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Jessica Arouk
Ali M. Meghdadi
Writing 39C/ Section 33374
26 May 2014
Language is What Connects Us
Language is powerful. It is a system that allows for innovation, modification and
evolution. Language is a method of how we show our emotions and feelings; it is how we
express our selves, and more importantly is it how we form our identity. We connect with one
another by talking to each other and not only that but, it helps us identify our personality.
Dorothea McCarthy and Carl Murchison who are part of the American Psychological
Association state the importance of language when they states that, Language is the medium by
which higher intellectual processes are revealed. It is the essential means of social
communication and is one of the outstanding systems of habits which distinguishes man from the
lower animals (McCarthy and Murchison 334). Syrians are a group of people who are proud of
the language that they speak and are a fundamental aspect of their studies in Syria. However,
when language is hindered it can isolate human beings rather than connect them. Syrian
immigrants coming to the United States after a horrifying war, face many obstacles, language
being one of them. Language is the common denominator of the cultural, financial, and
educational problems that Syrian immigrants face when trying to assimilate into American
culture.
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Some history of the struggle of modern day Syrian immigrants is necessary to better
understand their struggles with language and assimilation. To begin with, the Syrian people have
endured a tough enough time in their own country. Syria was a country filled with beauty,
history, culture, and life until the Civil War broke out in March 2011, which was the result of the
Arab Spring in the Middle East. The Arab Spring was a series of anti-government protests,
uprisings and armed rebellions that spread across the Middle East in early 2011. Although there
were many uprising, one of the largest and most violent
was the uprising that happened against the dictator like
Syrian president Bashar Al Assads regime and his
party, the Baath party. War is a terrifying phenomenon
that takes the lives of many innocent civilians,
destructs economy, brings upon depression and sorrow,
causes people to leave their homes and lose their jobs.
Syrians have proven resilient through fighting for their
freedoms, but despite their fighting they are unable to win. Children have no proper education,
men are without work, and hundreds of thousands of people are without food or shelter. There
have been well over one hundred forty six thousand deaths of women, children, and men. As a
result of the mass destruction and killing taking place, Syrians have had to flee to countries that
border Syria but also went as far as the United States of America to find protection.
Syria is the only country that is recognized in a global war for the past four years and one
of the few places in the world recognized to use chemical weapons against their own civilians.
Migrating to the United States is no longer a choice, but a means of survival. Unlike Lebanese,
Jordanians, Saudi Arabians, Chinese, or Mexicans who can all return to their country whenever
Death Tolls in Syria from 2011-2012
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they please, Syrians cannot fathom the ideal of returning back to the hell they were living in.
Although coming to the United States seems like a better solution for the Syrian people,
immigrating to the United States comes with a price. Even though they escape death, Syrians
face many more problems than they expect when migrating to the United States. When coming
to the United States, Syrians face assimilation which is the blending of Syrian culture into the
dominant society of the American culture. The ideal of assimilation in todays American culture
is much more strained because of the advances in the work force, education, and economic
matters. The problem now is that Syrians are facing much more cultural, financial, and
educational dilemmas than ever before. To end this problem, not only is awareness towards
Syrian assimilation necessary, but also to overcome the language barrier. Once the language
barrier is overcome, Syrians are able to obtain an education, get jobs, and are more likely to
assimilate into American life better.
The first main issue with language is education, because without English the Syrian
children are unable to get educated and move up in life. It is horrifying enough that most of the
children in Syria have not had proper education in the past three years because of the war. A
surprising study done by the United Nations says
that, There are today 4.8 million Syrian children
of school age. Inside Syria, 2.2 million of them
are not in school, while more than half a million
refugee children are not in school outside Syria.
The numbers are rising by the day (UNICEF 5). When these children leave Syria and depart to
other countries they are already two or three years behind their fellow classmates. If that wasnt
enough of an issue, English and Arabic differs in many different aspects. The first one being that
This chart shows the number of Syrian children
not in school
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Arabic is a Semitic language that is written from right to left in cursive script whereas English is
written from left to right. Arabic has 28 consonants and 8 vowels/diphthongs, whereas English
has 24 consonants and 22 vowels. A comparative statistical study on Arabic versus English done
by Professors Fahad Alotaiby ,Salah Foda, Ibrahim Alkharashi point out the difficulty of the
Arabic language when they say that, Arabic words frequently incorporate grammatical
elements indicating attributes such as verb aspect,
object, conjugation, person, number, gender, and
others. Therefore, Arabic is a morphologically
complex language (Alkharashi, Alotaiby, Foda
811). All these aspects of the differences between
the two languages can cause Arab learners
significant problems when trying to learn English. These factors can play a role when coming to
America and trying to adjust to the education system. Failure to the learn English properly will
cause a Syrian student to do poorly in school, and therefore cause his/her success rate to be
obstructed.
The second issue with language is the challenge of finding a job and trying to maintain
financial stability in your life. Starting over financially is a hurdle most Americans do not
understand. . Ivana Vitali the author of The Importance of Learning the Language in a New
Country makes a great point about how hard it is for people to assimilate into a new country
when they do not know the language when she says that, Finding work when you don't speak
the language fluently, or at all, can be incredibly difficult. The options tend to be limited to
working in the immigrant community with others who speak your language or accepting a lower
This is a table of the differneces in letters between
Arabic and English. It is tough to adapt to English for
Arabic speakers.
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paid post which doesn't involve a lot of talking (Vitali 1). The toughest part about it, for the
Syrians, is that they had status and financial stability in their country. Anyone having to face that
kind of drastic change would find it difficult if it came without warning or preparation. Providing
for yourself and your family is a struggle anywhere in the world, but for the Syrians that come to
United States it is much tougher because they lack job experience that comes from not being able
to speak English. Vitali goes on to say that This is one of the reasons why highly educated
immigrants often end up working in menial jobs and drawing small salaries when they are
capable of doing much more. Learning the tongue used in the country as quickly as possible is
absolutely essential for progressing and earning more money after immigration (1). Some
Syrians that are coming to the United States that are doctors, lawyers, engineers, and
businessmen are unable to find a job, nonetheless find a job in their specific field, because of the
language barrier they face.
The dominant language of business is English and it is business that fuels this country.
Learning how to speak English is practically mandatory to enter the global workforce. In the
article Importance of English Language in Modern Business it talks about the importance of
the globalization of modern business and how modern business has created opportunities for
individuals to build a career. One of the major outlets for the Syrians coming to America after
the war is through business, but their lack of English knowledge can cause many problems such
as: unemployment, achieving success in fields like business, science, media etc and in fact
international travel can also become uncomfortable if you visit a place where your local language
is not spoken and English is the only common medium of communication (Importance of
English Language in Modern Business). Learning English will not only help the Syrian
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immigrants obtain a job, but it will help them maintain a career. Although this problem seems
larger than life, the solution is relatively simple.
One proposed solution to the language barrier that the Syrians face when coming to the
United States is the English as a Second Language (ESL) programs and schools. These ESL
programs and schools meet the needs of adults and children alike. There are adult ESL classes
that cater to adults whose first language is not English, and there are also ESL programs in
elementary, middle, and high schools that cater to the needs of children and teenagers alike so
that they can succeed and thrive in school. The U.S Department of Education defines ESL as
English Language programs that are designed to help immigrants and others who have not yet
developed proficiency in English to acquire the basic knowledge and skills they need to function
effectively as parents, workers, and citizens
(ed.gov 1). Best of all, these ESL programs and
schools are absolutely free. This takes away the
stress of trying to pay for something that is
fundamental to their success in trying to assimilate
into American culture and lifestyle. As humans, we
learn at different paces and because learners in all
adult ESL classes have varying levels of competence in listening, speaking, reading, and writing,
every class can be considered multilevel to some degree (Bell, 2004; Wrigley & Guth, 1992)
(Mathews-Aydinli & Van Horne 1). Therefore, the faster learners will not be held back and the
slower learners of the English language can take their time to learn the language correctly and
not be rushed because their fellow classmates are ahead of them.
Increasing enrollment in ESL programs proves
that they are useful
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An opposing argument to this solution is stated by Ed Morrissey who believes that these
ESL programs hurt immigrants rather than help them. Some people, such as Ed Morrissey who is
the author of the New study confirms that long-term ESL programs trap students , on the other
hand, feels that these programs do not benefit the people who are in them. He states that Long-
term bilingual education programs do not benefit students, but instead keep them locked out of
the mainstream and more likely to drop out of school (Morriessey 1). Although this might be
true, it only appeals to a certain group of people. Most of the Syrians that are coming to the
United States are adults, and these adults are in need of learning proper English in order to be
able to get jobs to support their families. The children that are coming from Syria need English in
order to succeed in school. At that point in their lives they are not worried about getting stuck in
the program as much as they are worried about being able to adapt to the environment they are
in.
However, ESL schools remain as a preferred solution because they have proven to help
children and adults succeed in learning English and becoming productive humans in American
society. Although Morrissey believes that ESL programs traps students, the authors of
Proenglish.org state that these programs In these programs, students spend one full school year
(or longer, if necessary) studying the English languagelearning to speak, read, and write, and
to master the vocabulary they need to learn school subjects taught in English. Children and
adults learn the English skills to be able to become productive human beings in society. As a
matter of fact Proenglish.org gives a surprising statistic when they say that, In a Lexington
Institute study published in 2008, it is reported that some of the highest-performing students in
California public schools are children who started kindergarten with little or no English. (see
Lexington/Jacobs study) In June 2009, Massachusetts proudly announced that in seventeen of
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the forty-two Boston high schools the valedictorian of the graduating class was a student who
had come from another country within the past few years, without any knowledge of English.
This proves that the kids coming from Syria or any other country in the world have the
capabilities of achieving their highest potential. Betterment is about giving people these certain
tools to succeed, and letting them do the rest. You cannot climb to the top of the ladder if the first
rung is missing, and the same concept appeals to the Syrians coming to the United States.
The successes of these ESL programs are not only seen in the United States, but in
countries as far as Jordan and Lebanon. ESL classes are reaching Syrian refuges in many parts of
the world. Maria del Mar Logrono-Narbono who is Professor of History at Florida International
University and Garay Menicucci, Director of International Student Services at Santa Clara
University have found that The UC Davis initiative is exploring programs for placing Syrian
refugee students currently in Lebanon and Jordan in universities in the Arab World, Europe, and
the U.S. (Logrono-Narbono&Menicucci 2). Although the focus is on the United States, we need
to recognize that the many places in the world are looking to improve the language barrier for the
Syrian refugees. They also state that, The Jesuit Center is currently the only NGO that has
ongoing educational programs for Syrian university refugee students. The Center sponsors year-
round ESL courses for refugee students and an array of online certificate programs accredited
through Regis University and conducted in a Greek Orthodox school in the Asrafiyya district of
East Amman and this shows that even though the refugee surge has created a crisis for the
education sector, many places are trying to take action to help solve this crisis. Another aspect of
this whole problem is that most of the Syrian refugees are children, and without the proper
education and care, they are unable to grow and flourish to achieve their fullest abilities.
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Most ESL programs have small classes so that students receive individual attention from
their teachers. The Syrians that come escaping the war are unlike any group of immigrants that
come to the United States because their mental, emotional, and psychological well-being are all
off balance because of the things they have experienced and for this reason, Syrians need extra
care. Myrna Ann Adkins and Barbara Sample of Georgetown University Medical Center bring
this point up in their paper Mental Health and the Adult Refugee: The Role of the ESL
Teacher when they say that, English as a second language (ESL) teachers are often among the
first people available to help refugees and other immigrants cope with a new cultural and
linguistic environment. Although the
identified role of the teacher is to teach
English language skills, the teacher's role as
a cultural broker is very important as well
(Adkins &Sample 1). In this digest, Adkins
and Sample explain that ESL teachers not
only teach English but can help adult refugee
and immigrant learners make significant progress in adjusting to a new life in an unfamiliar
culture. This helps the Syrians learn how to assimilate better into American culture, and not have
that anxiety that they hold.
The White House website contains a statement calling for a moment of reflection on the
important contributions by the generations of immigrants who have helped us build our
economy, and made America the economic engine of the world (Furman & Gray 1). Recently,
Syrian immigrants have been faced with great obstacles that have forced them out of their
country and left them with a lack of resources to improve their position. They need to bridge the
Most Americans believe it is Essential That Immigrants
Learn English
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gap of the language barrier to improve their circumstances. Given the proper resources, Syrian
immigrants will be in a better position to educate themselves, pursue successful careers, and gain
financial stability. ESL programs are the solution and will provide Syrian immigrants with the
opportunity to fulfill the vision that this great country hopes for them.


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Works Cited
Adkins, Myrna Ann, and Barbara Sample. "CAELA: ESL Resources: Digests." CAELA: ESL
Resources: Digests. U.S. Department of Education/Office of Vocational and Adult
Education, Dec. 2000. Web. 10 May 2014.
<http://www.cal.org/caela/esl_resources/digests/mental.html>.
"Adult English Language Instruction." Office of Vocational and Adult Education. U.S
Department of Education, n.d. Web. 21 May 2014.
<http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/pi/AdultEd/englit.html>.
Alotaiby, Fahad, Salah Foda, and Ibrahim Alkharashi. "Arabic Vs. English: Comparative
Statistical Study." Arabian Journal For Science & Engineering (Springer Science &
Business Media B.V. ) 39.2 (2014): 809-820. Academic Search Complete. Web. 22 May
2014.
"Bilingual Education." The Nation's Leading English Language Advocates. ProEnglish, 2014.
Web. 16 May 2014. <https://www.proenglish.org/projects/bilingual-education.html>.
Breiseth, Lydia, and Kristina Robertson. "How to Support Refugee Students in the ELL
Classroom | ELL Topics from A-Z | Colorn Colorado." Colorn Colorado. Reading
Rockets, 2008. Web. 10 May 2014. <http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/23379/>.
Furman, Jason, and Danielle Gray. "Ten Ways Immigrants Help Build and Strengthen Our
Economy." The White House. The White House, 12 July 2012. Web. 11 May 2014.
<http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/07/12/ten-ways-immigrants-help-build-and-
strengthen-our-economy>.
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"Importance of English Language in Modern Business." Language & Learning. EuroSpeak, 13
Nov. 2013. Web. 18 May 2014. <http://kantalk.com/importance-of-english-language-in-
modern-business.html/>.
Logrono-Narbono, Maria Del Mar, and Garay Menicucci. "Syrian War Refugees and
Demographic Change in Jordan:." Center for Middle East Studies, U.C. Santa Barbara.
University of California, Santa Barbara, n.d. Web. 09 May 2014.
<http://www.cmes.ucsb.edu/conference/Gallagher%20Paper%20Summaries/Garay%20M
enicucci.pdf>.
Mathews-Aydinli, Julie, and Regina Van Horne. "Promoting Success of Multilevel ESL Classes:
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<http://hotair.com/archives/2009/10/30/new-study-confirms-that-long-term-esl-
programs-trap-students/>.
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Robinson, Nancy, Barbara Keogh, and Ochan Kusuma-Powell. "Chapter 6: Who Are ESL
Students?" U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State, n.d. Web. 08 May 2014.
<http://www.state.gov/m/a/os/44038.htm>.
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<http://www.omniglot.com/language/articles/newcountrynewlanguage.htm>.






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Work Cited For Images
Alotaiby, Fahad, Salah Foda, and Ibrahim Alkharashi. "Arabic Vs. English: Comparative
Statistical Study." Arabian Journal For Science & Engineering (Springer Science &
Business Media B.V. ) 39.2 (2014): 809-820. Academic Search Complete. Web. 22 May
2014.
Jones, Jeffrey M. "Most in U.S. Say It's Essential That Immigrants Learn English."Most in U.S.
Say It's Essential That Immigrants Learn English. Gallup Inc., 9 Aug. 2013. Web. 22
May 2014. <http://www.gallup.com/poll/163895/say-essential-immigrants-learn-
english.aspx>.
Travis, Paige. "Students Speaking English as a Second Language Rise | KOMU.com | Columbia,
MO |." KOMU.com. Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri-
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students-speaking-english-as-a-second-language-numbers-rise-cps-adjusts/>.
"Syria Crisis: Education Interrupted." United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund.
UNICEF, 13 Dec. 2013. Web. 24 May 2014.
<http://www.unicef.org/media/files/Education_Interrupted_Dec_2013.pdf>.