English Programs for non-English Speaking College Students

The Faculty of Engineering at Cairo University (one of the biggest, oldest, and most reputable colleges in Egypt) uses English as the language of the written media for instruction and evaluation (e.g., class notes, textbooks, tests, and homework assignments) for all years of study except the first year. Based on the higher education admission system, the students who join this faculty are among the top of high-school graduates. Although these students study English for six to twelve years at their pre-college schools (depending on the type of the schools), English is not used in any type of communication in the society. Thus, heavy use of this foreign language (with technical and professional focus) during the college study forms a barrier to some students, which calls for more attention and effort toward reducing the level of inconvenience that students may feel.From my experience as an undergraduate and graduate student, and a teaching assistant in this typical large-size Middle-Eastern technical college, I address some of the difficulties that face non-English speaking college students when they enroll in English programs. I give some suggestions and propose changes to improve the performance of the offered English programs and to avoid the pitfalls that students may fall into when adapting themselves to these programs.