In at the Deep End

Abstract

This study investigated the difficulties encountered by a group of Hong Kong Chinese learners studying in an educational environment where English was used as the first language. Although language was widely perceived as a problem for these learners, the findings of the study showed that social, cultural, and affective aspects were also a cause of problems for the learners. These aspects were often interrelated and linked to the linguistic problems of the learners. Some implications are presented regarding ways to help raise the awareness in schools of the difficulties experienced by this particular group of ESL learners.