I. General Policy A student is required to demonstrate proficiency in two languages, including English. All masters and doctoral students who are native English-speakers must take a second-language test or be enrolled in a language training program during the first semester of enrollment at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. The student should take the language test as soon as possible after completing the language training, preferably in the first semester of enrollment. II. Testing Procedures 1. Penny Jessop, MPH, Coordinator or Roseanna Rabalais, Administrative Assistant, should be contacted to schedule examinations. 2. A student's advisor will not examine his/her advisee, if an alternative examiner is available. 3. The examination will be no longer than thirty (30) minutes in duration. 4. Criteria for grading will be that used by the Foreign Service Institute, and a passing score will be Level S-2, "Limited Working Proficiency." View the desciption of Level S-2 proficiency.
5. A certificate of language proficiency [copy attached] must be signed by the examiner and forwarded to Ms. Jessop, who will forward it to the Chair of the Department and the academic advisor.
6. If the examiner concludes that the student has performed marginally on the test, a second test with a different examiner will be arranged. 7. If the student fails the test, he/she may not apply for retesting until the following semester.
III. Oral Exam
Every student will be tested orally on one of the topics in each of the three following areas: Area One: (1) Assume that you are at a meeting with individuals from a governmental ministry. State your role and purpose.
(2) Assume that you are speaking to a physician. Inquire about diseases prevalent in the area.
(3) Explain your professional education and background, especially regarding the education you received at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
(4) Assume that you are visiting a health post. Inquire about its programs, staff, patients, etc.
(5) Assume that you are speaking to a hospital director. Inquire about hospital services, occupancy, etc.
(6) Assume that you are visiting a local training program. Inquire about its students, goals, staff, etc.
Area Two: (1) Assume that you need to communicate in an emergency situation. Inquire about getting to a hospital or seeking the aid of a physician.
(2) Assume that you are dining at the home of a counterpart.
(3) Assume that you are speaking to a local village leader. Explain the health intervention to wish to carry out (health survey, program, etc.).
(4) Assume that you need to inquire about in-country travel (roads, highways, air and rail transportation.
(5) Assume that you are shopping in a local food market.
Area Three: (1) Assume that you need to inquire about basic demographic information.
(2) Assume that you need to inquire about geographic patterns of disease.
(3) Assume that you need to inquire about nutrition data.
(4) Assume that you need to inquire about the local economy, agriculture or major export data.
(5) Assume that you need to inquire about the structure of the government and politics.
(6) Assume that you need to inquire about health services surveys/KAP studies.
(7) Assume that you need to inquire about the culture and customs of the country.
Download the Certificate of Language Proficiency
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