A recent survey of English language learners enrolled in college ESL coursework provided some insight as to the barriers they encounter when attempting to learn a language.
As part of the needs analysis for this project, I asked my students to answer the question, "What Factors Effect Your Ability to Learn a Language?"
Several students wrote full essays or paragraphs. Two students, Honore and Sonya, with permission, allowed me to publish their work. To read a response, click the photo, then "Go to link".
Other students provided lists or short responses. I compiled, cleaned up, and organized their responses:
Time (General)
"A lot of homework and not enough time."
"I don’t have enough time for study."
"Don’t have enough time to read."
"No time to watch TV or follow news."
Fatigue (General)
"When I read at home, I get sleepy."
Work
“I’m so busy at work and most of the time I come late at home because I’m the team leader.”
"I working 40 hours a week - can’t do homework or study well."
"I am so busy at work...more than 40 hours/week."
"I have to work a lot to pay my bills."
"My job makes me so tired."
"I do not work, so I can’t practice."
Academic Support
"I don’t have the friends who can help me."
"My vocabulary is not wide enough and disables my understanding."
Target Language Use or Access
"No opportunities to practice."
"Speaking my first language at home."
"Speaking L1 at home affects how fast I learn English."
"I need to practice speaking with native speakers, but don’t have friends who speak English."
"I think in my native language."
"I speak L1 with kids so they learn it so they don’t loose their real identities."
"I don’t read English books or newspapers or watch English news or movies."
Social
"I do not belong to clubs or activities."
"Social networking takes much of my time."
Family
"I need to help my family."
"My parents speak only L1 and they don’t want me to forget my L1 and C1...they only understand TV, movies, news, etc in L1."
"I need time to play with my kids."
Health
“I can’t ready for long time due to my frequent headache but I start the treatment.”
"I have health problems."
L1 vs. L2 or C1 vs. C2
"Differences in my first language."
"Hard to transfer some ideas to English."
"It is hard switch the way of thinking...I come from Eastern culture with history and magic culture different from West."
"Grammar differences...Chinese doesn't need to change status of verbs based on time."
"Different alphabets and organizational system."
In-Class Activities
"I have learned much vocabulary, but still have major problems with simple conversations."
"I easily forget vocabulary."
"I worry about making mistakes when I speak in class or with people."
"In class, I mostly listen instead of talk."
Psychological
"Lack of self-confidence."
"I feel lonely here because I don’t have any members of my family with me."
"I feel nervous or shy when I want to speak."
"I feel weird with my intonations."
"Age plays a role in memorization of new vocabulary."
"I think a lot about my country’s problems and I have family there."
Student Skills
"I don’t have good time management."
*View PDF summary of survey results here.
