English is my native language, so for a long time I never had to think much about talking about science in a different language – something that many researchers have to do every day. But my privilege was upgraded in July 2020, when I started my research team as a junior faculty member at the University of Montreal, a French-speaking institution in Quebec, Canada. I now communicate daily in both English and French: during meetings with colleagues and associates. when interacting with trainees on committees and exams; when writing grants and teaching. and for administrative duties. When I moved to Montreal after my postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, I had a solid but rusty foundation in French grammar and vocabulary. I had taken French lessons as a child in Ontario, Canada and as an undergraduate student from 2010 to 2012, but there was much room for improvement. For the past two years, I have communicated science in French to a wide audience, to the wider scientific community, and to graduate students. I believe that learning how to communicate science effectively in a language other than English has helped me become a better communication scientist in general.
Do not be afraid to try
Explaining my research to a wide audience in a second language proved to be a challenge. But with practice and continuous opportunities I started to find my footing. For example, shortly after I started at the University of Montreal, I gave an interview in French about my research projects and the goals of a blog at my university hospital. This was a great opportunity but also a great test of my skills. I have learned to keep practicing and to have confidence in myself and my abilities. It is important not to be afraid to make mistakes or ask for help. The primary goal is to convey the message clearly, which is not the same as articulating with perfect grammar or pronunciation all the time. I am constantly given new opportunities for scientific communication in French. These include teaching concepts in my field of human genomics to graduate students (and perhaps soon to undergraduate students) and preparing and grading exam papers and questions. In the first quarter of 2022, I taught my first postgraduate courses in French. This will help me optimize the content and articulate the main messages in an engaging and coherent way, as suggested by student feedback and performance during classroom activities and homework.
Success factors
I also encountered difficult tasks, mainly learning French specialized terminology, and translating slides, summaries, course material, and so on. In addition to these academic challenges, I have to deal with administrative and administrative tasks in a second language (including ordering laboratory equipment, completing forms for student dissertation committees, and completing ethics-protocol requirements). It has not always been easy or convenient for me to incorporate French into my professional life. However, starting with a good foundation has given me a significant advantage, even though I am still learning. Here are some other factors that have allowed me to make significant progress in communicating science in French. A strong support system. The university has an individual tutoring program to assist faculty members who do not speak fluent French in their communication, professionally or in everyday life. The program is flexible and structured around the program and the needs of the faculty member. I am very grateful to my French teacher, to my colleagues who speak French as a first language and to the members of my research team. They consistently provide me with a safe and supportive space to communicate, supervising my writing assignments, commenting on my presentations at the conference, and helping me navigate administrative tasks. There were my cheerleaders, who encouraged me throughout the process. A desire for learning. I appreciate the value of using a second language, which gives me a strong sense of motivation to keep learning and improving. Many opportunities for practice. Montreal is a bilingual city (French and English) and there are many opportunities to use both languages professionally and in everyday life. Despite the challenges, speaking and writing about science in a language other than English has helped me communicate more effectively with the general and scientific public and has proven to be satisfying! This is an article from the Nature Careers Community, a place where Nature readers can share their professional experiences and tips. Visitor posts are encouraged.
Competitive Interests
The author states that there are no competing interests.
