International Students in the USA - Coursework Example

International There have been an increased number of international over the years due to the hunger foreducation and the determination to reduce illiteracy levels. Such students have flown to countries known to offer the best education. However, there have been several emerging challenges especially in culture and language. Over the more than 6500 spoken languages globally, English is among the top most spoken. Some countries use it as their national language thus becoming the highest barrier for most international students. English may not be spoken in all countries but there is a need for a student to master it if they are to study in a country like the US or the UK. This is a huge challenge for most international students. The reason is some of the international students seek such international education from scholarships. Some of these students have roots in the most remote areas of this globe where the only language they have mastered is their mother tongue. Considering that they are mostly individuals above sixteen years or eighteen according to their country of origin’s years of branding one an adult, they could find it difficult to learn a foreign language at this age. However, since most countries admitting international students in their schools recommend that they must master both written and spoken English, such students lack an alternative but strive hard to try to master the language. It is also clear that English language is used in most countries for business purposes. Since most of these international students strive hard to get quality education and then possibly get an international job, they have to master the language. Some scholars advocate for individuals being conversant with multiple languages to be part of modernization and succeed in life (Dunn 199). Thus, knowledge of such international languages is important in gaining education in most foreign countries. For such students, exposure is important which can be a challenge especially for the less privileged where the only place they are exposed to is their local neighborhoods. Most of the schools in foreign countries have English language in the curriculum, which comes in handy for such international students. Various advancements in technology have made it easier for individuals to communicate with each other even if they speak two linguistically different languages (Hallberg 201). These advancements in technology show that there is no need to learn the English language for the sake of gaining international education. Various computer programs and phone technology assist in translation of words into the desired language. Thus according to such authors, this greatly helps in overcoming the communication barriers. Though such a move would assist a student in class to understand what the teacher is teaching, it is time consuming and the student can miss some of the concepts the teacher is teaching. Moreover, the international students in question can successfully maneuver through college using such translation devices to understand the concepts taught. However, what happens in the event of a job interview? There is no way such a student can get an international job despite his or her qualifications. Picture a situation where an employee uses translation technology and devices to communicate with customers. Such employees could lead to the customers questioning the authenticity of the company’s operation. They would even fear that the employee would not deliver according to the expectations (Jones 109). Thus, though most international students in the US uses this technology to enhance their skills, there is no way such students will ever get a job position in foreign countries. In some instances, international students can study online with the use of the internet. This is the time when students do not have to move from their current locations to attain their required world-class education. Such students can engage in class discussions regardless of the language in use. This is due to the translation programs in use. However, such students will require mastering the English language in the event of wanting a specific job position especially if the job position they are willing to undertake is international. Though it is evident that visuals are less constrained by language, it is important to have a glimpse of English language since it can come in handy during in communication with other individuals. In most schools, there is the use of pictures and films to understand the lectures for the non-English speakers. But again, such films and require an explanation since they lack ample information on their own. Such is only possible in English and students who fail to learn the language may only get a glimpse of the context but not the whole context as required. In some other instances, some of the international students enrolling in the US education lack enough knowledge of the English. The reason is some of the proficiency English tests taken are misleading. In most cases, international students with no knowledge of the English language have to undertake courses in English first. The reason is most of the courses undertaken in US schools are taught in English. Some of those schools have programs in place to ensure the conversance of English language. However, in some cases international students are enrolled in the same classes as the US English speakers. Such a strategy could see them lagging behind and some of them may even drop out of school. That is why it is important for non-English speaker’s international students to first undertake courses in English before they are enrolled in classes. This will improve their understanding and masterly of the language first hand thus ensuring that they record best results in their studies and even get a chance to have their dream international jobs. It is important to take into great consideration the necessities that an international students needs to progress in international education. Language is one necessity. Most scholars advocate for understanding multiple languages to be on the safe side in most parts of the globe. Considering that English is among the top three of the most spoken language in the globe, it is important for international students to embark in learning the language early enough before they enroll for such international classes. Early masterly of the language will ensure that the students will have few challenges in comprehending what is taught in class. Moreover, such students are also in a position to understand other English speakers better. Rather than going through the hassle of using the interpretation devices including phone technology or computer software which can be time consuming and inconvenient. However, it is a good move advocating for other means of translation to understand the language better, it is important for international students to make an effort of trying to comprehend the language for their own good. Some of those international schools place high English proficiency exams before enrolling international students in their institutions (Nakamura 200). Such exams allow the schools to gauge the understanding of the language by the international students. Those students who have very little or no masterly of the language at all are put into English study programs where they are required to learn the language first before progressing with their required course. This enables them to overcome the communication barriers between them and the teachers and also with the other students. Having the knowledge of the language is also capable of increasing the self-esteem of such students and elevating their motivation to learn. Picture a situation where an international student is sitting in a group of students who are knowledgeable of the language. Then all over a sudden, such students burst out in laughter and this international student cannot have a share of what is making them laugh just because they did not comprehend the conversation. Such a student might feel so left out that they might feel like fellow students were laughing at him or her. Associating with other students becomes a problem for such an international student and they end up living in a cocoon with no one to relate to. The situation worsens when the international student is need of some help but cannot express himself in a manner that others can understand. Though there is evidence of technology advancing global learning and calls to advance it, it is important for such international students to master some of those international languages and allow technology are a back-up strategy for some of the words that they may fail to understand better (Vogel 109). Moreover, technological devices can sometimes fail. It is quite unfortunate for an international student to walk to class with their translation technology and it fails all of a sudden. Such a student gets no alternative of understanding the lecture that day. Thus, the only option left is for them to walk out of class in the middle of the lecture, which might seem rude or just sit there and gaze at the lecturer pretending to understand every little detail given. The problem may arise if the lecturer asks a question and points at them to answer. Therefore, despite the various technological advances present, it is important for international students to learn the various foreign languages necessary before enrolling in international studies. Works Cited Dunn, William. "Educating Diversity." American Demographics, 1993. Hallberg, David. Sociocultural and Cognitivist Perspectives on Language and Communication Barriers in Learning, 2010. Jones, Amanda J. Overcoming Language Barriers. New York: Authorhouse, 2013. Nakamura, Satoshi. Overcoming the Language Barrier with Speech Translation Technology, 2009. Vogel, Glen. Language & cultural challenges facing business faculty in the ever-expanding global classroom, (n.d). Read More