Language and zoo biology training outcomes: A cautionary note

The Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust (JWPT)/University of Kent Diploma in Endangered Species Management (DESMAN) was initiated in 1985 to provide an academically recognized qualification to trainees attending the JWPT's Int ernational Training Centre (ITC). Since its inception, 59 of 118 trainees e nrolled were awarded the diploma. Examination and practical work performanc e of 141 trainees from 1994 to 1998 showed a significant variance in grades . DESMAN participants were by far the highest achievers with high mean exam ination grades and high practical work grades. More than one third (38%) of trainees, all of whom were DESMAN participants, obtained above median grad es in practical work and the examination. Another third of all trainees att ained below median grades in both examination and practical work. Given tha t most course participants (93%) had a strong academic background in biolog y or the veterinary sciences, low course performance could have been relate d to the inability of some trainees to fully understand the language used. Before the start of a course, trainees are requested to produce evidence of English language proficiency, at least level 7 of the International Englis h Language Testing System (IELTS). When individual trainee language skills were tested in Jersey, through a self-assessment exercise (named English La nguage Proficiency or ELF), a significant variation in language skills was found. These ELF scores positively correlated with the trainees' mean and m edian examination performance. Thus, entrance into the DESMAN seems to be a ffected by trainee's fluency in English. Since most trainees are graduates or have some form of tertiary education, the perceived influence of languag e proficiency on the attainment of a university-accredited qualification su ch as the DESMAN needs to be taken most seriously. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc .