A consideration of the problems faced by international students in English Language acquisition.

Abstract

In my ten years of dealing with international students in the role of study support lecturer, one of the major preoccupations among students is over their level of English language. Although all students enter their course with a minimum level of IELTS 6, many feel disadvantaged by particularly poor spoken English, and suffer feelings of anxiety, shame and inferiority. Low self-confidence means that many feel ill-equipped to engage in class discussion and in social interaction with the host community. A common reaction to stress caused by communication problems is to retreat into communication with conational students, further inhibiting progress in language. Whilst linguistic progress is made by nearly all students, support systems nevertheless must be put in place to alleviate the shock experienced by international students at the start of the academic sojourn. If British universities are to continue to recruit international students with the minimum qualification of IELTS 6, the author strongly suggests that academic and language support should be provided.