Introduction
Many students flock to the United States every year to learn English as they prepare to join United States Universities. There is also another share of people that want to learn English to simply experience American life. In contrast, others intend to improve their ability and qualification for jobs in the United States. English remains the widely spoken and used language across the globe. The language is learned by many, including those who have not spoken it before. It is for this reason that the English language is used in most institutions that students are encouraged to enroll in intensive programs to learn the English language (Privette 1). Better mastery of English and its appropriate use leads to a better understanding of what students are taught in schools. In turn, they improve their academic scores in their institutions. Every institution has different English proficiency requirements that students must meet before they gain admission to the university or college. In debating and sharing ideas, university life becomes more interesting and easier with understanding English, especially in American schools where English is the language used mostly. Various institutions, therefore, provide college and university English programs to help students study the language as they prepare to start their post-high school studies.
English requirements at colleges and universities should be kept since they provide an important foundation for students to build upon when it comes to their academic and professional writing skills. English classes focus on grammar, composition, and rhetoric fundamentals, which are essential skills for any student preparing for a college education. Moreover, English courses often emphasize critical thinking and analytical writing, which can help students succeed in other courses and their future careers. Most courses on campus are offered in English, except for some language courses that mostly concentrate on the specific language and its requirements. However, the new or foreign languages students may learn in the university depend on English as the primary language or the reference language as they teach students the new language. When it comes to job seeking, the English language provides the students with the appropriate skills, both in spoken and written English, to help them compete well in the job market (AL-Khalil 3).
The English requirements at colleges and universities are a source of debate. Some believe they are necessary to ensure that students are prepared for their collegiate studies, while others argue that they create unnecessary barriers and put students at a disadvantage. However, the decision to keep or eliminate English requirements should be based on an analysis of the benefits and drawbacks of such requirements and an understanding of how they impact student success. Upon examining the merits and demerits of the language, it will be appropriate to conclude whether it is worthy of elimination or keeping.
The advantages of using English language requirements are many, and one of the major ones is that they provide a baseline of language proficiency that all students must meet. By ensuring that all students have a basic level of language proficiency, English requirements can help to ensure that students are prepared for their college-level coursework, especially in fields that require extensive writing and reading. English is the language of common use in universities and colleges; students must meet the language’s requirements to help them study well in their faculties. The proficiency that students gain in studying the language and its usage will go a long way to benefit them past their academic journey. For instance, the students will enter the competitive job market upon completing their studies on campus. With their language skills, they will find it easy to compete for the available job opportunities. Such jobs may be teaching jobs or other jobs where language is a key element, including secretarial jobs where communication is a key skill (AL-Khalil 5).
English requirements can help promote a more varied and culturally competent campus environment and provide a baseline of linguistic competence. Universities may promote an environment where students from various backgrounds can communicate and work more effectively by requiring a common language. A better interchange of ideas and more meaningful interactions between students and instructors can result from the requirement of English. However, there are a number of disadvantages to having to speak English. One example is that English requirements may erect unneeded obstacles that disproportionately harm students from particular backgrounds. For instance, pupils from economically underprivileged homes could find it difficult to develop the requisite language skills due to a lack of resources.
As some colleges have been accused of using English requirementsto weedg out undesirable applicants, English requirements may also be used to exclude students from particular backgrounds (Shaliha 3). Additionally, the implementation and upkeep of English requirements can be expensive for universities. Universities need to hire and educate additional staff to administer language exams and invest in resources to ensure students are acquiring the essential language proficiency. Universities might also be obligated to provide extra assistance, like tutoring, to students who have trouble passing their English exams. It is also critical to consider how English requirements affect student achievement. While English requirements could establish a baseline for linguistic competence, they could also make some students feel anxious and stressed out.
Students may become less engaged in their studies due to English requirements since they may be more concerned with meeting the language requirements than actually participating in their academics. Overall, a consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of such requirement and how they affect student progres, should be made before deciding whether to preserve or remove English requirements. All students can benefit from having a minimum level of language ability thanks to English requirements, which can also promote a more varied and culturally sensitive campus atmosphere.
The implementation and upkeep of English requirements can be expensive for institutions and result in unneeded hurdles (Shaliha 6). As some students may be more concerned with meeting the language requirements than participating in their studies, English requirements may also result in a decline in student engagement. In the end, whether to preserve or drop English requirements should depend on an analysis of the specific needs of a university and the advantages and disadvantages of such requirements.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the benefits of the English language to the classroom are far more than the disadvantages. In this regard, the language should be kept in colleges and universities. Despite the challenges of decreased engagement, as some may not get a chance to study in universities and colleges with strict requirements of the English language, the language prepares students for the world where they can easily interact with many people out there. Therefore, putting aside the element of the cost associated with attaining the English requirement in some prestigious universities and colleges, the student will, at the end of it, benefit in a significant way.
Works Cited
AL-Khalil, Eman Abdulsalam. “The role of English in present day higher education.” Book of Proceedings. 2015.
Privette, Jennifer. “Learning English in the USA.” StudyUSA, 2021, www.studyusa.com/en/a/49/learning-English-in-the-USA.
Shaliha, Siti. “CIELT – the Advantages and Disadvantages of Using English as a Medium of Instruction in the Classroom.” Scribd, Scribd, 2022, www.scribd.com/document/136611781/CIELT-The-Advantages-and-Disadvantages-of-Using-English-as-a-Medium-of-Instruction-in-The-Classroom-docx.
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