Why are sight words particularly difficult for some English learners?

Sight words are particularly challenging for some English learners primarily because they are often irregular and do not follow standard phonetic rules. This means that these words cannot be easily sounded out using typical decoding strategies that rely on graphophonemic knowledge. For instance, words like "said" or "was" do not correspond to their spelling when learners attempt to apply phonetic rules. As a result, English learners who depend on decoding skills may struggle to recognize these words quickly, which can hinder their reading fluency and comprehension.

While other factors might influence the difficulty of certain words, such as complex meanings or silent letters, the fundamental challenge posed by sight words lies in their irregularity. This aspect prevents learners from applying straightforward decoding techniques, making direct recognition crucial for fluent reading.