 "Photo:")
Editor's Note - 1310 students took ESOL classes in the spring 2009 semester, not 2310 as originally reported. The number of students enrolled in the program includes both students receiving credit hours, and students in the continuing education program.
Students of English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL) say that the language barrier is what makes it the hardest for foreigners to integrate and adapt to the USA.
"The language difference makes me feel like I don't know anything," said Jie Luo, a medical doctor from China. Jie moved to the USA with her husband 18 months ago and is taking ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes to learn English and to eventually obtain her medical license in America.
Lourdes (Lulu) Pyron, ESOL department administrative assistant cited that 2310 students registered in ESOL classes at ACC during the 2009 spring semester, this is as 300 student increase from last semester. A state-mandated rule orders these non-native students to take the ESL placement test if they fail to pass the TOEFL or the TCOM exams. Lulu explained that the ESL test "is a location test to see how much knowledge they have and what the need is. They are placed in class levels accordingly."
According to most students, ESOL classes help them with communication and with getting a job. They state that these classes even help them with everyday things such as getting around in the stores.
Student Yvrance Volcy said, "ESOL classes are very good. I learn so much. I was scared to open my heart because I would think that my grammar would be so bad. Now I feel [I can talk] freely. I feel comfortable."
Yvrance was 22 when she left Haiti in 1980 to join her husband who had come to study in America. "It was very hard for me to learn English because my husband was very controlling," said Yvrance. "He did not want me to go to school so I learned English on TV with soap operas."
Student Jony Saha moved to the US from Bangladesh when he was 17 and eventually opened his own business. He suggested that "working with customers helps [a person] learn English more than TV."
For some students, the problem of communication goes beyond just inhibiting their social life. Some of them expressed difficulties in securing jobs.
"It is a problem at interviews," said student Casimir Leumalieu, referring to his accent.
According to Leumalieu, who emigrated from the French-speaking region of Cameroon with his family three years ago, when you have somebody to help you out in the first steps, such as a sponsor for renting an apartment, there is no problem in being a foreigner in this country. The difficulty is being able to communicate with people, especially over the phone.
"Sometimes people talk too fast," said Luo
Student Trish Rivera, who came from Columbia with her one-year-old daughter when she was 16, had a different kind of experience. "I had many episodes in school," said Trish. Initially, she had thought that her peers were being nice to her but she later discovered that they were actually making fun of her.
Student Alfonso Sifuentes, who came from Mexico in 1996 said, "You lose the fear of being embarrassed. When I maybe say a word wrong, I don't care anymore."
Student Salvador Venegas, who came from Mexico five years ago said "ESOL classes help me express myself, to communicate with people that speak English, not necessarily Americans but people from other countries."
Luo concluded that once she had learned the customs and the culture, she felt more comfortable living here in America.
Although student Nora Tinajero, 25, who came with her family from Mexico in 2002, feels well-integrated in the USA, she said, "I feel that I always need to put in a bit more effort than the natives because of the language."
Be the first to comment on this article!