The most difficult skill for foreign language learners

[MissLT]

I think a skill will become difficult if we don't have time to practice it frequently. Speaking is hard because we don't often speak it. I think the best way to learn these skill is living in a native country. Lennye, I think you must speak English so well

_Arale_

Nah, still speak it with a bad accent. I came to the States during my teenage years, that's why . And it's not necessary to live in an English speaking country to speak English. Believe me, there are some people who live in the States for more than 15 years and still can't speak a single word of English. For example, some old Chinese people I've seen. It's because they live in Chinatown; therefore, they never need to communicate in English. In my opinion, if one comes to an English speaking country at an early age, it's more likely he could speak like the native. Otherwise, he still carries the accent.

[Dixie]

Anyway, I haven't known about the Skype yet. Can you give me the link? Thanks in advance!

http://www.skype.com

All you need is a mic and your will to talk to your contacts!! If you download it, just let me know your username and I'll add you.

[ahmads]

I face a difficulty in listening ,,
for Example:
1- when my teacher speak ,I understand him/her
2- when I listen to tv I understand only 50%
I don't now why!!!!

[natsu0713]

ahmads,

I had the same experience too.

I think that is because our teachers would adjust their speaking speed and using simple words. However, on TV, especially CNN news, the speakers' speed is far faster than our teachers. Besides, if our vocabulary is limited, then it is difficult for us to understand what the speakers have said. Furthermore, when people speak, they have various accents, such as British Enlish accent, American English accent, Indo accent...etc.

So, the best way to practice listening, memorize vocabularies, and get used to people's accents.

[DocAndy]

HI all,

speaking and writing is harder for me than reading. But sometimes it is difficult too. If there are too much unkown vocabularies and expressions (Phrases).

If I write some lines, I think a lot of these.
Is the grammar right
when have I to use an adverb or an adjective
is the word order right
Did I use the right time
and so on.

That makes me crazy.

If I read a book. I can relax. And I can look what I understand. And I can see in which context I can use vocabularies.

[quicksilver]

I think this question has prb.
What is the most difficult? We cant answer this Q .Why? Cos it depends on what language you are speaking and what foreign language you are studying.
If your mother tongue is like foreign language you are learning in some aspects , It is easily for you to learn.
For example:With Chinese and Vietnames : Their pronunciation is nearly the same .So it is very easy for Chinese to speaking Vietnamese, and Vietnames are easily speak Chinese. But about writing , it is very difficult .Cos Vietnamese writing includes Latin characters while Chinese writing is pictographic.Maybe with Indian , Japanese ppl, Chinese writing iis easier?
With Vietnamese and English , the prb is completely different!
it is reading!English hasn't tone , but Vietnamese has.So Vietnames is ponderous.

[quicksilver]

Dixie wrote

but when their level of English is so elementary I just can't, or sometimes I can but I have to speak very slowly so they can keep track of what I am saying It's different to speak in class than to speak in other environments, you know

You are really like my old teacher
But she read so slowly and clearly that all of us repeated her words as a parrot It sounded so funny.

[quicksilver]

Ahmads wrote

1- when my teacher speak ,I understand him/her
2- when I listen to tv I understand only 50%
I don't now why!!!!

One reason is that when your teacher says, you looks at her mouth, but when you listen to the radio , you cant
And you should remember that your teacher always talk as long as all of you can understand easily, so part of her speech is slow and clear.

[Annaa]

Sometimes writing I found more difficult but somtimes speaking too