Language difficulties are definitely one of the biggest critical issues for international students and as they directly affect their wellbeing. Language barriers in the classroom are becoming a rising problem as students from minority face so many obstacles when learning English as their second language.
How can students overcome these barriers and not let them affect their academic success or their wellbeing? Follow our tips to build more confidence and enjoy your student life to the fullest!
What are these barriers?
Due to language difficulties, the majority of international students has low self-esteem and are feeling uncomfortable, or even afraid, to speak up during classes as they fear of not being understood or laughed at. That also affects their academic performance. These emotions are something they feel even when they’re communicating with their peers. Unfortunately, language difficulties do not allow each student the opportunity to meet its full potential. All this directly affects their emotional and psychical health.
Essay writing service: the emotional health of international students
Many students who are taking classes in a foreign language are afraid they don’t have a strong ability to express themselves. This alone results in many negative consequences, such as isolation, shame, separation, sadness, frustration, fear, and so on. There’s no doubt about how much emotional stress international students feel during their student days. Majority of international students will suffer from a lack of self-confidence which is crucial when learning a new language. So, this not only affects their present but their future as well.
During their education, these students have to write academic papers in a language that is not their own. Not being able to express thoughts is affecting their academic success. With so with many activities, students are looking for help in the form of essay writing service to overcome at least one obstacle. These custom-writing services are helping international students to create perfect content which decreases their stress level. That way, they can focus on more efficient ways of learning a new language instead of being frustrated about writing that paper.
Tips to overcome language barriers
Each change is difficult, especially when you’re not expressing yourself in your own language. Luckily, there are some things that can help international students overcome these negative emotions they might feel. As shame is the most common feeling in such situations, the only way to get rid of it is to go against it. Whenever you feel like you don’t know how to say something, say it anyway. Maybe you will have to rephrase that sentence a few times before someone completely understands you, and that’s alright! Remember that only practice makes perfect.
Unfortunately, all of this will make you feel exhausted. Trying to speak a foreign language all the time will make you feel tired and frustrated, but why not having a call or a coffee with someone who speaks your language? This will make you happy and give you the strength to keep learning as you notice you’re not alone in this.
Since we already said that practice makes perfect, you will really have to practice. Talk to a local person you like hanging around with and practice your vocabulary. This will help you develop conversational skills which leads to fluency. Also, you can watch a movie in the local language or go to movies with that local person you like. Try to get as much positive experience with a foreign language as possible: movies, music, concerts, parties, new friendships, volunteering, etc.
Lastly and most importantly, don’t take it too seriously. Laugh every now and then to mistakes you make. People around you will not judge you because you mispronounced something. Having a positive attitude will make your troubles less scary, and you might end up enjoying this experience!
Be brave
Overcoming these language barriers is challenging and can be really unbearable sometimes. That’s why it’s important for international students to know there is a solution to their situation. On the other hand, it’s quite important to have a good support system, from colleagues to professors. Every person can make a small step in building a diverse, accepting and positive community!