Discrimination amid English Learners From Foreign Communities - Essay Example

? A Problem Exists This paper aims to discuss the various possible disadvantages that may arise resulting from the implementation of the stated solutions to perceived discrimination issues identified amid foreign English learners. In this aspect it has been viewed that the suggestion of establishing collaboration with authoritative bodies and non-governmental organizations to enhance the performance of ESL can be the most effective one apart from establishing groups constituting both native English speakers and ESLs, to eradicate the perceived discrimination amid this group. However, a critical assessment of the solutions revealed that lack of proper funding may result in discontinuation of the program, resulting in attaining limited knowledge. Again, it has been viewed that providing audio and theoretical clips may result in the involvement of huge financial resources. And above all, considering the aspect of consulting group activities may give rise to groupism within the classroom environment and also at times may involve a substantial time to find solution to the stated problem. Emphasizing these disadvantages the paper further recommends certain solution measures in resolving the identified issue. A Problem Exists With the advent of globalization and the rapid development in the field of technology, it has been viewed that competitiveness amid people to strengthen their professional identification and recognition in the global world, is also growing at a rapid pace. Correspondingly, English as a language has become one of the mostly used and demanded skills among competent professionals around the globe in today’s increasingly competitive business world. People strive to learn the language as it provides them additional opportunity to get a better job in the corporate world. Considering the growing needs of the language it has been viewed that people, especially from the Asian region are moving to western countries to pursue their higher education and also to gain proficiency in the language. However, it has been viewed that numerous problem exist amid them when they move to the countries like the US or the UK. In this context, various solutions have been identified, which would help in mitigating the identified problem of foreign learners facing problem in speaking English owing to their perceived discrimination, if implemented effectively (Kuwahara, 2005). Thesis Statement With reference to the identified problem i.e. perceived discrimination among English learners from foreign communities, it has been viewed that the issues can be considered as a minor problem in-contrast to other glitches that exist worldwide. However, it is worth mentioning that the prescribed solutions for the establishment of special class sessions, conducting group activities, working in collaboration with special organizations and proving learning materials like audio clips among others may contain certain loop holes. This thesis will therefore intend to identify three possible disadvantages that may obstruct the effective implementation of the prescribed solutions. Discussion The problem area of perceived discrimination amid English learners from foreign communities is considered to be one of the major problems in the academic sector, especially in the western countries. With the growing need of English language, it has been viewed that people from Asian countries are migrating in the US and the UK as research conducted by many prestigious centers have listed these two nations to offer services of the world’s best universities and colleges resulting in attracting more foreign students and professors in the search of academic excellence (TSL Education Ltd., 2010). However, as English is considered to be the prime language spoken in these nations, foreigners’ ability to speak in this language often raises barriers to their performance and duration of them to be settled in these western societies. It has often been viewed in this context that there exists a sense of perceived discrimination amid foreign students, who have moved from their home nation to pursue their higher education. With reference to the stated solutions, a considerable stress has been provided on the economic, social, political, environmental, complexity, inequality, ethical and moral aspects affecting a foreign learner’s perceptions towards discrimination in the English society. Although there are certain benefits associated with the solutions delivered, there are certain disadvantages of the prescribed solution identifiable in the similar context. These disadvantages of the prescribed solutions have been hereunder, along with noteworthy remedial strategies to overcome these obstacles when implementing the recommended actions to mitigate perceived discrimination among foreign English learners. 1. Possible Disadvantages to the Solution Prescribed for Social and Cultural Problem Considering the aspect of social and cultural problems that were identified to prevail amid the ESL, it has been viewed that foreign students who consider English language as a second language often find it difficult to clarify their doubts within the classroom environment or talk with fellow classmates as they perceive that they do not excel in the language. To mitigate this issue, it was prescribed that if Non-Government Organizations (NGO’s) collaborate with different academic institutions and colleges to introduce classes that would mainly focus on factors to assist ESLs in developing their skills and also to motivate them to concentrate on their studies gaining better confidence in speaking English. However, if this aspect is considered, excess implementation of programs in academic center may eventually harm their academic performance, as it has been viewed that students tend to be involved in these programs more than in their academic studies (Kuwahara, 2005). Again it can be viewed that large organizations like National Education Association (NEA) have been implementing these policies; however, it has often been viewed that such a percentage lack of proper funding sometimes result in the discontinuation of the programs, which may affect the students’ academic life considerably, inhibiting their versatility in their respective field of operations. Furthermore, it has also been observed that these forms of organizations are sometimes forced to introduce certain subjects that are observed to impose significant political influence thereby establishing a sense of political biasness, which may in turn hamper the psychological perceptions of the students further (Kuwahara, 2005). Considering the above stated solution, it can be affirmed that if different programs are adapted only after conducting proper studies by the NGOs, it would not only help in improving the academic course of the college and university but would also help in inviting more students to develop their skills and likewise, provide ample opportunity to the foreign learners to grow their confidence in communicating in English with other native speakers. 2. Possible Disadvantage to the Solution Prescribed for Solution to the Complexity Issue With the growing trend of gaining proficiency in using English language as the official language around the globe, it has been viewed that people are moving abroad to pursue their education in English societies. The main reason behind this is that the immigrants to these English societies consider that this would provide them with additional benefits in comparison to their fellow classmates who pursue their education in their home country. However, it has often been viewed that these people often find it difficult to cope up with the new academic environment when they move to western countries to pursue their further education. This occasionally results from their poor vocabulary contributing to their perceived linguistic difference from the native English speakers. For instance, it has been viewed that using English when structuring a sentence, poses considerable challenges for Korean students to be competent enough, in the same manner, as they speak their native language. Considering, the issue it was prescribed that establishing English classes and providing them with audio and theoretical learning materials would further provide these foreign learners with ample opportunities to learn the language easily (Morgan, 2013). Although, using audio clips and providing theoretical study materials to ESLs as a source of providing better learning opportunity is considered to be a positive aspect, according a research conducted by Asia's Commonwealth Education Media Center, a disadvantage of using such kind of learning tools require adequate financial and human resources. As audio clips are found to take more data space than normal text files, academic centers must update their computers on a regular basis as handling of such large data files would require ample amount of space. Additionally, the academic centers must have to incur high installation costs and suffice the technological needs as well as other expenses in order to maintain an effective academic session with the ESLs. Furthermore, another possible disadvantage of the prescribed solution is that too much dependence on audio clips and other mobile form of learning initiatives sometimes result in establishing a sense of social loafing among the students. Social loafing reflects a state where a lack of contact amid the teachers and the students ignites, resulting from lack of continuous and direct communication. In this respect, it can also be viewed that the possible disadvantages of the stated solution needs to be modified so that adequate steps can be taken to mitigate the identified problems (Morgan, 2013). Furthermore, it has been viewed that foreign language speakers, such as Korean and Japanese, often find it difficult to speak confidently in English language as it has been viewed that almost half of the academic sessions of an individual who belong to countries like Korea and Japan are more dedicated to two subjects, i.e. the national language and mathematics, resulting in problems when they move to western countries to pursue their further education in English (Pravda.Ru, 2012). With reference to the identified possible disadvantage of the stated solution, establishing a personalize technology based lesson would help in mitigating the identified problem. This would help in establishing a communication based learning session making the class more interactive, mitigating the issue of social loafing and thereby, providing greater learning opportunities to the foreign students. Additionally, if the academic center creates a data base where students can make online communication in case of any confusion arising out of the given materials, the problem can be mitigated to a greater extent (Morgan, 2013). Therefore, if special classes are conducted to teach the ESLs, the basics of English language, the problem can be mitigated to a greater extent. 3. Possible Disadvantage to the Solution Prescribed for Solution to the aspect of Inequality The issue of perceived discrimination amid foreign students in western countries is considered to be an everlasting issue. It has been viewed in the past that certain incidents related to foreign students in countries like the UK and the US has establish a sense of inequality amid the next generation of students who decided to migrate abroad to continue their higher studies. Additionally, with the gradual the acceptance of the official language of the business world, people are striving harder to admit their children in schools that offer teaching facilities in English. Considering the issues of inequality it was comprehended that conduction of programs that would help in highlighting the skills of the foreign students can be an effective resolving strategy to minimize perceived discrimination amid the ESLs. However, conducting such programs would involve adequate time and resources, which might waste the necessary academic time required to complete the course work. Again, formation of teams amid the classmates might establish a sense of groupism amid the students in the class. This might also hamper the academic performance of other students, as they might need to help their friends to prepare the project that have been assigned to them. Additionally, the foreign student might also find it difficult to adjust with their classmates owing to the possibility that the persisting linguistic differences amid them might force the ESLs to think themselves low in front of the native English speakers (The University of Sydney, 2013). It has also been viewed that there is a strong tendency amid individuals to follow to the agreement resulting from the growing need to get identified amid the group members. Additionally, it has also been viewed that dividing individuals amid groups sometimes result in lack of proper objective direction, given that there is no effective leader who would provide a clear direction on what should be done to attain the group’s objective. Above all, the issue of time constraint is largely viewed amid groups as providing solutions to a defined problem is perceived as mandatory that requires adequate discussion before confirming the final result (The University of Sydney, 2013). Figure: Chart Showing the Time Needed by People Belonging to Various Parts to Learn the English Language (Effective Language Learning, 2013) With reference to the above stated disadvantages to the solutions recommended, it can be viewed that the main issues mainly results from lack of proper planning and management techniques. Therefore, in this context, the issue can be mitigated if the situational contexts, facts and aims are defined in advanced manner, which would not only help in mitigating the issue but would also provide the students with a proper guideline about all the dos and don’ts when communicating in English. Additionally, providing the student with alternatives and emphasizing their efficient implementation while conducting any group activity, would help in establishing a unified renationalization amid the group members helping in accomplishing the group’s common goal efficiently. Above all, if proper guidelines are provided in advance and teachers are involved while completing the project at the final stage, it would not only help in mitigating the issue of time constraint but would also help in developing a mutual relation amid the teachers, students and their friends in an academic center (Bokor, 2006). Conclusion The importance of the English language is considered to be one of the most adapted languages by both businesses and academic centers located around the globe. The trend has also motivated many individuals who wish to establish themselves in some of the most repatriated universities in the world. It has often been viewed that there exist a perceived discrimination amid them that also hinders their proficiency when communicating in English. Steps like establishment of groups constituting foreign learners and students who excel in English, collaboration with NGOs, and interventions of the concerned authorities in generating awareness against linguistic discriminations can also be accepted as recommendable solutions to the problem. However, these solutions have also been criticized to possess certain disadvantages like creation of groupism, wastage of time and possible polarization in the social structure of English and ESLs communities. These disadvantages can be effectively mitigated if proper steps are taken by both the academic centers and the students towards resolving perceived discrimination issues. References Bokor, C. (2006). Resolving Conflict. Specific Personalities and Strategies to Deal with Them, 6-67. Effective Language Learning. (2013). Language difficulty ranking. Retrieved from http://www.effectivelanguagelearning.com/language-guide/language-difficulty Kuwahara, K. (2005). Understanding Asian ESL Students: Translating School Cultures. Canadian Academy, 1-6. Morgan, K. (2013). Advantages & disadvantages of schools using multimedia. Retrieved from http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/advantages-disadvantages-schools-using-multimedia-22289.html Pravda.Ru. (2012). Which foreign language most difficult to learn? Retrieved from http://english.pravda.ru/society/stories/27-03-2012/120906-languages-0/ The University of Sydney. (2013). Self and Peer Assessment – Advantages and Disadvantages. Group work. TSL Education Ltd. (2010). The World university rankings: measure by measure: the US is the best of the best. Retrieved from http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2010-11/world-ranking/analysis/usa-top-universities Read More