Dear Dick,
I think your question is very valuable and justified. As a PhD-student who is doing her PhD in a foreign language, I have experienced that this is a problem which is of considerable importance indeed.
To give a frame to what is my experience, I will briefly recall my 'language journey' over the past four years, since I have come to Britain.
I first came to do my MA in the field of applied arts at the RCA in London where I started off with virtually no English. After the MA, I decided to move on to doing a PhD. Although by this time I was reassured that my language could be considered almost fluent, at the higher level of writing and reasoning that the PhD requires, it has shown that there are still considerable difficulties to overcome. These difficulties go far beyond learning a basic repertoire of vocabularies and the grammar, which is indeed only the first step.
More tricky is what follows: because other people do not any longer immediately recognise the (often subtle) shift of meaning that occurs in using a foreign language, misunderstandings can occur and, with regard to the work, it is for example much more difficult to trace inconsistencies within reasoning and to be very specific and precise in the use of language. Further I found that my working capacity is at certain times significantly reduced.
Although normally every College offers English language courses for foreign students (I copy below the relevant section from the Plymouth Research Degrees Handbook), I think that these can only address the basic needs of learning the language.
The real improvement at this stage can only be triggered through extensive discussion with supervisors and, more often, friends - since many supervisors are not willing to provide the extra input in time that is needed to trace misconceptions that occur through the language-shift.
In conclusion, this is to say that although language standards are set and support is provided, the formally required level does not actually match the level that is needed for the successful management of the study and that personal input is needed from all parties involved.
With best regards,
Kristina
PS: by the way, I was never required to undergo any test as to what standard my English was…
APPENDIX 2
ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR RESEARCH DEGREE APPLICANTS WHOSE FIRST LANGUAGE IS NOT ENGLISH
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Applicants whose first language is not English will normally be required to provide evidence of English proficiency. The normal evidence of English language ability is IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or TOEFL (Testing of English as a Foreign Language), or other acceptable test or satisfactory report from a U.K. test centre, normally obtained within two years of the candidate expecting to start the research programme.
For those candidates who are required to take an English language test the British Council IELTS test is recommended.
OFFERS OF ACCEPTANCE ONTO A RESEARCH DEGREE PROGRAMME
Offers of acceptance onto a research degree programme to applicants whose first language is not English will normally be conditional on evidence of English language proficiency, requirements will normally be detailed in the offer letter sent to the candidate.
LEVELS OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE ABILITY
The normal IELTS score for acceptable English proficiency for entry onto a linguistically demanding academic course is band 7 or above.
Those candidates with an IELTS score of between band 7 and band 4.5 will normally be recommended to undertake between 100 and 900 hours of English language tuition, depending on the score.
PRE-TUITION REQUIREMENTS
The approximate levels of attainment and pre-tuition recommended are as follows:
· Band 7 - 9 acceptable for study without pre-sessional tuition
· Band 6.5 100 - 200 hours language tuition is recommended
· Band 6 200 - 300 hours language tuition is strongly recommended
· Band 5 - 5.5 300 - 600 hours tuition would normally be necessary to reach an acceptable standard
English language tuition can be arranged through the International Office.
ADVICE ON PRE-TUITION REQUIREMENTS
It is highly recommended that applicants or supervisors with queries concerning English language requirements should contact the International Office.
[This is an extract from the Plymouth research degrees handbook which is available in full from the following site: http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/pages/view.asp?page=2070]
---- Message from Richard Buchanan <[log in to unmask]> at Fri, 21 Feb 2003 09:11:51 -0500 ------
>Folks,
>
>I have a mundane question on a subject much less interesting than some
>recently discussed, but any help will be appreciated.
>
>What standards are being held for foreign language requirements in design
>doctoral programs?
>
>Do you believe such requirements are valuable?
>
>(Americans ask such questions from time to time because we have such
>difficulty in speaking and writing our own language. The prospect of other
>languages is apparently frightening. So, I need to revisit the issue from
>time to time to remind folks of the argument in favor.)
>
>Any information or comments will be greatly appreciated.
>
>Merci.
>
>Dick
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