BARRIERS TO STUDENTS GAINING AN INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE - SUMMARY OF GROUP DISCUSSION

摘要

Many students and faculty in both the United States and abroad feel that English is becoming the international language of commerce and technology. As a result, mastering another language is often perceived as being unnecessary. Indeed, many graduate programs in the United States have dropped the requirement for demonstration of proficiency in foreign languages. The increasing frequency of offering masters level program in English at some European institutions may be an effective recruitment tools to attract students from abroad, but only reinforces this perception. This is an issue in Europe as well as other countries. Language proficiency is necessary in the European Union that is composed of 15 countries and requires all official documents to be published in 11 languages.