Investigating the Difficulties Encountered by EFL Learners in Pronunciation and Spelling

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the difficulties encountered by EFL learners in pronunciation and spelling. The problem of mismatch between (sound) pronunciations, and spelling (Letters). The data were obtained by a test at SUCT (40) students 2nd year, College of Languages- Department of English. The data were computed and statistically analyzed by using (SPSS and excel program). EFL learners face difficulties in spelling and pronunciation of English words. The suggestions and recommendations of the study can be concluded as the following: Firstly, The newly borrowed words into English from other languages such as German, French, Latin, Greek, Arabic and etc… should not be taken as it is, the words should be modified according to English pronunciation and spelling. Secondly, the silent letters/sounds should either to be pronounced or to be omitted. For example: the‘t’ in the word castle /ka: sl/, either to be pronounced to say castle /ka: stl/ or to say casle /ka: sl/.