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What did you find most challenging about learning English?

What did you find most challenging about learning English?

What did you find most challenging about learning English?

We asked seven big names, including Didier Drogba and Petr Cech, for their opinions about life in England and learning English.

Watch the video and read the transcript to find out what they said when we asked them:

What did you find most challenging about learning English?

Ivar Ingimarsson: Well, obviously it’s always just getting the hang of new words and everything. For me, you know, the spelling and everything is far more difficult than actually speaking it but that’s probably mostly to do with practice.

Petr Cech: The written language is different in the newspapers because it is the proper English and um, it’s um… sometimes you can find the words that you don’t understand. The worst to learn is the expressions because here, I think a lot of people use the expressions and you can’t translate it any way because sometimes you try to, I tried to translate it and it was impossible to understand what does it mean.

Dirk Kuyt: The most difficult to learn is maybe the, the accent here in Liverpool and I hope I will learn it in the coming few years.

Mido: I think it’s the… The pronounce of the words, you know, cause I think a lot of people can speak English but they just pronounce words the wrong way and er… it’s about the accent.

Sun Jihai: Some words you cannot find out… dictionary. You know, like erm… Mancunian, Scouser… I’m sorry, I don’t know that’s rude or… you know, that mean… you cannot find out from the dictionary, you know, sometimes I cannot understand some words like… er… boot, the end of a car – when he says, I can put the coat in the boot… I say… boot? You know the boot… you know its set means… what means boot? He says… you know, he pointed for me – oh I remember… He helped me a lot.

Petr Cech from the Czech Republic, Chelsea goalkeeper
Activity: In this activity, you have to read the statements about the video and decide if they are true or false.
Read the statements and decide if they are true or false.

 

Quiz

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Your turn

What do you find most challenging about learning English? 
Do you agree with the players?

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Comments

hsn's picture
hsn
05/09/2022
TR
5560
points

As for me, the most challenging about learning a foreign language is to understand what native speaker say. Especially when they speak in daily routine.


hsn's picture
hsn
05/09/2022 16:26
Turkey
Tottenham Hotspur
5560

As for me, the most challenging about learning a foreign language is to understand what native speaker say. Especially when they speak in daily routine.

bao1960's picture
bao1960
11/06/2022
VN
443
points

This is the lesson for my students today. Enjoy learning English with international famous footballers. Good lesson.


bao1960's picture
bao1960
11/06/2022 03:00
Vietnam
Manchester United
443

This is the lesson for my students today. Enjoy learning English with international famous footballers. Good lesson.

Gabriel Amaral's picture
Gabriel Amaral
05/04/2021
BR
1512
points

I agree and I can add that I find difficult to understand some kinds of accents, when people speak faster and of course the local expressions, as Cech said.


Gabriel Amaral's picture
Gabriel Amaral
05/04/2021 18:44
Brazil
Arsenal
1512

I agree and I can add that I find difficult to understand some kinds of accents, when people speak faster and of course the local expressions, as Cech said.

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
17/06/2020
TR
6539
points

The idioms , phrasal verbs and dialects are the most challenging.


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
17/06/2020 15:34
Turkey
Manchester United
6539

The idioms , phrasal verbs and dialects are the most challenging.

Md. Akhtaruzzaman
24/04/2020
BD
6
points

Picking up a right word at the right moment and of-course pronouncing it right is a real challenge.


Md. Akhtaruzzaman
24/04/2020 11:21
Bangladesh
Arsenal
6

Picking up a right word at the right moment and of-course pronouncing it right is a real challenge.

Fernanda Atla
08/10/2018
MX
6
points

The most important thing to learn English is to know how to speak and what is challenging is to pronounce.


Fernanda Atla
08/10/2018 16:50
Mexico
Manchester United
6

The most important thing to learn English is to know how to speak and what is challenging is to pronounce.

Tania Fabian
08/10/2018
MX
6
points

For me speaking is difficult because the pronunciation varies too much.
I agree with several ideas from the players.


Tania Fabian
08/10/2018 16:50
Mexico
Manchester United
6

For me speaking is difficult because the pronunciation varies too much.
I agree with several ideas from the players.

assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
26/03/2016
PS
3705
points

Yes i agree with them.


assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
26/03/2016 18:43
Palestinian Territory
Liverpool
3705

Yes i agree with them.

nikosonris
30/11/2015
UA
2453
points

One more thing about learning English worth mentioning is an accent. I've had some really challenging experience of talking to Australians and Scots. Sometimes it seemed to me that I had no English listening skills at all)


nikosonris
30/11/2015 13:41
Ukraine
Arsenal
2453

One more thing about learning English worth mentioning is an accent. I've had some really challenging experience of talking to Australians and Scots. Sometimes it seemed to me that I had no English listening skills at all)

Rich's picture
Rich
30/11/2015
ES
594
points

Have you seen our lesson about Geordie? 'Hadaway man' is a popular Geordie phrase. Any idea what it means?


Rich's picture
Rich
30/11/2015 16:06
Spain
Liverpool
594

Have you seen our lesson about Geordie? 'Hadaway man' is a popular Geordie phrase. Any idea what it means?

nikosonris
01/12/2015
UA
2453
points

I remember that informative lesson about a famous Newcastle accent. There was an expression 'Howay the lads' meaning 'Come on, boys'. As for 'Hadaway man', my first guess was something like 'go away or get lost') But then I googled it and found some nice explanations: Had away an' sh*te, man! - "Don't talk nonsense"; Haway man! - "Come on!" but can mean, when used at a football match, "How the **** can that possibly be offside, there are at least three defenders keeping him on!". Really interesting phrases, thanks. Have you ever come across Geordie-speaking people? Can you, Rich, understand them?) How would you advise us (English learning community) to ask such people to switch to 'generally accepted' English?)


nikosonris
01/12/2015 13:34
Ukraine
Arsenal
2453

I remember that informative lesson about a famous Newcastle accent. There was an expression 'Howay the lads' meaning 'Come on, boys'. As for 'Hadaway man', my first guess was something like 'go away or get lost') But then I googled it and found some nice explanations: Had away an' sh*te, man! - "Don't talk nonsense"; Haway man! - "Come on!" but can mean, when used at a football match, "How the **** can that possibly be offside, there are at least three defenders keeping him on!". Really interesting phrases, thanks. Have you ever come across Geordie-speaking people? Can you, Rich, understand them?) How would you advise us (English learning community) to ask such people to switch to 'generally accepted' English?)

nikosonris
30/11/2015
UA
2453
points

I find phrasal verbs most challenging about learning English, as a change in prepositions will inevitably lead to another meaning of the phrase. And it's very hard to memorise when you have to use this or that preposition.


nikosonris
30/11/2015 13:36
Ukraine
Arsenal
2453

I find phrasal verbs most challenging about learning English, as a change in prepositions will inevitably lead to another meaning of the phrase. And it's very hard to memorise when you have to use this or that preposition.

aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
24/11/2015
ME
3557
points

Slang is not so important I think, but sometimes it can be very usefull.


aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
24/11/2015 10:56
Montenegro
Arsenal
3557

Slang is not so important I think, but sometimes it can be very usefull.

aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
24/11/2015
ME
3557
points

The most challenging thing were idioms. I had to repeat it many times because the translation is often very different. But, once you memorize them, it is very nice when you use them in right situation. Sometimes I use idiom that describes some other situation and then, it can be very funny:-)


aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
24/11/2015 10:54
Montenegro
Arsenal
3557

The most challenging thing were idioms. I had to repeat it many times because the translation is often very different. But, once you memorize them, it is very nice when you use them in right situation. Sometimes I use idiom that describes some other situation and then, it can be very funny:-)

MUGEMANYI's picture
MUGEMANYI
17/11/2015
RW
2320
points

Most challenging is vocabularies


MUGEMANYI's picture
MUGEMANYI
17/11/2015 09:24
Rwanda
Arsenal
2320

Most challenging is vocabularies

Alex_from_Ukraine's picture
Alex_from_Ukraine
01/11/2015
UA
6578
points

The most challenging is the size of the English vocabulary.


Alex_from_Ukraine's picture
Alex_from_Ukraine
01/11/2015 07:52
Ukraine
Liverpool
6578

The most challenging is the size of the English vocabulary.

Rich's picture
Rich
01/11/2015
ES
594
points

I hope our vocabulary pages can help you Alex! http://premierskillsenglish.britishcouncil.org/words/football-vocabulary


Rich's picture
Rich
01/11/2015 10:45
Spain
Liverpool
594

I hope our vocabulary pages can help you Alex! http://premierskillsenglish.britishcouncil.org/words/football-vocabulary

Alex_from_Ukraine's picture
Alex_from_Ukraine
03/11/2015
UA
6578
points

Thank you, Rich ! It will definitely be of help.


Alex_from_Ukraine's picture
Alex_from_Ukraine
03/11/2015 15:57
Ukraine
Liverpool
6578

Thank you, Rich ! It will definitely be of help.

Abdallah
27/09/2015
KW
1814
points

Phrases verbs and informal language sometimes .
I agree with them


Abdallah
27/09/2015 17:11
Kuwait
Chelsea
1814

Phrases verbs and informal language sometimes .
I agree with them

chriswar
09/09/2015
PL
44
points

I agree with them.


chriswar
09/09/2015 20:47
Poland
Leicester City
44

I agree with them.

Sergio Castaño
03/09/2015
CO
0
points

The questionnaire is very good and interactivio


Sergio Castaño
03/09/2015 22:26
Colombia
Manchester United
0

The questionnaire is very good and interactivio

yulydiosa73141
31/08/2015
CO
0
points

this test is interesting


yulydiosa73141
31/08/2015 01:24
Colombia
Manchester United
0

this test is interesting

marys
31/08/2015
CO
0
points

This test is interesting Because it helps me broaden the knowledge and understanding of the language more easily.


marys
31/08/2015 00:22
Colombia
Manchester United
0

This test is interesting Because it helps me broaden the knowledge and understanding of the language more easily.

Andy Garcia
30/08/2015
CO
0
points

I agree with what he says Mido, "people pronounce some words wrong and that makes difficult to lear ".
It is very important vocabulary, because depending on the context of the sentence is its meaning.


Andy Garcia
30/08/2015 15:29
Colombia
Manchester City
0

I agree with what he says Mido, "people pronounce some words wrong and that makes difficult to lear ".
It is very important vocabulary, because depending on the context of the sentence is its meaning.

Moly94
30/08/2015
CO
0
points

I believe that the most difficult to learn English first is pronunciation and accent and second the context of words according to the region where we decide to study, because there are words that we don’t find in the dictionary.

Yes, I agree with the players; each factor that they said are important when you decide to learn English, and it’s very expected that learning the language can be a little difficult for that reason.


Moly94
30/08/2015 15:17
Colombia
Manchester United
0

I believe that the most difficult to learn English first is pronunciation and accent and second the context of words according to the region where we decide to study, because there are words that we don’t find in the dictionary.

Yes, I agree with the players; each factor that they said are important when you decide to learn English, and it’s very expected that learning the language can be a little difficult for that reason.

elizabethpiedrahita
30/08/2015
CO
0
points

For me the most difficult about learning English is listening and also don't be shy to speak


elizabethpiedrahita
30/08/2015 01:55
Colombia
Chelsea
0

For me the most difficult about learning English is listening and also don't be shy to speak

PaolaValderrama
28/08/2015
CO
0
points

For me, Is difficult to listen, because I don´t understand what say the people when speaking in english.


PaolaValderrama
28/08/2015 22:56
Colombia
Chelsea
0

For me, Is difficult to listen, because I don´t understand what say the people when speaking in english.

Paceball24
28/08/2015
CO
0
points

the pronunciation is very important, we need practice


Paceball24
28/08/2015 18:23
Colombia
Sunderland
0

the pronunciation is very important, we need practice

elizabethmejia
27/08/2015
CO
0
points

I agree with the players, the most difficult for me is the pronunciation and accent.


elizabethmejia
27/08/2015 21:49
Colombia
Chelsea
0

I agree with the players, the most difficult for me is the pronunciation and accent.

vanessabotero
27/08/2015
CO
0
points

For me, the most challenging is the pronunce, because I don't identify easly the different accents. I am agree with the players.


vanessabotero
27/08/2015 21:44
Colombia
Chelsea
0

For me, the most challenging is the pronunce, because I don't identify easly the different accents. I am agree with the players.

danielrestrepo75730
27/08/2015
CO
0
points

I listened to the video and each pleayer in it and it´s so right what they said, For example, for me is difficult to differentiate the accents. Sometimes is hard to understand especially when is a person from a non English speaking country who is speaking English.


danielrestrepo75730
27/08/2015 04:21
Colombia
Arsenal
0

I listened to the video and each pleayer in it and it´s so right what they said, For example, for me is difficult to differentiate the accents. Sometimes is hard to understand especially when is a person from a non English speaking country who is speaking English.

johanaciro2015
26/08/2015
CO
0
points

the most difficult to learn English is that we have a constant practice , so easily forget what they learned


johanaciro2015
26/08/2015 13:05
Colombia
Liverpool
0

the most difficult to learn English is that we have a constant practice , so easily forget what they learned

carolinaalvarez24
25/08/2015
CO
0
points

I found challenging to practice english in my country because not many people speak fluent this lenguage. I am agree with the players.


carolinaalvarez24
25/08/2015 19:32
Colombia
Arsenal
0

I found challenging to practice english in my country because not many people speak fluent this lenguage. I am agree with the players.

Gracey's picture
Gracey
12/03/2015
PH
0
points

I agree with Kuyt and Mido...accent makes English difficult to understand.You may know the words when read but through listening you may understand it differently.


Gracey's picture
Gracey
12/03/2015 01:48
Philippines
Manchester United
0

I agree with Kuyt and Mido...accent makes English difficult to understand.You may know the words when read but through listening you may understand it differently.

merouan17
06/10/2014
DZ
0
points

it is about getting new words and slangs ..


merouan17
06/10/2014 19:37
Algeria
Chelsea
0

it is about getting new words and slangs ..

gunay
15/12/2012
0
points

i've listened to speeches of all players & i think each of them is right. There're so many people,nations in the world who speak english & everyone speaks his or her own english. For e.g,Russian people have one accent,azerbaijanis and indians other ones.And sometimes it's really difficult to understand them. As Peter Chec says that written englishon newspapers is more difficult.Sun Jihai says that sometimes there're some words which can't be found even in dictionaries. I think the most challenging issue in learning english is a lack of skills in listening & speaking.


gunay
15/12/2012 13:34


0

i've listened to speeches of all players & i think each of them is right. There're so many people,nations in the world who speak english & everyone speaks his or her own english. For e.g,Russian people have one accent,azerbaijanis and indians other ones.And sometimes it's really difficult to understand them. As Peter Chec says that written englishon newspapers is more difficult.Sun Jihai says that sometimes there're some words which can't be found even in dictionaries. I think the most challenging issue in learning english is a lack of skills in listening & speaking.

Tarana
11/12/2012
0
points

Students of 8a and 8f class!
Please share your opinions here after watching the video. Do you agree with the speakers? What do you find most challenging about learning English?
Waiting for your answers.


Tarana
11/12/2012 18:26


0

Students of 8a and 8f class!
Please share your opinions here after watching the video. Do you agree with the speakers? What do you find most challenging about learning English?
Waiting for your answers.

MUGEMANYI's picture
MUGEMANYI
27/11/2015
RW
2320
points

I agree with the speakers


MUGEMANYI's picture
MUGEMANYI
27/11/2015 15:04
Rwanda
Arsenal
2320

I agree with the speakers

Leaderboard

Top Scorers
RankNameScore
1Alex_from_Ukraine6578
2mobeckham6539
3hsn5560
4wsanta5086
5kwesimanifest4779
6Liubomyr4417
7elghoul3988
8assemjuve3705
9aragorn19863557
10Gergő Nagy3396
Country ranking
RankNameScore
1Colombia74676
2Ukraine33885
3Spain29525
4Serbia27426
5Brazil23505
6Albania20578
7Vietnam20460
8Turkey20111
9Macedonia19074
10Bosnia and Herzegovina16333
Club ranking
RankNameScore
1Manchester United146938
2Liverpool111453
3Chelsea90265
4Arsenal86299
5Manchester City58908
6Tottenham Hotspur19499
7Newcastle United10626
8West Ham United7701
9AFC Bournemouth4915
10Crystal Palace4568

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3
Average: 3 (1 vote)