Sample Discourse Community Analysis

Discourse Community analysis

Discourse communities are the group of people who can communicate with each other, they may have the same topic, the similar interests, or the same culture. People may use the right language and the similar beliefs so they can recognize in the discourse communities. The writer of “literacy, Discourse, and Linguistics: Introduction” named James Paul Gee, he argues that “we must write and say the right thing in the right way while playing the right social role and to hold the right vales, beliefs, and attitude” (484). People should have the right identity on the suitable places. Discourse communities has a lot of requirements for people to get into, people can learn different abilities on different discourse communities.

In other word, a discourse community may be a chance for people to get into another discourse community. CESL, as a community, is mostly concerned with creativity an identity for its members that will make them part of another discourse community—the American university, and the demands makes the members of the University of Oklahoma reflect this.
CESL is the short name of the Center for language as a Second Language at the University of Oklahoma. CESL provides an environment for International students to study English, so it can main help them to be recognized by the other communities in America. CESL is not located on the campus of the University of Oklahoma; it is located on the east of OU and on Cross Center Dr, of Norman. Cross D and Kitchen provide for students to study at CESL and the two building provide classrooms, offices and computer labs for students and Instructors. Now, CESL has about 300 students from different countries (Mary).
As the goal of CESL, “prepare students for life at university or the American communities “(Mary). In order to help students take part in the different discourse communities, CESL has the Reading, Writing, and Speaking classes for students, they have to take these classes in the morning because it can help them to improve their grammar, the ability of writing and communicate with others in different discourse communities. Discourse communities take the important role in the world, according to Gee “ Discourse are ways of being the world , they are forms of life which integrate words, acts, values, beliefs, attitude, and social identities as well as gestures, body positions, and clothes” (484). CESL becomes an important discourse for the International students to improve their ability to speak English, and the fluent English can help them to be recognized in other discourse communities by sharing their personal ideas. It can also help International students to be a part of America as well because they can understand words from local people and they can have more friends in America.
In the Afternoon, CESL provide different classes for students to choose such as American history and Culture, University preparation, Grammar.

CESL also use social medium to show their activities to other people in the world. For example, CESL has an account on Instagram with 214 followers, 9% of them may like their photos, I interviewed a follower, who was studying at CESL, his name is Luze Cheng, and he is studying Finance at OU. Cheng said he often look at the photos posted by CESL, he may took part in some activities at CESL. Also, he did a presentation for the students at CESL to share his experience from CESL to OU. He was trying to help more students at CESL to get more idea about the University and he wants to help students to take part in the other discourse communities (Cheng). Cheng shared his experience to teach students at CESL to take part in the other discourse community. CESL also provides the chance for students to connect with other discourse communities. The Afternoon class may take students to experience the life in university each session. For example, the University Preparation class took students to listen to the Geography class last session. It can help student experience the life at university. In the presentation, Cheng shared his experience in that class, he found he could not understand the knowledge that professor taught in class because he could not understand the academic words (Cheng). In the Concept of Discourse Community, John Swales talk

about the six characteristics that will be necessary in the discourse community, it includes “a discourse community may has required some specific lexis” (222). Based on Cheng’s experience, he may lack some specific lexis so he could not take part in the Geography class. More than that, For example, MLA is the form that some professors may require them to use in essay. However, students do not learn MLA study before they come in America. Cheng told me that he learned MLA style at CESL, when he asked to write the essay in Physics class, he did not need to learn by himself (Cheng). It is better for him to take part in the class because he did not have to ask some basic questions that his classmates may have known before.
CESL may help students to have an identity in America and the discourse community. In my observation, When CESL provide the offer to the students, they can got an F1 visa to enter in America and study at CESL. In the “Literacy, Discourse, and Linguistics: Introduction”, Gee claims discourse communities have a gate for right people to enter into the right places (488). In the first week, CESL may have test students to divide them in different levels such as Fundation, Intermediate or Advanced (CESL of OU). Students may be in different levels depend on the ability of English writing, speaking and grammar. The less they may cost at CESL, the more ability students may have in English. Each level may have two semesters, Fundation is the basic level and Advanced is the highest, students can graduate from CESL when they pass two semesters on Advanced. Students have to get 70% of Speaking, Reading and writing classes at the final exam. Additionally, the average grade of students may above 80% on their assignment so they can go to the higher level (the guide of CESL). CESL may change the identities of students at CESL based on their performance on the test.
It is convenient for students at CESL to recognize by universities.

According to “Study in the USA”, 400 universities in American need International students to have TOEFL or IETS score. For example, OU need International students to have 79 on TOEFL and 6.5 on IETS (Website). However, CESL students need to get 61 on TOEFL or IETS 5.5, also they need to study at CESL for at least two sessions as well. They have the opportunities to apply to the University of Oklahoma. CESL is a way for students to get into the universities, because they taught a lot of International students to speak and write English. According to “Literacy, Discourse, and Linguistics: Introduction”. Gee claims “a discourse is a sort identity kit which comes complete with the appropriate costume and instructions on how to act, talk, and often write, so as to take on a particular role that others will recognize” (484). CESL as a discourse community help International students to learn how to speak and write English, it can help students to be recognized in other discourse communities. Some International students do not like to communicate with foreigner because they are afraid of speaking English; they thought foreigners can not understand their words. When they have questions, they will not ask professors. CESL is good place for International students to practice their English, most of them come from different countries. They have to speak English to communicate with each other. More than that, students at

CESL can not speak English very well, it also encourage students to speak. When students enter into the universities, they are able to communicate with others bravely so they can make friends with their classmates. Thus, CESL students can be recognized in other discourse communities.
CESL provides a step for students to get into the other discourse communities. Also, Students can improve their ability on English to take part in America as well. In my observation, CESL teach a lot of basic skills on English writing, such as MLA style, it can help students to do well in the universities in the future. Culture difference may cause conflict between people from different countries. CESL is a good place for International students to fit in the life in America.