People learn language through practice. Many people believe that having enough opportunities to ‘just talk’ is the best way to learn. However, learning a language takes time. Before one notices progress, one will face various obstacles.

First, Language barrier triggers unpleasant emotions, like anger or embarrassment. Dealing with it will leave the group exhausted, with little sense of accomplishment. Students may have a hard time understanding the teacher’s instructions. Or, they may misunderstand each other’s ideas. They will sometimes spend a lot of time on preparatory activities, and run out of time for the main task.

Second, you also need to know that linguistic challenges affect the teacher’s assessment of the student’s academic work. Students who use their weaker language to study express themselves more simply. For example, they may choose everyday words over academic terms. The texts written by students in their foreign language do not accurately reflect their academic ideas.

Third, people who experience persisting communication problems feel lonely and isolated. Interestingly, one’s level of proficiency is not the only reason for communication breakdowns. Some people are able to carry on with the conversation despite challenges, whereas others withdraw at the first sign of trouble. Therefore, we can learn the strategies that facilitate communication, and make our conversation partners feel included.