Language barriers in school can significantly affect students’ academic performance and just overall experience. In fact, language barriers can affect understanding, learning the subject, and the ability to complete assignments correctly.

When students cannot understand the language, they may be scared to talk or even participate in class.  They may struggle to do the homework in class or even at home.  If they participate in class, and answer a question he or she might not know if the answer was right or wrong. This can greatly affect the students’ grade because they are not able to fully understand the materials that the teacher teaches.

Some schools do not provide enough resources to support English Language Development or also known as ELD students because of district budget cuts. Without a solid foundation, such as devoted teachers/class, tutors, or translators. Students may fall behind. Although sometimes teachers may sit a student who also speaks the same language together to help them communicate.

Language barriers also affect communication between teachers, students, and families. For example, if the teacher is worried about the student but the parent speaks another language, it can be difficult to communicate with the parent without a translator to help them. Even when translators are available, communication may be limited. Students who do not speak the language may struggle to ask questions or even understand the instructions. Socially, language barriers can make students feel isolated, especially if no one they know speaks their language, this can lead to loneliness and difficulty forming friendships.

In the classroom, students may feel embarrassed to speak up or answer questions because they are unsure of how to respond. Overall, students who do not fully understand the language often face academic challenges, social isolation, and a lack of confidence in school and maybe even outside of school.