American Research Journal of English and Literature

The phenomenal spread and growth of English in recent years and its eventual dominance in the international arena has represented unprecedented challenges and opportunities to the practice of English Language Teaching (ELT) and learning, particularly in the ESL/EFL contexts. This paper examines the implications of the phenomenal spread of English around the world on the learning experience and preferences of English as foreign language (EFL) learners. A total number of (108) undergraduate students in an institution of higher learning in the Sultanate of Oman took part as data source by responding to a questionnaire survey administered to them. The study specifically explores the challenges ‘outer circle’ learners face in learning varieties of English and the effects of that on their views and learning a particular variety of English. The paper draws conclusion on the significance of understanding the nature of codes learners use and get exposed to.