Abstract

Gifted students have unique characteristics and have different ways of thinking and learning. These characteristics affect how they learn a language. This study investigates gifted students’ difficulties in English language learning. Data was gathered using semi structured interview with six gifted students of PERMATA Pintar National Gifted Centre. In this study, interview analysis was used to analyze interview transcripts in order to find gifted language learning difficulties among gifted students. An analysis of responses was done by identifying similarities among six gifted students in terms of area of difficulties, language skills difficulties and also reasons behind their problems. Findings revealed that the common difficulties in English language learning faced by gifted students were related to speaking in English, grammar and lack of vocabulary. Furthermore, all gifted students interviewed perceived that speaking skill is the hardest skill to learn. Such insight into English language learning difficulties is helpful to teachers and educators as it provides useful information for teaching and learning the target language as well as developing the suitable education environment for gifted students to reach their potential in language learning.

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