Language Barriers for Foreign Students, Essay Example

Introduction

The life of international students has become even more challenging because of the language barriers they have to contend with. Not being able to understand what others are saying is rather frustrating, what is more, not being able to grasp what is being talked about in class is even more saddening. This is the reason why language subjects are made specifically important and highly given attention to when dealing with international students. In the course of developing the relationship between teachers and students, it has been observed that the manner of learning that the students embrace often largely depend on how the teachers themselves view their manner of teaching.

Being able to complete a curriculum is not the only goal that teachers hope to achieve in this aspect of instruction. It is the mastery of the students with regards the language being taught that becomes the main goal of lesson presentation. Relatively, the success of a teacher in assisting her or his students in speaking a foreign language depends on how much the student is able to grasp the lessons presented in class. Making adjustments on the part of the teachers to be able to meet with the needs and demands of their students is a specific process that most instructors take to make sure that the learners are able to get the full benefit from being enrolled in a language class. In the discussion that follows, getting an actual reaction from a long-time teacher of the English language to ESL students shall be noted and presented. This discussion aims to synthesize the actual results of the interview in connection with the manner by which several writers and educators see the importance of the role of teachers in developing the language acquisition process that students embrace in class.

Implications of Actual Situation

Professor Susan [lat name withheld for privacy options] is a long time teacher of spoken English to young students coming from different nations around the globe. As a teacher of her caliber, she has found out that when it comes to diversity among the students, the said factor specifically contributes to the learning environment of the students in a more positive manner. She was able to observe such fact based on the idea that students who know they are not alone in having the need to master a new language and experiencing the difficulties of the process, are more motivated to do what is right and consider proper practices of studying for the sake of developing mastery.

To make sure that her students are able to grasp the lessons she presents in class, she makes them specifically accessible to the level of speakers that her students belong to. This means that as much as possible, she refrains from using complicated English words especially when she is still dealing with beginners. As the level of learning of her students improve to a higher grade, she then accustoms her teaching in such a way that she too develops the kind of vocabularies she uses in class lectures and even in regular conversations with her students.

When it comes to basic studies that do not involve language acquisition such as economics, social studies and the like, Professor Susan mentions that it is probably the lack of understanding and knowledge of the American culture, government and market rules that makes it harder for the students to understand what is being taught in class. Relatively, she does believe that being able to accomplish a mastery of the language would actually improve the manner of studying that the learners utilize to explore and understand their other subjects that may not directly pertain to language learning.

Synthesis of Ideas

Professor Susan specifically notices that most of her students are good when it comes to self-study. Accordingly, Rodriguez agrees to the same idea. This attitude towards learning gives them an edge in becoming more involved in exploring matters on their own. However, when it comes to group study, most of her students shy-away. Perhaps afraid of not using the proper language for conversation, most of the said students choose to keep still and not speak as much as possible.

The motivation of the students to get high grades and not to actually immerse themselves into the lesson for proper and practical application is what hurts them. On the other end, Edwards believes that it is the multicultural environment of learning that imposes a negative impact on the students’ capacity to learn. Nevertheless, Professor Susan holds on to the fact that in her experience, she realized how diversity could be managed to provide a more positive impact on the thinking and motivation of the students to learn further.

Conclusion

The efforts of a teacher provide instruction to their learners create a great impact on how the students actually grasp the gist of their lessons. Relatively, when it comes to language learning, the motivation that the students get from the environment of learning and from the inspiration that their teachers give them create a rather effective impact on how fast and how efficient they become in learning and utilizing the new language they are aiming to acquire. Realizing this fact imposes on the capacity of teachers to impact the willingness and the capacity of students to embrace what they are being taught in class.