I used to think that only people from other continents, especially Africa, where I hail from, have a problem when it comes to communication. I was dead wrong.
I couldn’t believe that even some Americans undergo the same communication breakdown if they meet people from other states, who pronounce and refer to things differently.
But I suppose we are the hardest hit when it comes to communication in America. We have to learn new stuff. Imagine you going to my country, Kenya, and starting to learn Kiswahili. I tell you it’s hard.
Can you just think for a minute about the first mistakes you will make or how long you will keep quiet because you haven’t mastered the language well? Perhaps you fear getting embarrassed as a result of people laughing at you.
This is what a lot of international students are going through here. Some who are courageous enough will just talk whether you understand them or not.
However, others would rather opt to keep quiet as they learn the new language so that they can be fluent.
Nevertheless, I assure you it takes time for a foreigner to learn a new language and communicate freely as though it’s his or her mother tongue.
Since most of our countries on the African continent were either colonized by the British or the French, we had to automatically take on their accent and language. That is why most of us are having problems when it comes to communication.
Being here, I have had my share of problems and embarrassment with the way I pronounce words, and I am sure my colleagues from Africa will agree with me that we are going through a rough time with catching up with American English, since it is very fast.
Some of us are taking English classes, which are helping us very much to polish our accents.
All we are asking from our colleagues, acquaintances and professors, is to be patient with us, especially those that are learning American English for the first time.
In addition, everyone should learn to listen keenly to what the other person is saying, particularly the foreigners who are not accustomed to fast-paced American English.
All in all, if we are given a chance to be listened to by both students and professors, there won’t be any communication break down. Then life for international students will be a lot better.
If you rumble on words and move at a lightning speed when communicating, it leads to an automatic communication breakdown for international students who are not used to that kind of pace.
As one international student said, “We need all the university community to be good listeners to us and be patient with the way we pronunce our words, as we try to fit in your shoes.”

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