The Written Language

Sarah Mosser: Breaking the English barrier one student at a time

Linn-Benton lives up to its name as a community college. It does so by welcoming students from all walks of life.

The English Language Learner Instructional Assistant, Sarah Mosser, came to Linn-Benton in September 2014. She is also a part-time instructor teaching a course fall term: Applied Learning Strategies. ELL stands for English Language Learner. Students who don’t speak English as their primary language at home come to Mosser for assistance.

In the Writing Center Mosser is available Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:50 p.m.

Mosser’s education began at Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster, Pa. She then moved to Oregon to receive her Master of Rhetoric and Composition at Oregon State University.

There is a wide variety of languages Mosser experiences on a daily basis: Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and Russian.

“The languages are more diverse than we realize,” said Mosser.

Mosser focuses on the writing process: brainstorming, content, organization, and grammar. Her goal is to take the instructions the instructors have given to the students and help them make sense to the students who might not comprehend them because of a potential language barrier.

Repetition and feedback is an important factor in Mosser’s work. It is imperative that each student receive assistance that is helpful to them specifically. Being able to help them and make it easier for them to understand is all in a day’s work for Mosser.

“Sarah loves working with ELL students, and I think they feel her interest and support. Because of her training, she is better able to explain complex issues of grammar like the many rules guiding article and preposition use,” said Victoria Fridley, writing center coordinator. “She is also aware of some of the specific struggles that may stem from the differences between English and the ELL student's native language, as well as some of the cultural differences regarding composition styles and structure.”

Mosser expressed fulfillment in being available to help students achieve a better understanding of the English language. She doesn’t like to see students struggle by themselves in a foreign language such as English.

“Students have been really eager and willing to learn,” said Mosser.