So, in my sociolinguistics class we're talking about (what else) Language and Power.

[conuly]

And the point was made that foreign students who want to get into an American university usually need about a 500-600 on the TOEFL, while American students who speak English as a second language can't take the TOEFL, they have to take the SAT and get 500+ on the verbal part.

But a 500 on the TOEFL is like a 200 on the verbal part of the SAT.

When foreigners are given some help on the English part of college admittance, this is seen as fair, but when it happens to American immigrants, it's seen as a "double standard".

Of course, it's obvious why this is. Those foreign students are usually better off than the American ones, and their families aren't the dregs of American society - they're not part of American society at all! So we can say "you're smart, even if your English isn't great". But the American ones are usually poor, and we've really got a vested interest in saying "you're poor because you can't do well". If we didn't say that, we'd have to say "you could do better if things were fair" and then we'd have to ask why they're poor still.

At least, that's my view of the situation, which I'm sure is really much more complicated.

Comments

[strangelette.livejournal.com]

To add to your theory. Foreign students are given absolutely no government financial aid and often very little merit based aid (depends quite a bit on the school - some give quite a bit others none). In almost all cases the student's parents/sponsor is required to send bank statements to prove that they can pay for the first year in full. American immigrants are eligable for all sorts of aid from the school and government.

[conuly]

So we've got a vested interest in keeping poorer Americans out of college.

[fascinoma.livejournal.com]

Yep - reinforces our covert caste system. Someone's got to work the shit jobs and be cannon fodder in Iraq.

true true true

[scottrossi.livejournal.com]

this is almost too true, it hurts.

[mortaine.livejournal.com]

One finds a similar dynamic in state schools: As an out of state student, I never received financial aid for the 3 years I attended state schools, despite the deep poverty my family was living in (roadkill soup), we were basically told to sell all our property (which wasn't available to sell) to afford my education.

I think Mom ended up robbing a bank, but I'm not really sure.

You ain't kidding.

[marveen.livejournal.com]

I went to a community college because we could afford nothing else--my grades were firmly around 3.3, not really high enough for merit-based scholarships, and our income was just high enough not to qualify for financial aid or need-based scholarships. I did get a couple smallish (the type that will just about pay for one quarter) scholarships purely because I got around 1490 or so on my SATs.

When I made an appointment with a financial-aid advisor, he asked why my parents didn't simply mortgage the house.

American culture of consumerism, I swear.

Re: You ain't kidding.

[rantinan.livejournal.com]

What blows my mind is when libertarians/extreme right republicans say that is a good thing.
As if having the money is the only thing you need to entitle you you an education.... *sighs*

Ok the frazzled student administration worker will shut up now.