Common Mistakes ESL Learners Make and How to Fix Them

English classes are not just a goal for some, but a necessity for many. Most people learn ESL trying to land a job, migrate, or simply connect with more people in the community. Whatever the reason, it does provide a vast opportunity not just for career but for daily activities.

Learning English can be fun and at the same time a bit tricky, especially if you are used to speaking your native or mother tongue language. It will never be an easy program, but just like any other class, you’ll get used to it. Taking the initiative to learn and practice daily will make you a better English speaker.

Moving forward, this blog aims not to teach you the basics of being proficient in this dialect, but to identify the most common mistakes ESL learners make. I’ll break down the most frequent mistakes English learners make and give you simple, practical ways to overcome them.

Relying Too Much on Your Native Language

Many students try to think in their native language first, then translate it into English. This sounds okay in your head, but it can make your English sound strange or incorrect.

What You Can Do:

• Learn short phrases, not just words
• Watch and repeat how native speakers talk
• Use easy apps with daily English conversations
• Practice thinking in English, even with simple thoughts
  

Mixing Up the Word Order

English has a set order in sentences. This means that the subject, verb, and object must be in the correct order. If you change the order, the sentence might confuse people.

What You Can Do:

• Use the pattern: Subject + Verb + Object
• Make and repeat five simple sentences each day
• Read simple English books to see sentence patterns
  

Using the Wrong Verb Tense

Using the wrong verb tense is a common issue. You may say something like “I went to school yesterday” when you mean you have already gone.

What You Can Do:

• Focus on the three main tenses first:
  • Present: “I eat.”
  • Past: “I ate.”
  • Future: “I will eat.”
• Use keywords like “yesterday,” “now,” or “tomorrow” to guide the tense
• Make short timeline charts to help you remember
  

Confusing “a,” “an,” and “the”

These small words are called “articles.” They are used before nouns, but they must be used correctly. Some students skip them or use the wrong one.

What You Can Do:

• Use “a” before a word that starts with a consonant sound
• Use “an” before a word that begins with a vowel sound
• Use “the” when you talk about one specific thing
  

Why Shorter Sentences Work Better

Trying to convey too much information in one sentence can make it difficult to understand. Long sentences confuse people and make your ideas less clear.

Example:

Long: “I went to the store to pick up a few things, but while I was there, I ran into a friend I hadn’t seen in a while. We ended up talking for a few minutes, and by the time we finished, I completely forgot to buy the eggs I came for.”

Better:

“I went to the store, saw my friend, and we talked. I forgot to buy eggs.”

What You Can Do:

• Use short sentences
• Say one idea at a time
• Connect ideas with simple words like “so,” “then,” “but,” or “because”
  

Don’t Rush the Learning Process

Mistakes help you learn. Do not try to fix everything at once. Focus on one small thing each day. Speak slowly, read more, and write often. You will see progress.

Northwest Career College in Las Vegas will support you in learning English with clarity and confidence. Our programs are hands-on, straightforward, and designed for students like you. Enroll in our ESL Program and let us help you improve your English the smart way so you can build a better future.