Cambodian Students’ Challenges in Learning and Using English Grammar: A Critical Narrative Review

Authors

Keywords:

English grammar, challenges, strategies, Cambodian students

Abstract

English grammar plays an essential role in both national and international examinations. In Cambodia, however, many students, particularly those in Grade 12, struggle with grammar despite their efforts to master it. Particularly, they often have poor performance in national exams. This article is designed as a critical narrative review and aims to examine the key challenges Cambodian students face in learning and using English grammar and to provide suggestions for improving their performance. Drawing on secondary data, the review identifies several key challenges, including difficulties in using tenses; problems with active and passive voices; difficulties in using prepositions; errors in using articles; and problems with other grammatical items such as subject-verb agreement, parts of speech, the use of clauses, and sentence structures. The article also provides several suggestions to enhance students’ performance in English grammar, emphasising the importance of collaboration among key stakeholders in supporting students to improve their performance in English grammar. The article concludes by outlining implications for future research to explore the challenges Cambodian students face in learning English grammar and the suggestions to address these challenges more effectively.

Author Biographies

  • Saem Oeun, PhD Candidate in Education Sciences, The National University of Cheasim Kamchaymear, Kampong Cham, Cambodia.

    -

  • Kimkong Heng, Academic Lecturer in the Faculty of Education, Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

    -

References

Abushihab, I. (2014). An analysis of grammatical errors in writing made by Turkish learners of English as a foreign language. International Journal of Linguistics, 6(4), 213–223. https://doi.org/10.5296/ijl.v6i4.6190

Alhaysony, M., & Alhaisoni, E. (2017). EFL teachers’ and learners’ perceptions of grammatical difficulties. Advances in Language and Literary Studies, 8(1), 188–199. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.alls.v.8n.1p.188

Ali, S., Ali, I., & Hussain, S. (2021). Difficulties in the applications of tenses faced by ESL learners. Research Journal of Social Sciences and Economics Review, 2(1), 428–435.

Al-Mekhlafi, A., & Nagaratnam, R. P. (2011). Difficulties in teaching and learning grammar in an EFL context. International Journal of Instruction, 4(2), 69–92. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/59766

Ameliani, A. N. (2019). Students’ difficulties in grammar of seventh grade junior high school 1 Magelang. In Proceeding of the 1st Conference of English Language and Literature (CELL) (Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 1–8).

Ashrafiany, N., & Basalama, N. (2020). The students' writing difficulties in writing an essay based on cognitive process. Lingua, 16(1), 61–69. https://doi.org/10.34005/lingua.v16i1.560

Ashrafuzzaman, M. (2018). Impact of in-service training on English teachers’ classroom practice at the primary level. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 14(3), 77–103.

Bond, M. (2019). Flipped learning and parent engagement in secondary schools: A South Australian case study. British Journal of Educational Technology, 50(3), 1294–1319. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.12765

Bounchan, S., & Moore, S. H. (2010). Khmer learner English: A teacher’s guide to Khmer L1 interference. Language Education in Asia, 1(1), 112–123. https://leia.org/LEiA/LEiA%20VOLUMES/Download/LEiA_V1_2010/LEiA_V1_10_Bounchan_Moore_Khmer_Learner_English_A_Teachers_Guide.pdf

Brinton, L. J. (2000). The structure of modern English: A linguistic introduction. John Benjamins Publishing.

Chawla, N. (2022). Some common difficulties in the usage of different parts of speech. Journal of English Language Teaching, 64(4), 34–41. https://journals.eltai.in/jelt/article/view/JELT640406

Crystal, D. (2003). English as a global language. Cambridge University Press.

Damis, W. H., Jabu, B., & Salija, K. (2024). Difficulties in learning English tenses encountered by senior high school students. Pinisi Journal of Art, Humanity, and Social Studies, 4(2), 452–462. https://journal.unm.ac.id/index.php/PJAHSS/article/view/1592

Darohim, M. (2020). An analysis of the students' error on changing active to passive voice. E-Link Journal, 7(2), 35–47. https://doi.org/doi:10.30736/ej.v7i2.335

Denney, A. S., & Tewksbury, R. (2013). How to write a literature review. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 24(2), 218–234. https://doi.org/10.1080/10511253.2012.730617

Effendi, M. S., Rokhyati, U., Rachman, U. A.-M., Rakhmawati, A. D., & Pertiwi, D. (2017). A study on grammar teaching at an English education department in an EFL context. International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature, 5(1), 42–46. https://doi.org/10.20431/2347-3134.0501005

Em, S., & Nun, N. (2022). Cambodian grade 12 students’ perceptions of public English textbook and exam papers. PROJECT (Professional Journal of English Education), 5(4), 909–917. https://doi.org/10.22460/project.v5i4.p909-917

Etaat, F. (2025). Addressing challenges of L2 grammar learning with a focus on English relative clauses: AI-supported language learning. Applied Research on English Language, 14(3), 53–76. https://doi.org/10.22108/are.2025.144783.2482

Faeq, F. M. (2023). Iraq preparatory school students’ errors in using the present perfect simple tense and the past simple tense. Journal of Current Research on Educational Studies, 13(1), 61–72. https://doi.org/10.26579/jocures.13.1.4

Ferris, D. (2011). Treatment of error in second language student writing. University of Michigan Press. https://muse.jhu.edu/book/23625

Grant, M. J., & Booth, A. (2009). A typology of reviews: An analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies. Health Information & Libraries Journal, 26(2), 91–108. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-1842.2009.00848.x

Hanim, I., & Anggraini, D. R. (2023). Difficulties in learning noun clauses by students in intermediate English grammar classroom. Journal of Language Education, 2(1), 11–18. https://doi.org/10.58738/joladu.v2i1.321

Haryanti, S., & Setyandari, A. (2018). Students’ difficulties in mastering clauses. International Journal of Active Learning, 3(1), 39–49. https://www.learntechlib.org/d/208690/

Heng, K. (2011). Effective vocabulary learning strategies: Perspectives from Cambodian students and teachers [Master’s thesis]. Royal University of Phnom Penh. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.17395.17445

Hum, C. (2021). Investigating conference feedback in a Cambodian EFL class: Students’ writing accuracy improvement and their views of the feedback. Journal on English as a Foreign Language, 11(1), 104–124. https://doi.org/10.23971/jefl.v11i1.2314

Hum, C., & Heng, K. (2024). English in Cambodia. In A. J. Moody (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Southeast Asian Englishes (pp. 186–201). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780192855282.013.8

Huot, S., & Hok, C. (2025). Unpacking the struggle: Linguistic, pedagogical, and cognitive barriers in Cambodian students’ English essay writing. The Context, 12(4), 149–168. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15807401

Katz, B. S., & Watzinger-Tharp, J. (2008). What is grammar? In S. Lara & T. Cat (Eds.), 2008 conceptions of L2 grammar: Theoretical approaches and their application in the L2 classroom (pp. 2–14). Heinle Cengage Learning.

Keuk, C. N. (2008, February 23–24). English language variety in Cambodia. In 2008 CamTESOL Conference on English Language Teaching: Selected Papers. Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Khalil, L., & Semono-Eke, B. K. (2020). Appropriate teaching methods for general English and English for specific purposes from teachers' perspectives. Arab World English Journal, 11(1), 253–269. https://doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol11no1.19

Lestari, P. I. (2023). Exploring students’ attribution: Why did students fail in their online basic grammar class? Journal of English and Education, 9(1), 22–32. https://doi.org/10.20885/jee.v9i1.28046

Li, F., Ren, J., & Zhao, H. (2016). Grammatical mistakes in college English writing: Problem analysis, reasons and solutions. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation, 2(3), 20–28. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20160203.11

Maier, H. R. (2013). What constitutes a good literature review, and why does its quality matter? Environmental Modelling & Software, 43, 3–4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2013.02.004

Mirazna, M. N., & Hikmah, N. (2019). Students’ perceptions toward grammar in the English classroom. PROJECT (Professional Journal of English Education), 2(5), 682–686. https://doi.org/10.22460/project.v2i5.p682-686

Munthe, M. V. R., Sitanggang, A., Fukada, H., & Mobo, F. D. (2023). Students' difficulty in using parts of speech in spoof text in students of English language education program. Dharmas Education Journal, 4(2), 534–539. https://doi.org/10.56667/dejournal.v4i2.1064

Newmeyer, F. J. (2003). Grammar is grammar, and usage is usage. Language, 79(4), 682–707.

Nurjanah, S. (2017). An analysis of subject-verb agreement errors in students’ writing. ELT Echo: The Journal of English Language Teaching in Foreign Language Context, 2(1), 13–25. https://doi.org/10.24235/eltecho.v2i1.1590

Oeun, S., & Heng, K. (2024a). Factors contributing to students’ failure in the English subject in national Grade 12 examinations in Cambodia: A literature review. Journal of Studies in the English Language, 19(2), 85–116. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4842279

Oeun, S., & Heng, K. (2024b). A literature review on the effects of failure in the English subject in national grade 12 examinations on Cambodian students. Journal of Research on English and Language Learning, 5(2), 269–281. https://doi.org/10.33474/j-reall.v5i2.22561

Oeun, S., & Heng, K. (2025). Challenges Cambodian students face in English essay writing: A literature review. Journal of Education Research, 6(2), 473–484. https://doi.org/10.37985/jer.v6i2.2476

Pratiwi, A., Hidayah, J., & Edy, S. (2020). Tertiary students’ difficulties in combining English clauses to generate complex sentences. English Education: Jurnal Tadris Bahasa Inggris, 13(2), 156–172. https://doi.org/10.24042/ee-jtbi.v13i2.6738

Renandya, W. A. (2007). The power of extensive reading. RELC Journal, 38(2), 133–149. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033688207079578

Rossiter, A. (2021). The importance of grammar. Linguapress. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED613321

Salooja, M. K., & Kumar, S. (2024). Grammatical challenges in academic writing. Journal of Humanistic Studies and Social Dynamics, 1(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.70903/f9fc9v81

Sari, W. P., Melani, M., & Nurhayanis, N. (2024). Students' difficulties in converting active sentences into passive sentences in the simple tense at MAN 3 Solok students. Journal of Educational Management and Strategy, 3(2), 164–172. https://doi.org/10.57255/jemast.v3i02.131

Seth, M., Soeurn, C., Kouy, C., Sorl, L., & Ly, S. (2025). Exploring determinants of English paragraph writing difficulties among EFL high school learners: A study from Cambodia. Journal of English Teaching and Learning Issues, 8(1), 43–56. https://doi.org/10.21043/jetli.v8i1.27679

Setyowati, L., Sukmawan, S., El-Sulukiyyah, A. A., & Ramadhani, N. I. (2020). Revealing EFL students' grammatical errors in cause-effect essay. Jurnal Bahasa Lingua Scientia, 12(2), 353–368.

Sor, T., Intanoo, K., & Prachanant, N. (2017). An error analysis of English composition written by Cambodian and Thai grade twelve students. Asian Graduate School Journal, 7, 440–450.

Sou, B. (2010). Using directive and facilitative feedback to improve student writing: A case study of a higher education setting in Cambodia. Language Education in Asia, 1(1), 23–47. https://doi.org/10.5746/LEiA/10/V1/A04/Sou

Suk, N. (2017). The effects of extensive reading on reading comprehension, reading rate, and vocabulary acquisition. Reading Research Quarterly, 52(1), 73–89. https://doi.org/10.1002/rrq.152

Tes, V., & Heng, K. (2024). Cambodian university students' attitudes toward English as the official language of ASEAN: Insights from a survey study. TESOL Communications, 4(1), 20–40. https://doi.org/10.58304/tc.20250102

Voun, S., Intanoo, K., & Prachanant, N. (2017). A contrastive analysis of passive voice errors in English paragraph writing made by Cambodian and Thai EFL university students. College of Asian Scholars Journal, 7, 451–463.

Vy, R., Ardi, H., & Em, M. (2025). Analysing English collocation usage and errors in Cambodian students' essay writing: Insights and implications. Al-Ishlah: Jurnal Pendidikan, 17(2), 3057–3065. https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v17i2.6837

Webster, J., & Watson, R. T. (2002). Analyzing the past to prepare for the future: Writing a literature review. MIS Quarterly, 26(2), xiii–xxiii. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4132319

Yule, G. (2022). The study of language (5th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

Downloads

Published

23-01-2026

Issue

Section

Research Articles

How to Cite

Oeun, S., & Heng, K. (2026). Cambodian Students’ Challenges in Learning and Using English Grammar: A Critical Narrative Review. Journal of English Language Teaching, 67(6), 20-29. https://journals.eltai.in/jelt/article/view/JELT670604

Similar Articles

1-10 of 463

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.