Challenges of Adults in Learning English as a Second Language: Focus on Adult Education in China

Abstract

Adult education functions significantly in Chinese education. Adults’ ESL learning especially plays an important role on the development of China and of the adults themselves. This study aimed to discover challenges and problems of Chinese adults’ ESL learning, and the solutions to these problems. A random sam-ple of 50 Chinese adult ESL learners was used. The data gathering consisted of a questionnaire, and the data analysis employed both quantitative and qualitative methods. The findings confirmed that ESL learning is very important for Chinese adults’ future life. However, they have experienced many difficulties and problems when pursuing ESL learning, regardless some advantages they may have over children. Many suggestions were thus made to improve adults’ ESL learning.