Speaking Up in America

Life in another language

"What are bad words?" Tomoya asks Majid. Grinning like a mischievous 10-year-old, he pantomimes shooting a basketball into an imaginary hoop. Then he answers his own question.

"Fuck and son-ah-beech, that is what they say when they miss shot," says Tomoya.

Majid winces at Tomoya's words. Majid is giving his talk today on the difference between Arabic and American music. He has said it was difficult to listen to the "bad words" prevalent in some American music.

Tom Walady smiles patiently. He has probably heard it all in his 18 years of instructing with the International English Language Institute. He simply suggests "raunchy" may be a more appropriate adjective to describe Majid's impression of American music lyrics.

"I listen to Arabic music to relax and feel comfortable," Majid tells the group. "The instruments are different - drums and violins are used a lot. Solos are more popular than groups, and Arabic music focuses more on the words. It is difficult to find a good song here. A lot of songs, they use bad words."

Laura de la Rosa earned her journalism degree in Chile, prior to attending IELI. She questions Majid about his government's censorship of music. She seems to be concerned about the lack of freedom in his country.

Serious and mature for his 26 years, Majid appears uncomfortable with her question. His classmates move closer and wait for his response.

"My country can't use bad words," Majid explains. "It wouldn't sell because the people don't want to listen to bad words, and the government protects them." He points out the harmful influence bad words and certain subjects could have on teenagers. The group seems to agree with him about the teenagers.

"So the music is censored by the government?" Laura, the journalist, will not abandon the question. The term "censorship" is kicked around the conference table while Tom watches and listens to the group discussion. He breaks in and asks, "Do you understand what censorship means, Majid?"

"No."

Student members of the International English Language Institute gather for their weekly meeting to discuss current events and future plans. photo by Kevin Bell

"Yes," he says. "But the people do not care because they know the government is only protecting them from bad words, and certain subjects they don't want to listen to anyway. Freedom of choice in music is not good."

Gentjan, an Albanian student, tells the group he listened to American music when it was forbidden by his government to do so. He says he had no idea what the words meant, but he "enjoyed the music on its own."

Someone else wants to know if popular musicians in Saudi Arabia get rich like here in America. "Oh yes, they make a lot of money," Majid answers.

Laura asks him if Arabic lyrics are mostly religious. "No," Majid answers. "They are mostly about love." Everyone around the table laughs. Someone remarks, "It's the same all over the world."

The students also learn to incorporate idioms such as "put our heads together," "kick something around for a while," "dry run," and "you're kidding." Each student takes his or her turn reading from a script. Today's plot revolves around some yuppie types discussing the merits of their architect.

It is time for lunch, and some of the students head to the Depot. They have finished today's bridge-speaking class. The purpose of bridge speaking, according to a handout, is to "assist students with high intermediate and advanced skills in English as they make the transition to regular American university classes. The focus will be on improving speaking skills, especially in asking questions, making comments, participating in class discussions, and giving short, informal talks." The students choose their own weekly discussion topics. Next week the topic will be on drugs.

The International English Language Institute is totally self-sustaining and a not-for-profit organization, says Don S. Andrews, director of the program. In the early '70s, Andrews explains, the university contracted with the Saudi government to have a group of students come over here and get a master's degree in educational administration.

One problem: When they arrived, none of the students spoke English! No one thought to ask. It was assumed they would be English-speaking students since they were seeking advanced degrees from an American university. The IELI program was established out of necessity to solve the language-barrier problem.

Andrews says the IELI is administered through the Humboldt Foundation, not the state. Students in the program stay anywhere from eight weeks to a year. He points out since the dollar has become so strong against other currencies, it now costs anywhere from two to three times as much for a student to attend the IELI. To live in Humboldt County is less expensive than in the big cities, and most students are watching their pennies.

"Our goal is to help them - both culturally and linguistically - in the classroom," Andrews says. "The student's objectives range from being able to attend an American university to being rewarded for completing high school or earning a college degree. Instead of coming over here to go to Disneyland or wander the Grand Canyon, it is more acceptable to be studying English."

Tomoya Fujita, 23, is from Tokyo and among the approximately 20 percent of students who are here for a vacation or reward. He has been here almost two years. There is a problem he did not anticipate with his matriculation process, however. He says his high school grades were "D, D, D, D and D." He took the TOEFL and scored 500. University admission requirements include a minimum score of 550. TOEFL scores vary with the institution, Andrews says. For instance, Stanford's minimum score is 600.

Tomoya was told he needed to go to College of the Redwoods and take the lower-division classes. Tomoya says he came over here to go to Humboldt, not College of the Redwoods. But they worked out a compromise. If Tomoya took a couple of university-level classes and received As, he would be admitted. He earned an A and a B+ last semester and is now studying aquaculture, or "fly-fishing," he jokes.

In contrast, Majid Al Fawaz, 28, from Saudi Arabia is not here for a vacation. He has been accepted in a law program at a university in Ohio and he only has three to four months to prepare. He has been in the IELI for seven months and has become very proficient in English. He will go on to practice business and international law.

The cliche "it's a small world" definitely applies to Gentjan Droboniku, from Albania. He is 24 and has been here for two months. Gentjan is able to attend with help from a popular artist and Humboldt professor, Demetri Mitsanas. Gentjan met Mitsanas in Greece where the Albanian student was working as a bricklayer and building a fireplace in the professor's home. Mitsanas told Gentjan about the IELI and offered to sponsor him. Gentjan will be studying international relations upon passing the TOEFL.

Norbert Drzymala is from Poland. He is 26 and has been at Humboldt since last October. He found out about the IELI through his sister, who is attending graduate school in Oregon. He will be entering Humboldt's MBA program. Norbert commented that English was much easier to read on the IELI web site. He could take his time on the Website, and "it is stressful to talk (English) on the phone."

Abdullah Al-Menea, 23, is from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He has a ready smile and is eager to practice his English. He has been here for six months and lives with a host family. He heard about the program from a friend who had attended. The fact Humboldt's program is the least expensive was also a factor in choosing Humboldt over other IELI locations. Abdullah has graduated with a degree in international business. He found that without excellent English skills, getting a job was almost impossible in his country.

On a recent field trip, he experienced snow for the first time. He plans to try skiing at Mt. Shasta. Although the field trips are not included in the cost of the program, he takes advantage of every one he can. Abdullah did experience a bout of homesickness after a month. He is used to living with his parents, brothers and sisters. His decision to live with a host family was a good one, he says and it definitely improved his English. He has decided to stay another two months to make sure his English is good enough to get a job when he returns. Abdullah is enthusiastic about the program. "They teach very well here."

Walady says almost all of Humboldt's international students come from the IELI program. International students enhance the quality of the university. When asked about the crowded classrooms, cracked or missing light fixtures, and general shabbiness, Walady explained budget constraints were the reason. IELI is totally self-supporting. Their entire income depends upon how many students are enrolled in a session. If they run short of funds one session, it is possible to get a loan from the Extended Education department. They are expected to pay back the money at some point, of course. Therefore, they are unable to accumulate money for basic improvements; the desks and other equipment are university hand-me-downs.

Walady walks quickly as he talks. He and other instructors must scramble from one end of the campus to the other in less than 10 minutes to teach the next class. Tom hopes they will be given additional space this summer. Nelson Hall East, the hall they use now for a few classes, is light and airy with plenty of room and conference tables - instead of beat-up desks crammed into tiny spaces. But Nelson Hall East will be unavailable during IELI's summer sessions.

Newsweek recently did an article featuring the IELI programs. It positioned Humboldt University at one end of the spectrum and New York University at the other. Humboldt was touted as a rural experience. It was a flattering article overall and Humboldt gained national attention because of it. Unfortunately, even exposure of that magnitude hasn't convinced the powers that be how important and valuable this program is to the image of the university.

IELI and its facilities are the first, and sometimes the only, impressions international students get of our university and our country. Can't we at least afford to repair the light fixtures?