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Marlyn Moring

Professor Batty

English 101

09 October 2019

Language Barrier Faced by Latinx Students

Are you one of those Latinx students who wanted to become academically successful,

even if there may be some barriers that will keep you on becoming one? The language barrier is

one of the challenges that Latinx students face every day of their lives. Some Latinx students are

afraid to speak up due to misunderstandings and misinterpretations that may lower their

self-esteem. Although there are English subjects like ESL and ELL that helps students who are

having a hard time speaking the English language, I argue that instead of putting the non-English

speakers in one class altogether it would be much better for the Latinx K-12 students if they

interact more with the English speakers around them to improve the English-speaking skills that

would help them achieve success in college. Latinx K-12 students might have significant

contributions when they graduate. Besides, overcoming the language barrier may help people

unite, allowing them to communicate well, by accepting each other's differences and making

each other feel we belong in this community.

Although there are English subjects like ESL and ELL that help students who are having

a hard time speaking the English language, Latinx K-12 students should interact more with the

English speakers around them to improve their English-speaking skills by suggesting students

take regular English classes. According to the article “Perceptions of Educational Barriers

Affecting the Academic Achievement of Latino K-12 Students.” by David Becerra, “Forty-five
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percent of all Latino students in U.S. public schools are classified as ELL… Too many white

teachers don't know how to deal with Latino kids because they come from different cultures”

(Becerra 168). This proves that there are a lot of Latinx K-12 students taking ESL or ELL classes

that are having a hard time to cope up with the language barrier, especially the teachers

themselves that can’t deal with the students due to the language barrier. This neglects the

students’ purpose of being academically successful.

In addition, one of the effects of the language barrier to Latinx K-12 students is it lowers

their self-esteem. Students like them are having a hard time interacting with the other students

because there might be a misunderstanding that usually occurs. Based on the article “Falling

Behind: The Challenges Facing Latino Education in the U.S.” by Silvia Davila, “Latino

immigrant students have limited opportunities to fully participate in activities that would support

social and cognitive development. Consequently, they will likely continue to struggle

academically and may suffer socially as well” (Davila). This proves that language barrier can not

just affect the academic career of Latinx K-12 students. Still, it also affects how they socialize

with other fellow students in school because some may not have the confidence to speak out or

try to engage with other students that they might feel left out for some reason. In fact, being able

to engage with some other people might help Latinx K-12 students to become more productive in

school activities or even with their studies and be able to overcome their lack of self-esteem,

which makes them achieve academic success throughout their journey in college life.

Lastly, some people may think that subjects like ESL and ELL classes are a helpful way

to make the students improve their language skills and it has benefits for students to help them

communicate more effectively with the people that surround them. As stated in the article titled
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“Why Is It Important to Maintain the Native Language?”, “​ESL classes prepare students to be

fully engaged with their communities… ESL students benefit by being able to take advantage of

educational and training opportunities, which lead to employment, promotions...” (​ “Why Is It

Important to Maintain the Native Language?”). This proves that ESL class has a lot of benefits

that lead students not just to be academically successful, but it also provides students to

understand how communication is essential and what it’s like to live in a country that has a lot of

opportunities waiting for them. I agree that ESL class has a lot of benefits for Latinx K-12

students to improve their English-speaking skills and become socially inclined ,but I argue that

it’s not enough and may not be that effective for some English learner students because their

improvement relies on their willingness to learn and explore more about their surroundings and

being in an ESL class won’t help them overcome those barriers that they undergo.

Overall, Latinx students should interact more with the English speakers around them. To

improve their English-speaking skills, they shouldn't put in an ESL class where the non-English

speakers are all in one place altogether, which won't help them cope with the language barrier.

This means they might not be academically successful in college life and won't be able to

achieve higher education. For the most part, we need more Latinx K-12 students to reach higher

education to balance the equity gap that is happening between them and other ethnicities, where

everything should be balanced.

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Works Cited

Becerra, David. “Perceptions of Educational Barriers Affecting the Academic

Achievement of Latino K-12 Students.” Children & Schools, vol. 34, no. 3, July

2012, pp. 167–177. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ984545&site=eds-live

Davila, Silvia Alvarez de. “Falling Behind: The Challenges Facing Latino Education in

the U.S.” CEHD Vision 2020, 28 Apr. 2016,

cehdvision2020.umn.edu/blog/challenges-facing-latino-education/.

“Why Is It Important to Maintain the Native Language?” IDRA, National Clearinghouse for

Bilingual Education, Jan. 2000,

www.idra.org/resource-center/why-is-it-important-to-maintain-the-native-language/.