Use of English as the Official Communication Language in Non-native Colleges

Use of English as the Official Communication Language in Non-native Colleges

The choice of language use is paramount in any setting or social, formal, and informal environments as it will determine the outcome of the meeting process and communication (Kate et al., 2015). I interviewed two students on their perception of English as a choice for official communication in their college. The questions and their responses are shown below.

Question 1

The English language is widely spoken in Kuwait, yet the official language of the country is Arabic. What can you say about its communication, understanding, and its importance in the country’s higher institutions?

Response

English in Kuwait was introduced before the country’s independence as a subject taught and to be part of the curriculum. Kuwait being among Arab countries, we officially speak Arabic, but English has been introduced as a subject to the curriculum.

Clearly, I can say that English is learned in Kuwait as a foreign language. It has no internal function in the learner’s country. It has to be learned for one to be able to communicate with native bilingual users or English speakers of a foreign language. Again, people in Kuwait have dominantly become and highly absorbed by foreign culture, and you can find parents encouraging their children to study foreign languages, specifically English. I can tell you that it has resulted from a massive increase in the need for English in everyday communication in society. Therefore, it comes to usage at the high institution as a subject and compulsory. As Kuwaitis, we have to learn the language to understand and communicate well with it.

Question 2

What can you say about the use of the English language in your higher institutions? How does it impact on your communication and relationship?

Response

English is a foreign language that was imported and imparted into our people. In primary schools, especially in rural areas, children find it difficult to express themselves and to comprehend it. There is a struggle in which its effects are felt at higher institutions. I think there is no full command on the understanding of this language, and it affects communication.

Discussion

Basing on the responses above, it is evident that the choice of using one language in preference to the other, especially a foreign language affects communications in away. Learning a new language and being able to comprehend it entirely is not easily achievable, and it takes time. Many people, especially those who schooled in rural areas, have a challenge in fully communicating and understanding of all language words, comprehension, and different meanings. This, therefore, automatically affects communication interaction and full engagement in meetings.

In cross-cultural meetings, there will be one dominant language well understood by the other, and definitely, communication will not be fully achieved. It mostly calls for the interjection of different language(s) for effective communication. The language is affected mainly by regional dialect, pronunciation, accent, and pidgin, and it will bring communication conflict. A shared language is a resolving factor as it comes into the aid in barriers to understanding (Thomas & Diana, 2013).

In conclusion, it is apparent that language preference over the other directly or indirectly affects communication and relationships to communication in higher institutions. Even though it is the primary language of teaching, students are forced to deeply and widely read various resourceful materials to comprehend and get used to different uses of the same language. Tenses are not a problem, but the understanding of deeper meanings of a word is where the issue lies.