English proficiency has always been a topic of interest for natives and non-natives around the world. Given its usage in global contexts, learning English has become necessary for educational, professional and personal endeavors. For many people, learning the language can be a difficult process.
Asians, in particular, find that English presents many challenges. In this article, we will explore 13 points outlining why English can be so difficult for Asians.
1. English Spelling System
The English spelling system can prove to be one of the most difficult aspects of the language for Asians. Words in English often do not follow the phonetic pattern of the language, making it difficult to remember how to spell even the simplest words. For example, the word ‘dough’ is pronounced with a long ‘o’ sound, as in ‘toe’, but is actually spelt with a different letter, having a double ‘o’.
Furthermore, English has numerous irregular words, with no rhyme or reason that aren’t derived from any Latin or Greek roots. Examples of these are ‘ough’, ‘ye’, ‘ei’ and ‘au’.
In addition, many words have silent letters in them, such as ‘knee’, ‘debt’ and ‘gnarl’. Since these irregularities don’t follow any traditional rules, learning how to spell words correctly can be difficult and frustrating.
2. Vowel and Consonant Sounds
The sounds that vowels and consonants make in English can also be difficult for Asians to identify and pronounce correctly. English vowels often have a much wider range of sounds than in many Asian languages, such as Chinese and Korean. Additionally, the differences between similar sounds are subtle.
For example, the ‘e’ in ‘bet’ is pronounced differently than the ‘e’ in ‘bed’. Furthermore, particular vowel sounds appear in English words, such as the schwa sound in ‘potato’, that don’t exist in other languages.
Consonants also produce a variety of sounds, many of which can be difficult to distinguish and use correctly in conversation. An example of this is the difference between the ‘th’ sound in ‘think’ and ‘thank’.
3. Intonation and Stress Patterns
Intonation, or the rise and fall of a speaker’s voice, is especially challenging for Asians because it’s not used in many of their native languages. Similarly, in English, the stress placed on particular syllables and words can be very important to understanding speech. For example, the word ‘present’ is a noun, but if the stress is placed on the second syllable, the word becomes a verb.
Asians don’t often have the natural sense to know the difference, which can lead to miscommunication in the English language.
4. Idioms and Expressions
Idioms and expressions can be very confusing for Asians to understand. These are phrases that don’t make literal sense, but rather refer to common figures of speech.
Examples include ‘raining cats and dogs’, ‘bite off more than you can chew’, and ‘cheaper than dirt’. Not only are these phrases commonly used in conversations, but many don’t have equivalents in Asian languages. This can make it difficult for Asians to comprehend what is being said, as well as to use idioms and expressions in their own speech.
5. Different Accents
When learning English, Asians are often exposed to many different accents and dialects, which can be difficult to understand and comprehend. Although it’s possible to understand different English regions, such as American English and British English, many nuances, such as tone or pronunciation, can be confusing.
This can be especially challenging for those that are just beginning to learn English, as they are learning a completely new set of sounds, words, and dialects that they must become accustomed to.
6. Accent Discrimination
Unfortunately, Asians sometimes experience accent discrimination, or adjustment, when speaking English. This can occur despite the language being spoken correctly.
As a result, Asians may be reluctant to speak English due to fear of being discriminated against. It’s important to understand that accent discrimination is wrong and shouldn’t be tolerated in any context.
7. English Grammar
The grammar of the English language can be difficult for Asians to understand. English sentence structure, verb conjugation, tenses, and other rules can be challenging for those coming from Asian countries.
One of the most common examples is “articles”. In English, articles can be required in certain contexts and omitted in others. For example, the phrase “She bought an apple” must include an article before “apple”.
Some Asian languages, such as Mandarin and Japanese, don’t use articles in the same way, making it difficult for those speakers to remember when to use them.
8. Slang and Informal Language
The use of informal language, colloquialisms, and slang can also be difficult to understand and use correctly. These terms are often used in conversational contexts, but can be confusing as they are specific to particular regions or cultures. For example, the phrase “let’s get cracking” is a common expression but is often difficult for non-native English speakers to grasp.
9. Varying Word Usage
Words can also have different meanings in different contexts and regions. For example, the word “pants” can mean either trousers or underwear in American English, while in British English, the word “trousers” is used to refer to the former use and “pants” is used to refer to the latter.
Understanding the different meanings of words is important to speaking and understanding English correctly.
10. Cultural Differences
The cultural differences between English and many Asian countries can lead to difficulty understanding some contexts. Since food and other customs vary between English-speaking countries and Asian countries, some concepts can be hard for Asians to understand. Asians may find it difficult to comprehend seemingly common occurences in the English language, such as understanding the humor involved in a “Dad joke” or the meaning of the phrase “it’s raining cats and dogs”.
11. Speaking English Too Quickly
Given the fact that English is a fast-paced language, Asians may find that native English speakers talk too fast, making it difficult for them to understand and process the content. This can be especially difficult when native speakers use slang or informal language, as it can be difficult to differentiate the words and phrases used.
12. Vocabulary
The numerous words used in the English language can be overwhelming for those that are not native speakers. Since the English language has been derived from many other languages, there are many words that may be unfamiliar and difficult to remember.
13. Lack of Resources
Oftentimes, Asian countries may not have access to adequate resources to learn proper English, such as books, teachers or classes. Therefore, it may be difficult for those from those countries to properly learn English.
Conclusion
English is a complex language that can be difficult for many people to learn and master for a variety of reasons. For Asians, there are a number of challenges, from different accent and dialects, to cultural and linguistic nuances. From spelling words correctly to understanding conversations, these difficulties can be very frustrating for those learning English.
Thankfully, there are numerous resources, such as online classes, books, and online forums that can help those wanting to learn English. It’s important to remember that English is a worthwhile language to learn, and with a little patience and practice, it’s possible to become proficient in the language.