Reading journal #5

Language Learning in the Library:

Exploring How ESL Students Use Academic Libraries

In the PowerPoint Presentation, Karen Bordonaro, PhD, who is an instruction coordinator in Information Literacy Service, made a survey that investigate what students, who are learning English as a second language, do in libraries on campus. Karen Bordonaro, PhD also wanted to see further-- whether libraries are good places to improve one's language skill extended from classrooms.

This PowerPoint Presentation was intended to speak to ESL students, the staff members in the libraries and people who are responsible to organize the libraries.

At the beginning of the presentation, Karen Bordonaro drew the audiences' attention by asking a few questions about the relationship between English learning and using the libraries. With these questions, he continued to analyse how ESL students use the libraries in different dimensions and aspects.

Firstly, he talked about the general conception of using libraries. For example, a good atmosphere of studying helps students extent his learning after classes. Moreover, the English environment is pure. Libraries are not places that teach people English deliberately. On the contrary, it adjusts students themselves to an English world. According to my experience, as an ESL student, I learn better when exposed to a real English situation. I can learn unconsciously when using my English thinking to deal with problems compared to reading my textbooks and repeating the similar exercises. I may easily forget what I've study on textbooks because I'm receiving knowledge passively instead of seeking for it positively. So a library setting is an optimal choice for ESL students.

Secondly, Karen Bordonaro, PhD, began to introduce his research. He asked twenty people, who were ESL students studying in an American university, with different nationalities and specializing in various majors to participate in using the libraries on campus. The result turned out to be different. Some used libraries to do homework, some used libraries as a social center to meet people, some used libraries to find materials, and some used libraries for instructional assistance. In my point of view, I go to library or study center in UBC after lunch every day. I can see lots of students there. Most of them are doing their assignments or finding useful materials. Also I can see some students are sleeping on sofa. Besides, libraries are public places for students to communicate or exchange ideas on a group-work project. Everyone is doing his or her work actively.

After having studied in libraries, those twenty ESL students left some comments on self-directed language learning. They thought libraries study improve their English skills roundly, all in reading, writing, listening and speaking. I think that's true. While finding materials, one can improve his or her reading skill. While doing assignments, one's writing skill is improved. While communicating with others, one 's speaking and listening skills are improved. English study can not separate from meeting daily English as much as possible; otherwise, English thinking can not be practiced, and the effectiveness of progress requires a longer period.

Libraries are not only for academic studies, but also for recreation. Reading for recreation doesn't mean reading aimlessly, and it's not a waste of time. From recreational reading, one can broaden his or her horizon on a variety of areas. People can't live without pleasure!

Finally, some implications were drawn from this survey. On one hand, library staff should aware the purpose of ESL students and try their best to help them. On the other hand, university should arrange a budget to buy new recreational reading materials in order to help students to achieve their purpose. I strongly agree with these two statements, because they are related to my vital interest closely.

In the conclusion of this presentation, ESL students were using academic libraries wisely and effectively. And Karen Bordonaro, PhD, indicated that library could be used as a teaching method in the future study of language learning issues. I think that is a wise and forward-looking prediction, and it's a good suggestion. This new method can not only help ESL students improve their English quickly, but also can build a good study habit for university's study. Since university' study emphasizes self-study, and students should seek the answer themselves, it's better to learn such a skill to make full use of the libraries.