Abstract:
This paper reports on the results of a study exploring the challenges students
encounter in learning a second language at Maldives National University. The
study further sought to provide strategies that could be adopted to enhance second
language development at this level. A qualitative research methodology was
adopted in the collection and analysis of data. Therefore, the main source of data
collection was interviews and it included five unstructured interviews with
qualified and experienced English Language lecturers and five students who study
English as a Second Language. In analyzing the data, framework analysis was
employed to identify the factors that hinder the development of second language
proficiency in language learners at Maldives National University. Hence, the
findings revealed that factors such as belief, language transfer, motivation,
intelligence, anxiety, willingness to communicate, age and personality influence
second language learning. In addition, instructional strategies that were considered
to be useful were highlighted by the participants. The interpretation of results was
discussed in light of pedagogical approaches to language teaching that could be
implemented by both educators and learners.
