BARRIERS IN SPEAKING ENGLISH AS A MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION
In most part of organization even in Schools, University and Colleges it is widely accepted to use the English language as a medium of communication and instruction. English speaking countries may find it easy as a usual conversation using this language that is why their learning process is continues but from a non English speaking or semi English speaking countries, students may find it hard to understand their basic lessons and teacher may also find it difficult to use such language in teaching for various reasons this may hamper and delay their learning habit especially when sudden changes of language approach in a classroom discussion has been pre implemented by the school administration.
Accordingly the use of English language can prepare students internationally because this language is being used worldwide, it becomes highly critical when the student doesn’t partly understand the lessons and the teacher find it hard to explain such topics this has become a language barrier given as a medium of instruction but they will need to follow such implemented rules. Government from China, Korea, Malaysia and other African countries may have recommended such language for advancement but some student up to this present time still find it hard to study.
It may even be harder and more complicated if their subjects deal with hard topics like mathematics, science, physics, accounting that requires analysis added to that is the English language that they partly understand make the subject bit harder. It is not that the instructors do not understand the lesson or they cannot speak the language but the teachers will need to level down their instruction technique to reach their students so that they can meet half-way. The instructor may need to design a bit more instructional innovation wisely and passionately to be able to cope up with the student behavior of misunderstanding. Basically teachers and students may find the following barriers while learning;
Familiarity and Level of Thinking – Before using the English language for nationalities who do not always practice such language teachers may need to evaluate firstly the students proficiency of their level so as to adjust to their area of competence, teachers cannot automatically use the language but they may only associate a few of its words combined with their native tongue. They may introduce the language slowly to its lessons until such time the students will be familiar with the language, hopefully this can reduce such barriers in communication. They can only use the full English language in the English subject like communication, composition, spelling, grammar etc.
Language Association versus Cultural Preferences – This is a bit more sensitive naturally when English Instructor may need to teach the English language, their cultural settings, traditions and beliefs may be affected since words may be the same but different in meaning for example in Japanese who have a hard tongue may produce a different word like love will sound like rob or in China when they can hardly produce sounds like a big letter “O” shout may sound like shot. When different languages and culture is being mixed and they need lots of transformation and twist this becomes a problem and a barrier in learning. So much patience and persistence is required on ESL instructor is highly required.
Tools Barrier – Students from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a different writing method and technique and their students are not taught the English language but today there are many ESL Arabian students. During the first time the familiarity of the tools has become a barrier when they do not understand the keyboard of the computer, they are not familiar with the letters so they could not type and write. The instructor would need to teach their students just like in a kinder mode until such time they themselves can write such words. The use of multi-media or blackboard is better and easy to follow, this also important to differentiate their language from English.
Motivation Barrier – Students who do not understand their lessons is not motivated to study well and they may prevent the subject and sometimes they may skip in school. How much more if the English language is incorporated in their study? The tendency would seem to double that teacher may found out that there is less students who nearly entered the class. The best thing the teacher can do is to motivate their students by bringing some old students who can fluently speak English as a good example after they graduated, it would be enough to motivate such students to achieve more and learn more and hopefully this would be a start of a wonderful learning experience, they will soon be thankful for the rest of their life if they learn this language.
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