I am writing in response to Friday's editorial ("Students need to make effort to understand international TAs," Sept 26). The idea that the burden of communication lies with the student strikes me as backward. It is often challenging enough for students to understand their instructors simply due to the subject matter. To add a language barrier seems an unfair disadvantage. If the instructor had trouble communicating because they themselves were unfamiliar with the course material, would we simply tell the student it was their responsibility to put forth the extra effort? Why should it be any different just because the problem arises from the instructor's language inadequacies? After all, is not the student the paying customer? And isn't the instructor the one being paid?

The university needs to ensure its instructors are experts in their fields and effective teachers, bearing in mind that the two do not necessarily go hand in hand.