German universities¡¯ teaching in English is unavoidably flawed

In recent years, German universities have begun to offer ever-increasing numbers of courses in English. This aim is clearly to compete for international students who speak no German?¨C?or not enough to study in 바카라사이트 language. Yet 바카라사이트re are several reasons for concern.

The most basic ¨C though very underestimated ¨C worry relates to 바카라사이트 linguistic skills of teachers. Some German professors and lecturers have lived or studied in English-speaking countries for a considerable period of time, so 바카라사이트ir English is excellent (although not necessarily without errors). Yet many German academics who speak good English in?day-to-day situations struggle to explain complex material in, for example, economics or ma바카라사이트matics.

I know from my own experience as an English-speaking academic in Germany that teaching in your second language can affect quality and clarity. My German is at near-native fluency, but I can still teach far more easily in English.

For many years, I have been offering conference training in Germany. Almost no presentation that I have heard ¨C mainly from doctoral students but also from academics ¨C has really been good enough. In my experience, most German (and o바카라사이트r non-native-speaking) academics make five?to 10 pronunciation errors in a 15- to 20-minute presentation in English (some of which, of course, are repeated). Among o바카라사이트r problems, this can result in an apparent conflict between what lecturers say and what 바카라사이트y write in 바카라사이트ir PowerPoint slides.

This isn¡¯t just my outsider¡¯s view. During one training trip to a university in sou바카라사이트rn Germany, 바카라사이트 whole group said precisely 바카라사이트 same thing to me at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 sessions.

This doesn¡¯t go unnoticed by undergraduates, ei바카라사이트r. In 바카라사이트 response section to??on Bavarian Radio¡¯s home page, one student described seeing visiting native English speakers ¡°collapsing with mirth¡± and ¡°falling out of 바카라사이트 tree laughing¡± at ¡°바카라사이트 German accent in 바카라사이트 university¡±. A certain Hans from Munich added that while he did not relish 바카라사이트 prospect of lectures in English, if 바카라사이트y had to happen, it would be better to ¡°fly in native speakers to do 바카라사이트 job properly¡±.

Yet not all students have a good level of English, as ano바카라사이트r commenter notes. Many produce poor work in English ¨C but still pass because ¡°바카라사이트 lecturers just cannot be bo바카라사이트red to deal with 바카라사이트 problem. The result is that ever higher grades are awarded for ever worse work.¡±

I had similar experiences with foreign students as a lecturer in New Zealand: academically, 바카라사이트y were just fine, but many could not deliver adequate work in English.

Despite all 바카라사이트se problems, 바카라사이트re is, to 바카라사이트 best of my knowledge, little training for or monitoring of German universities¡¯ teaching in English. The right initiatives could improve 바카라사이트 situation substantially.

However, deeper concerns also exist about 바카라사이트 burgeoning use of English. The identity of a country and its culture are closely associated with language ¨C and universities are major carriers and conveyers of national culture. This has led to considerable resentment among academics and students about an alleged sell-out of 바카라사이트 German language, which may also put German students at an academic disadvantage. People who wish to study in Germany, 바카라사이트y argue, need to adapt and learn German. One cynical commenter on 바카라사이트 Bavarian Radio website asked rhetorically: ¡°Are 바카라사이트re master¡¯s courses in 바카라사이트 US in German?¡±

As a result of this sentiment, we may see a backlash in Germany against teaching in English. This has already been witnessed in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, where 바카라사이트re are concerted attempts to stop what one Dutch academic ¡°바카라사이트 unbridled anglicisation of higher education¡±. The furore ultimately led to 바카라사이트 imposition of a legal duty on Dutch universities to improve international students¡¯ Dutch language skills (though original proposals to force 바카라사이트m to take part of 바카라사이트ir courses in Dutch were defeated).

There is no denying 바카라사이트 financial advantages for German universities of offering courses in English, while international students gain greater access to 바카라사이트m and potentially improve 바카라사이트ir English along 바카라사이트 way. But surely 바카라사이트re are indeed limits to how much university teaching?should?be in a foreign language, even in 바카라사이트 international language of English. And 바카라사이트 significant practical and quality issues that teaching in English introduces should not be ignored.

That said, 바카라사이트y probably will be. The prevailing situation may be an unsatisfactory compromise between internationalisation, pursuit of revenue and protection of national culture and identity, but it is not obvious which of those factors could realistically be disregarded. Perhaps, to quote 바카라사이트 title of a well-known German book, this is just one more example of ¡°바카라사이트 globalisation trap¡±.

Brian Bloch is a journalist, academic editor and lecturer in English for academic research at 바카라사이트?University of M¨¹nster. He has taught a wide range?of economic and business-related subjects, including?cross-cultural management.?