Best Practices: Why are your English standards so high?

Advice on Academic Best Practices
Dr. George Corliss, MU EECE

> Best practices > English standards

FAQ: Why are your English standards so high?

Best Academic Practices:
Entry page Employment portfolios Coding style suggestions Making a presentation Research presentations Mr. Bruey on F-1 issues Corliss on Teamwork Recommended reading Communication rubrics Impressive engineering Research interests		Expectations for scholarship Intellectual property - School vs. work We expect good English English style suggestions Nick's 20 rules of software engineering Why take a Corliss class? Thesis outline MLA Manual of Style, Purdue University Academic policies College of Engineering See Table of contents or Index A - Z
Events

For admission to our graduate program, we require international students to have a TOEFL score of 250 on the computer-based form or 600 on the paper-based form.

You will be taking written essay examinations: If you struggle with the English, and cannot effectively communicate your understanding of the content, e.g., operating systems
We expect class participation: When I give a lecture, I assume you are willing to interrupt me when you disagree or do not understand. Otherwise, I must go more slowly. You will participate in class discussions and on teams. If your lack of English skill makes you hesitate, you cannot fully participate and miss learning opportunities
Your eventual employer demands good communications skills: Your English will improve IF YOU WORK AT IT, but we teach computing, not English. You must be pretty good when you start, or you will not be good enough when you finish. We have had a few students graduate, get hired, get fired for lack of English, and been forced to go back home. We do not want that to happen to you.

Although I am a mathematician, I am not a firm believer in objective measurements of human beings (tests). However, in my experience, TOEFL scores correlated quite well with students' ability to write examinations, participate in class discussions, and talk with me in my office. Hence, I am quite firm on the admission standards.

Answer: If your English skills are weak, take classes to improve them, take the TOEFL (again, if necessary), and then I will consider your application.