Options for English Language Learners Are Plentiful But Which One to Choose?

By Cathryn Edelstein

For the past thirty years I have taught many foreign speakers of English, both as a professor and as a consultant. Some immigrated to the U.S. while others came for to study at American colleges and universities. They all found that the English they had learned in their native countries was not sufficient to communicate fully in their new environments. Some reported that they had difficulty expressing their ideas while others complained that their accents made their communication interactions frustrating and challenging. How then does one improve their communication skills and become more confident?
There are many places English language learners can go to become more effective speakers. Many enroll in English programs at a local community college, seek tutors and mentors provided by community programs, or enroll in language schools. Each of these options have merit, but choosing which one is right for an individual can be complicated and overwhelming. There are literally thousands of programs in the United States. Most of the programs offered at schools or colleges are staffed by teachers who have earned degrees or certificates in Teaching English to Others as a Second Language (TESOL) or Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), and their techniques work. They provide levels of classes with skills that students master as they become more fluent speakers of English. Additionally students learn about American culture and participate in conversational classes. Community programs often provide volunteer tutors with little training but an interest to help people learn English. The cost of the institutionalized classes is often high and classes meet daily or weekly for a set number of weeks as opposed to community programs that have lower costs and meet less frequently.
The bottom line is each individual must choose the path to gaining the English skills they need to be successful. Finances and available time often dictate the right choice. With the multitude of options available, it is important to think seriously about which one will work best. If a person finds that a structured program will best provide the instruction they seek, then a language school or community college program will be most beneficial. For those who seek only occasional contact to improve, a community program staffed by volunteers may be a good option. And for those who are immersed in academia with advanced skills, self-improvement with guides/books and Internet resources can provide the missing links needed. Whatever the choice, improvement takes time. After all, as we say here in the U.S., Rome wasn't built in a day - an idiom to live by.

Cathryn Cushner Edelstein is a Scholar-in-Residence at Emerson College in Boston and the author of Excuse Me, Can You Repeat That? How to Communicate in the U.S. an International Student - A Reference Guide (Five Star Publications, AZ)