Assessing Business Communication Assignments of English-as-Second-Language Students

Abstract

As the US population becomes more diverse, the enrollment of English-as-Second- Language (ESL) students in colleges and universities continues to expand. This diversity may sometimes lead to problems for business communication teachers who must assess the written communication skills of students who may not be fluent in English. To address these problems, we conducted a nationwide survey of business communication teachers, soliciting input on how ESL students' written communication skills were assessed. Respondents were asked to identify areas where their assessments of ESL students might differ from their assessments of stu dents whose first language was English. Comparisons were made based upon teachers' gender, age, number of years of teaching experience, and geographic location where they teach. Although some grading leniency was shown toward ESL students in specific areas, generally the respondents indicated that they do not assess business communication assignments any differently based upon the stu dents' primary language usage.