The Reason They Are Here

In my first semester here at San Francisco State University I was interviewed by The Golden Gate Xpress about whether I as a student thought immigrants living in California should have access to financial aid.  I said, “I think if they’re here and they’re serious students they deserve an opportunity for an education.”  I feel the same about students who are not quite ready for college level work.  Most students come to college because they want to learn and they should not be left out.  Everyone should have access to an education and what better place is there to get the skills one needs then in college itself? 

 I do not think I was exactly ready for college level work returning after a sixteen year absence, but through good teaching I developed my skills and learned how to be successful.  My return to school began at a city college and I am a whole hearted supporter of that system.  I am not saying that students must be sent to city college if they are not ready, but it is not a bad place for a student to take the time they need to develop their skills. However, I am also a believer in prerequisite classes and placement testing.  Students should also be able to take courses that require some writing so they can develop their skills. 

Instead of the California government making cuts in education they should be supporting programs beginning at the high school level.  The academic writing class has a much different face then it had twenty years ago.  No longer is the writing classroom all native born speakers of English.  We now have many international and generation 1.5 students.  Our institutions need more programs to meet the specific needs of this state’s diverse student population.  It is obvious that there are many students in university that are not up to speed and teachers and administrations have the difficult task of trying to meet these student’s needs. 

In regards to reading and writing, pre-reading and pre-writing skills are both essential to perform at the college level. Pre-reading helps students select the best sources for their academic papers and pre-writing helps them get started in the writing process.  There is also an academic register that students need to acquire so they can communicate effectively with their teachers and peers. Students also need to be introduced to different writing processes to see what works for them and what does not.  Another skill we have yet to discuss in class is critical thinking. Students need to be able to evaluate sources and pose arguments.  This leads to being able to write thesis statements and structure essays.  As future composition teachers our hands are full with trying to help students be prepared for academic level reading and writing, but if we put our hearts into creating courses that meet our student’s needs we may be able to help them with the reason they are here: to learn.