The following article is based on the analysis of the compensation strategies used by two groups of intermediate students of English language at the Official School of Languages of Moratalaz (Madrid) in the academic year 2009/2010. Our analysis tries to describe to what extent adult learners make use of suitable learning strategies in the four skills when coming across frequent communication problems. In the light of the results obtained, some actions to put into practice in the English class are suggested. The study questionnaire is appended. (Contains 5 footnotes.)