Dear Ash,
Yes, math and computer skills are more critical requirements for science but
some reasonable level of basic standard English is also very crucial. Often
poor, inappropriate or complex language hugely drain comprehension out of our
science and engineering. I do believe that though GRE, TOEFL, IELTS and their
like can be an efficient mens of assessing English Proficiency, they do not in
themselves constitute effective means of testing proficiency in scientific or
technical communication. Thus, why communication requirements like english
translation of and/or quizzing on peer-reviewed publications may come in handy
as addition means of further ascertaining true technical or scientific
proficiency.
I mean if we are to be truly honest with ourselves, one does not have to have
such high verbal aptitude to read, critique and communicate scientific and
technical facts. it may be agreed that sometimes high verbal aptitude breeds
costly liberties with the English language (as is often with inexperienced
so-called 'native speakers'). The more they try to prove their nativeness in
language, the more they are likely to be needlessly verbose to the erosion of
understanding. Often, scientific and technical papers are rejected purely on
the basis of strange English language, as though the the non-native author (s)
suddenly invented their own English language for their paper.
Thus, I think our English proficiency tests should aim to test more of reliable
indicators of adequate knowledge of standard basic English by way of basic
english grammar (concord), lexis and structures, and comprehension than the
testing of high verbal aptitude which often throws science and engineering in
ambiguity and haywire.
Scientific and/or technical communication is not exactly the same as the
English literature as is known or approved by native speakers. Thus,
prospective recruiters would need to find a more effective way of assessing
proficiency in technical and/or scientific communication for successful
completion of early career research work.
Akwasi
> Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2015 16:50:45 +0000
> From: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] language exam for Ph.D. students?
> To: [email protected]
>
> Just to be fair we should implement an exam to ensure that all graduate
> students are fluent in at least one computer language- regardless of native
> language! I would argue that logical computer syntax is more critical than
> illogical English syntax to one's future success in science.
>
> ash
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news
> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of David Inouye
> Sent: Monday, February 02, 2015 4:38 PM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: [ECOLOG-L] language exam for Ph.D. students?
>
> I know Univ. of NC still had a requirement in mid-1970s as I had to take an
> exam then, and my son had to take one at Duke in the 1990s.
> Are there still any Ph.D. programs that require students take a language
> exam? Typically students had to read a paper in the chosen language, and
> then answer questions about it posed by a faculty member or committee to
> confirm comprehension. So just a reading requirement, not spoken.
>
> David Inouye
