Language Barriers in the University of Illinois Urbana ... - ideals
Language Barriers in the University of Illinois Urbana ... - ideals
Language Barriers in the University of Illinois Urbana ... - ideals
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Garcia, Roeder, Saleh, BTW 250-D2_06-03<br />
15<br />
specifically towards foreign nationals, tips on what to expect from US employers and how to<br />
give oral presentations <strong>in</strong> both <strong>the</strong> classroom and <strong>the</strong> workplace. There are also various Student<br />
Diplomats who are native speakers <strong>of</strong> English, currently enrolled as undergraduates <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
university, who volunteer to organize social and cultural programs with <strong>the</strong> newcomers <strong>in</strong> order<br />
to make <strong>the</strong>m more at ease with <strong>the</strong> new environment.<br />
The ma<strong>in</strong> focus <strong>of</strong> ISSS lies on, not only <strong>in</strong>ternational students, but also <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>structors<br />
<strong>the</strong>mselves. There are several workshops for pr<strong>of</strong>essors, teach<strong>in</strong>g assistants, and o<strong>the</strong>r staff<br />
members that provides <strong>the</strong>m with demographic <strong>in</strong>formation as well as clues as to what<br />
<strong>in</strong>ternational students expect and how <strong>the</strong>y work. This is an extensive session where over a<br />
hundred faculty members are tra<strong>in</strong>ed and <strong>in</strong>formed.<br />
The ma<strong>in</strong> issues that need immediate attention on <strong>the</strong> part <strong>of</strong> ISSS are those regard<strong>in</strong>g<br />
immigration and visa documents as well as f<strong>in</strong>ancial pro<strong>of</strong>s. It also addresses problems with<br />
advisors ma<strong>in</strong>ly at <strong>the</strong> level <strong>of</strong> differences <strong>in</strong> communication. There have been various cases<br />
where students have compla<strong>in</strong>ed about poor academic results due to lack <strong>of</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>iciency <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
language, ra<strong>the</strong>r than <strong>the</strong> material itself. ISSS strives to address <strong>the</strong>se issues as well by impos<strong>in</strong>g<br />
a mandatory English Placement Test for those who do not have a sufficient TOEFL score. If <strong>the</strong><br />
student does not pass with sufficient results, he is required to take ESL (English as Second<br />
<strong>Language</strong>) courses. Ano<strong>the</strong>r problem that arises from <strong>the</strong> lack <strong>of</strong> communication between <strong>the</strong><br />
student and his respective advisor is <strong>the</strong> failure to register for <strong>the</strong> proper courses, which may<br />
cause degree requirements to rema<strong>in</strong> unfulfilled on time.<br />
Analysis<br />
This <strong>in</strong>terview led us to <strong>the</strong> conclusion that despite all <strong>the</strong> services <strong>of</strong>fered by <strong>the</strong> university,<br />
<strong>in</strong>ternational students are, never<strong>the</strong>less, prone to fac<strong>in</strong>g problems deal<strong>in</strong>g with <strong>the</strong>ir pr<strong>of</strong>iciency<br />
<strong>in</strong> English. It is wrong to assume that <strong>the</strong> adm<strong>in</strong>istration is unaware <strong>of</strong> this problem and that it is<br />
merely an abstract representation. It is a concrete phenomenon that is a daily reality for certa<strong>in</strong>