ABSTRACT
The fifth Dublin Descriptor stresses the importance of communicating research, stating that a successful doctoral candidate must show that they can ‘communicate with their peers, the larger scholarly community and with society in general about their areas of expertise’. Often when working with supervisors and the issue of communication arises with reference to international doctoral students, their primary concern seems to be the ability of the student to use correct English. It’s notable that this concern is also raised frequently by international students, suggesting that it’s at least as pressing for them as it is for their supervisors. While we recognize that this is a valid concern – of course it is – there’s a danger that, by focusing on grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation, an issue of more consequence will be missed.
