Mohannad Alhumaidi - Arabic speakers problems

Arabic and English phonological systems are totally different in everything sounds, emphasis placed, vowels, consonant and expressing meanings and that goes with writing system as well. All these differences will affect Arabic speakers when they talk in English.

When native Arabic speakers learn English they go through many problems like distinguishing between (p) and (b), and that will lead us to talk about the influence of the first language (mother tongue), and because the sound (P) is not in the Arabic sound system many Arab learners will find it difficult to focus when they talk. The problem is that simple mistake in pronouncing the sound (P) will lead to big problem in understanding, for instance the word (Park) when it pronounced with (B) sound it will completely change the meaning of the word.

As a result, teachers have to do extra work with their Arabic students to help them get over some of the pronunciation problems by giving them more oral tasks to make them speak more and to correct them when they pronounce the word wrong. Encouraging them to concentrate more while they talk and teach them to never be shy when they talk, all that will build a self-confidence which will help and motivate them to produce the sounds correctly.