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Students see ESL classes as a step to success. Even
after ESL students start taking subject matter
classes with native speakers, they often still
appreciate the special learning environment offered
in ESL classes where all students are learning
English. The following students see ESL classes as
a critical step towards their eventual success in
mainstream college classes with native
speakers. Koji Yamaguchi, a U.S. high school graduate, originally from Japan
I think most of the English that I learned is from hearing and speaking. I just copy a sentence, which is said by someone. Then I think about how to use it or when I can use that sentence. I think English is very difficult and I have to learn it from two ways, which are speaking and listening and grammar study. When I began to take this ESL class in OCC, I found out that I am very weak at grammar study and I really need practice in it. However, if I can advise something for new English learners, I think people should learn speaking and grammar together because they might learn about relation between speaking and grammar. From my experience, a lot of college ESL students learned English grammar in their own country before coming to the college in the U.S. I think it is a very good way to learn English, because I did not learn English that much in my own country; and that is why my grammar study still has a lot of problems. I remember when I came to U.S and began to learn about English grammar. I really could not understand what I was learning about, but now I am taking ESL classes in OCC and I feel I can really understand some or most of it. I think that is because I learned a lot of things from English and American culture by living in U.S for a long time. I think it was really important because relation between language and culture is very important, so I suggest the most important thing that English learners need is to have a contact with English and get used to English. Then begin to learn speaking, listening and grammar. Finally I feel more comfortable learning English now than before because I have gotten used to English more than before.
Jun Suk Yoon, an international student from Korea
In this semester, I am taking one ESL class, and three non-ESL classes: Math 125, Film 100, and History 100. Whenever I attend the history class, I always try to take a note and understand my professor’s lecture. However, I just understand 50% of his lecture because he speaks English very fast and uses some difficult vocabulary. On the other hand, whenever I attend ESL class, I feel so comfortable. Here are some reasons. First, my ESL teacher speaks English more slowly and exactly than my non-ESL teacher. Second, whenever I cannot understand my ESL professor’s lecture, I can ask him many times. Most ESL teachers are so kind because they understand how speaking the second language is difficult. ESL class is very important for non-ESL class. Learning in ESL helps students to be better in non-ESL class.
Tri Dao, a student originally from Vietnam
That’s the reason for me to not understand something. I am kind of shy to ask them about what I don’t understand because the other students might laugh at me. The more I don’t know, the more I get lost. However I feel more comfortable in the ESL classes. I can easily ask my teachers what I don’t know, and people won’t judge me if I say something wrong. I mean they don’t laugh at me even if I pronounce the words wrong or don’t use the right grammar. I think the reason for that may be we all are in the same level, so we can easily know and understand about each other’s problems. On the other hand, there are some good points for me to be in the non-ESL classes. Even though these classes are hard, I still love to take them because I’ve learned much from there. I have learned many new words and the way to speak in daily conservation because there are many friends who are really good in English. The good thing is it makes me feel that I am not like a foreign person while I am participating in these classes.
Haruhiko Shimizu, an international student from Japan
In
my case, I do not want to take class whose students
are mixed. However, I do not mind because I have
taken other classes which separated students. I
know the disadvantage of separate classes. That is
why I do not complain about mixed classes. In my
opinion, ESL students ought to take many kinds of
classes. It will take a long time to complete our
studying.
In most Asian countries, students have to wait to ask questions when the teacher is done with his lecture or talk. Students cannot interrupt when the teacher is lecturing but in the United States or other western countries, students can interrupt during the lecture freely. I was kind of confused about that when I recently immigrated. I thought I had to wait to ask questions after the teacher finished with the lecture but even if I wanted to ask questions, I was worried, if I would say something wrong or sound funny. In non-ESL classes, I was nervous if the teacher asked me a question. There was lot of group activities in classes. That can be positive thing to some people but not to me. In my country, teachers don’t give students group work, maybe one or two times. I was used to individual work so I wasn’t really comfortable with group work in the class. If a person who can’t speak English well comes to United States and studies in the non-ESL classes, there would be lot of problems. I know a friend who came from foreign country, and he couldn’t speak and understand English very well. However, he didn’t take ESL class; he just took non-ESL classes. Result was bad. He couldn’t understand the lecture and the assignments, he got bad grades, and because of bad grades he got stressed. A few months later I heard he went back to his country. I think if he took ESL class first then took non-ESL classes, maybe he could be successful with his studies now. I think international students and people who recently immigrated need some preparation to take non-ESL classes, and if they’re not sure about it, they should take ESL class first.
An Kieu, originally from Vietnam
In addition, there are some disadvantages for ESL student to be in other classes that are non-ESL classes. It is hard for them to communicate with people. In the United States, there are ESL classes in high schools and colleges to help students who study English as a second language. The teachers who teach in ESL classes are friendly, and they understand students’ speaking problems. They help the students to get acquainted with the new language. Students attend in ESL classes don’t feel embarrassed when they have speaking problems because there are students who are at the same level as them. Their goal is to learn English; there’ s no judgment against them. Besides ESL classes, students may have taken other classes that are non-ESL classes. There are some disadvantages for them to get along with the teachers and the teaching style. When foreign students attend non- ESL classes, they feel depressed to participate in class activities. Their problem is understanding academic subjects. Sometimes they can’t get what the teacher talks about. There might be some differences between their country and the way in the US. They also feel embarrassed when they don’t understand the subject and they get lost. Although there are some problems, there is still good points for students who take non-ESL classes. They can learn more English in speaking and writing skill. They have to try more to learn their foreign language. And they can get what they want by trying hard.
The teachers, Sarah Sarkissian and Greg Conner, comment on this project. Return to: Collaborative Projects Integrating Technology | Home Page
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