Problems Faced by Non-Native English Speakers to Learn the Sounds of English Letters and How to Overcome It

Problems faced by non-native English speakers to learn the sounds of English letters and how to overcome it. (Outline)
# Introduction: * Nowadays, non-native English speakers families tend to speak in their mother tongue with each others at home. Making them mastered their first language and as they grow up, they will most likely to be introduced towards English as a second language commonly through education. However, as they are not native English speakers, they are more likely to be several learning problems faced when they are to learn the sounds of English letters. The problematic areas are usually pronunciation, accent, grammar, and fluency.

* Talk about the problems faced mentioned by experts. Give general examples. 3-4 sentences.

# Problem areas: - Pronunciation (facts from experts, opinions from self for all areas)
> Incorrectly learning the pronunciation of English, either by transferring the phonological rules from their mother tongue into their English speech or through implementing strategies similar to those used in primary language acquirement.
> Create innovative pronunciations for English sounds which cannot be found in the speaker’s first language.
> Example: The Japanese do not have the sound of ‘r’ in their language. Thus, they have to use an alternative sound which available in their language according to their convenience. As they pronounced the sound ‘r’, they pronounce ‘l’ sound.

- Accent > Include their first language accent as they speak English.
> Strong accent sometimes makes the listeners cannot understand the words that they are saying.
> Strong accent could diminish the understanding of some words.
> Example: Malay English teachers who use Malay language as their first language have the possibility to speak English language with a strong Malay accent.
- Grammar > Cannot understand how the English language really works. > English grammar is totally different from ‘Malay grammar”. > Example: In Malay sentence, we cannot use the plural verb with the plural subject. - Fluency > Used to talk in native language only. > Lack of confidence to speak English. > Example: Tendency to make mistakes make the non-native speakers afraid to talk.

# How to overcome it: - Pronunciation > Learn how to pronounce the words correctly from native speaker. > Listen to the correct pronunciation from the internet and practice by following it. > Example: Ministry of Education (MOE) had conducted a Native Speaker Program which brings in the native English speakers to each school in order to teach the non-native speakers in the schools. - Accent > Speak the words slowly in order to make it sounds clear for the listeners. > Result: it is easier for others to understand although ones accent was strongly influenced in English words. - Grammar > Asking the helps of others who are better in English’s grammar to check and correct oneself in case there are mistakes done. - Fluency > Never give up in practicing speaking English. (Practice makes perfect). > Use tapes, cassettes or any recording device to record yourself and listen to it afterwards. While listening, check on how fluent you are.

# Tips: * Make it like an academic essay but more detail and supported with not own experience but facts from experts and a little bit of own opinion.