Is English the most difficult language?

Article by Muhammad Rifa'i

English Definition, the Difficulties, and the Way to Solve those

Rahmah (2014) argued that English has become the most important and international language in the world. Almost all people from different countries use this language to communicate one another. They have special interest to communicate in English due to the importance of this language in any scope of their lives.

These days, we have known that English as foreign and second language which is used as the international communication. English speaking skill is the best one to be learned and mastered by the English learners. “Speaking is usually considered as the core skill in foreign language learning and it is what learners want to be able to do” (Broady, 2005, as cited in Rahmah, 2014). Learners are hoped to communicate this language accurately and fluently. Arbain (2014) stated that by communicating this language, all learners can share their ideas, opinions, and feeling to people all over the world. So that, speaking plays an important role in people’s live in the world.

As an international language, English has also to be learned by people in this globalization era.  Having good speaking skill in English has been used as the compulsory requirement to be accepted working in big companies. Employees have to be able to communicate in English well if they want to work in big companies. Murcia (2001, as cited by Arbain, 2014) stated that, “speaking is a second or foreign language has often been viewed as the most demanding of the four skills”. It means that English learners who can speak this language well can have great opportunity to gain a job in a big company or other places that requires English speaking ability and other advantages.

As a foreign language or second language, English learners usually have difficulties in mastering it especially in speaking. Almost all English learners have difficulty in communicating this language. There are some problems in speaking activities faced by the learners according to Ur (2003, as cited in Rohadi, 2013) that stated that, “there are four problems faced by the learners in speaking activities. The problems include inhibition, nothing to say, low or uneven participation, and mother-tongue use”. These four problems will cause the accuracy and fluency in speaking. Then Thornbury (2006, as cited in Arsyad, 2014) described that, “speaking is like another skill, such as driving or playing a musical instrument: the more practice you get, the more likely it is you will be able to speak”. Most English learners actually know that they have to always practice many times in their spare time to gain good speaking ability.

Based on the problems faced by the learners above, writer attempts to use Talking Chips technique in teaching speaking in order the learners can speak fluently and accurately. Writer believes that Talking Chips technique will make the learners interested and active in speaking activity in the class. In this technique, the learners will be divided into some groups and each member in the group will have chance and role to speak. Therefore, this technique is hoped to improve students’ speaking ability fluently and accurately.