facilities

There may not be enough teaching aids and facilities to support teaching English in the school.

Lack of Attention

Students may not pay much attention in the class which can cause a hindrance.

Limited Hours

Teachers only get a few hours per week to teach English to learners which may not be enough.

Challenges of Learning English for Non-Native Speakers

The challenges of learning English for non-native speakers are as follows:

Spelling

Spelling can often be a common challenge faced by learners when they are writing in English. Silent letter words and words with different pronunciations and spelling can pose a threat.

Grammar

Grammar can be intricate and tricky because it has many rules and learning the grammatical patterns of the language can be difficult.

Pronunciation

Not all words may have the same pronunciation as their spelling as this can be a challenge.

Dialects and Slangs

English can be a complex language and learning the slang and dialects of particular regions can be difficult.

Jargon

Learning specific jargon in English and understanding its complexity can be a real struggle for many learners.

According to Graddol (2010),

“Throughout India, there is an extraordinary belief, among almost all castes and classes, in both rural and urban areas, in the transformative power of English. English is seen not just as a useful skill, but as a symbol of a better life, a pathway out of poverty and oppression.”

He further added,

“The challenges of providing universal access to English are signiﬁcant, and many are bound to feel frustrated at the speed of progress. But we cannot ignore the way that the English language has emerged as a powerful agent for change in India.”