How to do research in a lab with a language-barrier?

[autodestruction]

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I would like to join a lab this summer, but after meeting with the PI today, I realized that language barrier may be a problem. English is not her native language, and that's the case with most of the other people in the lab too. When I asked her about the techniques they use in their lab, I had a hard time understanding what she was saying esp. because she spoke so quickly.. The graduate student she wants me to work with spoke even faster than she did. 🙁 Most of the techniques they use are new to me, so how can I learn everything if communication is a problem? Anyone else have a similar experience?

 

[PreMedStudent55555]

As someone who has also had professors with foreign accents, my suggestion is to ask them to explain it again by saying "I didn't catch that" or "Could you explain that one more time?" Usually professors, especially with foreign accents, understand how it can be hard to understand them but are more than willing to slow down and take the time to explain the content to you.

 

[Pagan FutureDoc]

If it's an accent barrier instead of a language barrier it will likely go away after a while. Exposure to accents make them easier to understand

 

[LoveBeingHuman:)]

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[Welshman]

I agree with the difference between an accent barrier and a language barrier, the latter might be a bit hard to overcome...

But I work in a lab with quite a few native Italians, I like to think I have a good ear for understanding accents but when I first interviewed with them I had absolutely no clue what they were saying. When you throw in big scientific words some stuff just doesn't sound the same. The good news though is after a few months you begin to pick up on it and now I only occasionally ask them to repeat a word or sentence. Also, as non-native speakers, they'll be totally understanding when someone asks them to repeat a word or phrase

 

[autodestruction]

Yes- I should have said accent barrier instead. I can understand if I listen closely, but just like Welshman described, it's difficult when they're talking about scientific terms, some of which I have never heard of (cell culture lines, reagents, etc.).
Glad to hear it gets better! Was there anything you had to do differently? Like reading more articles to figure out what was going on?

 

[TehTeddy]

Yes- I should have said accent barrier instead. I can understand if I listen closely, but just like Welshman described, it's difficult when they're talking about scientific terms, some of which I have never heard of (cell culture lines, reagents, etc.).
Glad to hear it gets better! Was there anything you had to do differently? Like reading more articles to figure out what was going on?

I work in a lab where everyone is from China, so maybe I can provide some input. For scientific terms, simply looking them up online helps, in addition to simply being habituated to the accent. For techniques, see if you can find relevant protocols. So if you're learning about cell culture lines, ask if they can direct you to a similar protocol that can spell things out. Alternatively, take good notes as they demonstrate what they're doing.
Lastly, reading prior papers your group published will help you understand the purpose behind everything better, so you won't feel a disconnect between the techniques and the wider purpose. It'll also help to make clearer your current project, as I assume it isn't radically different.

 

[Dagrimsta1]

Don't use the language barrier as an excuse for lab being hard, they usually are. As for not understanding your prof, try to lookup some of these procedures up online. More often than not you'll find detailed explanations. If its still bad for over 4 months, then maybe its time to find a new PI

 

[Welshman]

Yes- I should have said accent barrier instead. I can understand if I listen closely, but just like Welshman described, it's difficult when they're talking about scientific terms, some of which I have never heard of (cell culture lines, reagents, etc.).
Glad to hear it gets better! Was there anything you had to do differently? Like reading more articles to figure out what was going on?

Nothing really you can get in tune with it pretty quickly, it definitely helps to be familiar with the techniques and terms used in the lab though since you can better infer what someone is trying to say if you've heard/read the word before vs if you've never seen it.

I remember my co-worker would always say pie co-green and I would have no idea what she was talking about, it was only until I read the label that I realized she meant PicoGreen. Something blatantly obvious now