On Monday, 18 February 2013, Abbas Mahmood wrote: > > From: [email protected] <javascript:;> > > Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2013 11:47:06 +0000 > > To: [email protected] <javascript:;> > > Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimania 2013 scholarship now accepting > application > > > > > > " Hong Kong is an international gourmet paradise. Please use less than > 200 > > words to describe your favourite dish of food." > > > > Is this an English-language test? Or, is this to help determine the best > > catering options? Or something else? > > +1 to what Liam asked. I honestly don't understand the premise of that > question in the scholarship application form. > Abbas. >
Upon further questioning I was informed that: "This question is referring to the selection criteria #4 "Fluency of English language". " So... Apparently this is where you are expected to write something that convinces people you have a firm grasp of English. Unfortunately, this is a written test, not an oral test - because an oral test might be quite useful. I know many people from my own country and other English-native-speaking countries that are officially literate but when asked to speak in a formal setting (or even semi-formal situation like Wikimania) are incapable of clear enunciation, diction, grammar, intonation, accent and speed. Certainly, they can be understood by *other* native English speakers but they have no concept of how difficult it is for non-native speakers to understand them. Perhaps a mandatory class for native speakers before the conference entitled: "Speak English, like, more good 'n stuff for all y'all. Mmm'kay?" -- wittylama.com Peace, love & metadata _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l
