Language Fluency and Discrimination: A Study on International Students at a Midwestern University

• In Event: Roundtable Session 17
  In Roundtable Session: Language and Literacy Education: Global Perspectives

Abstract

Approximately 800,000 international students were studying at US universities during the 2010/11 academic year. International students face numerous challenges in the course of their studies. However, according to research language and cultural barrier is their most pressing challenge. Research also indicates that most Americans have a stereotypical perception of international students which leads to prejudice and discrimination against these students. Although many studies have investigated the role of language fluency in creating academic and social challenges for international students, there is little research exploring the relationship between language fluency and discrimination. Therefore, in this study I would like to study the implications of English fluency on the discrimination that international students experience at a Midwestern University.

Author

• Nastaran Karimi, Purdue University