What is the nature of foreign language learning difficulties among at-risk learners?
Students who have significant difficulties in one or more of the four language systems in their mother tongue — reading, writing, listening, speaking — may experience problems with foreign language learning in school. The extent of this difficulty in the foreign language classroom is likely to depend predominantly on the nature and severity of their oral and written native language problems. Students who have difficulties in most or all of the four language systems are likely to experience the most problems learning a foreign language, particularly in traditional language classrooms. Language problems can range on a continuum from mild to moderate to severe difficulties. Research findings suggest that there is not a specific “disability” for learning a foreign language. Rather, the difficulties are an extension of a continuum from very good to very poor language learners. Why might a regular foreign language class be difficult to pass for at-risk learners? In general, foreign languag
