Im pissed off - after my first mock interview

[uhohspaghettio]

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had a mock interview at my school today. The counselor asked me, "are you a a native speaker? Do you have trouble speaking?" Damn. I was nervous but to hear this??? My friends teased me afterwards: "are you a fob?"
I am American and grew up here so...😡

 

[notdeadyet]

had a mock interview at my school today. The counselor asked me "if I was a native speaker? Do you have trouble speaking?" Damn. I was nervous but to hear this???

Ouch. Sorry, I actually laughed as I read this, but: ouch...

Look at it this way, you probably needed that mock interview and you'll probably be a lot less nervous as you do more practice.

(By the way, if you're Asian, it may have just been a subliminal racist judgement on the inteviewers part. I worked on a study as a linguistics major in college that folks pegged Asian people to be non-native speakers at a much higher rate than caucasians)

 

[jochi1543]

Some Americans who were born in the US DO have a hard time speaking English.



Just wait till you spend like 15 years in the country, get a bunch of degrees, outdo all your American classmates on all English-related standardized tests and still get "wow, your English is so good" comments from rednecks.

 

[Fermata]

People are going to judge you on how you speak. It's a fact of life.

The good news is that most of these people aren't going to be able to stop you from achieving your goals.

 

[Fermata]

Some Americans who were born in the US DO have a hard time speaking English.



Just wait till you spend like 15 years in the country, get a bunch of degrees, outdo all your American classmates on all English-related standardized tests and still get "wow, your English is so good" comments from rednecks.

There are co-valedictorians this year in my sister's high school class. They are asian twin brothers. They were born in this country and have never visited their parents' native country but they in fact do have a noticeable accent and while their English is sometimes hard to understand it is grammatically correct.

The bottom line? They both are attending Duke next year.

That's all that matters.

 

[uhohspaghettio]

There are co-valedictorians this year in my sister's high school class. They are asian twin brothers. They were born in this country and have never visited their parents' native country but they in fact do have a noticeable accent and while their English is sometimes hard to understand it is grammatically correct.

The bottom line? They both are attending Duke next year.

That's all that matters.

This was the first time ever in my life that someone questioned my English speaking ability

 

[Fermata]

This is the first time ever in my life that someone questioned my English speaking ability

You know, considering it was a mock interview which is designed to help you look good in a future, real interview I'm sure the interviewer was just trying to help you although they may have been misguided.

 

[IWant2BeADoctor]

had a mock interview at my school today. The counselor asked me, "are you a a native speaker? Do you have trouble speaking?" Damn. I was nervous but to hear this??? My friends teased me afterwards: "are you a fob?"
I am American and grew up here so...😡

What's wrong with being a fob? Medical Schools love them. Have you ever talked to some Medical Students?
Asian accents are in. 😎 😉

If you came here late chances are you have some noticable accent. Maybe it's something you need to work on. You could take some speech classes.

 

[uhohspaghettio]

Maybe you do have an accent. Maybe it's something you need to work on. You could take some speech classes.

Well, I don't. Maybe I do have some type of accent? Definitely not a typical "asian-fob" accent.

 

[IWant2BeADoctor]

Well, I don't. Maybe I do have some type of accent? Definitely not a typical "asian-fob" accent.

I'd get a second opinion on it. You should start a poll called do I have a asian-fob accent and attach an audio file.😀

I know plenty of Doctors who have accents. Chances are that's not going to effect whether you can be a good Doctor or not.

 

[uhohspaghettio]

actually, i recorded myself on my cell like 10 minutes ago and heard myself speaking. I guess I do talk weird. Damn 🙁
However, on the self video-taped interview, I sounded somewhat better. my deep voice doesnt help though.
oh well

 

[IWant2BeADoctor]

actually, i recorded myself on my cell like 10 minutes ago and heard myself speaking. I guess I do talk weird. Damn 🙁
However, on the self video-taped interview, I sounded somewhat better. my deep voice doesnt help though
oh well

How are is GPA and MCATS? Those are far more important. Doing mock interviews with yourself where you just practice answering in front of the mirror would be a good idea. Body language is also very important.

This is what Hitler did to prepare for his speeches. And as we all know he was a very convincing speaker.

 

[jochi1543]

actually, i recorded myself on my cell like 10 minutes ago and heard myself speaking. I guess I do talk weird. Damn 🙁
However, on the self video-taped interview, I sounded somewhat better. my deep voice doesnt help though.
oh well

You always sound weird to yourself when taped. I cringe whenever someone records me on a videocamera and I happen to be talking.

 

[colliea21]

How are is GPA and MCATS? Those are far more important. Doing mock interviews with yourself where you just practice answering in front of the mirror would be a good idea. Body language is also very important.

This is what Hitler did to prepare for his speeches. And as we all know he was a very convincing speaker.

hahahhaha

 

[uhohspaghettio]

hahahhaha

what are you laughing at? 😕

 

[flaahless]

had a mock interview at my school today. The counselor asked me, "are you a a native speaker? Do you have trouble speaking?" Damn. I was nervous but to hear this??? My friends teased me afterwards: "are you a fob?"
I am American and grew up here so...😡

Don't be ashamed of your accent or how you speak. That's a part of who you are. Embrace it and be proud of it.

 

[gotmeds?]

had a mock interview at my school today. The counselor asked me, "are you a a native speaker? Do you have trouble speaking?" Damn. I was nervous but to hear this??? My friends teased me afterwards: "are you a fob?"
I am American and grew up here so...😡

Damn, that sounds terrible. But don't worry about it too much. As long as your GPA, MCAT, and ECs are good, they should be sending you a mock acceptance in a few weeks. It might be a good idea to write your interviewer a mock thank you note, though, and if you really want to pretend to go to that school, you may also want to write a mock letter of intent, especially if you end up getting mock waitlisted.

 

[smq123]

This is the first time ever in my life that someone questioned my English speaking ability

Seriously? What bubble do you grow up in, and how can I go live there? Because it happens ALL the TIME to me.

What's ironic is that, in my spare time in undergrad, I was a Spanish-English exchange tutor. So I would often be walking around campus talking to someone who looked Caucasian, but barely spoke 20 words of English. People would always go up to them and ask them directions to the nearest gas station, but to me, they'd always TALK-LIKE-THIS, and welcome me to their country, etc. It was funny at first, but it got old (= extremely annoying) after the 3rd time.

 

[uhohspaghettio]

What bubble do you grow up in, and how can I go live there?

cali

 

[apnea]

You said it was a mock interview, could the interviewer have been trying to mess with you? Sometimes they try to throw you off your game so you can learn how to react if something weird happens in the interview.

 

[TheRealMD]

After reading the "bizarre interview" thread on SDN, I'd say at this point you need to be ready for anything, especially a stress interview.

As for it being a mock interview, better now than during a real one. Weirder things HAVE happened.

 

[coffeebythelake]

had a mock interview at my school today. The counselor asked me, "are you a a native speaker? Do you have trouble speaking?" Damn. I was nervous but to hear this??? My friends teased me afterwards: "are you a fob?"
I am American and grew up here so...

Do you stutter when you talk? Do you have a speech impediment? Maybe you use a lot of filler words that interrupt the flow of your answers. "Ah", "um", and "you know" come up often for many people, and you might not even know you have this bad habit.

This is what Hitler did to prepare for his speeches. And as we all know he was a very convincing speaker.

I agree, Hitler was a very persuasive speaker. We should all follow his example.

 

[DarknightX]

I agree, Hitler was a very persuasive speaker. We should all follow his example.

Are you actually debating the fact that Hitler was a persuasive speaker? He actually was a brilliant speaker, and if you take any speech class, they will tell you that. I didn't know that you had to be a moral person to be good at something.

Oh wait, I forgot...this is the fairytale land of SDN....let me restate myself...bad people don't have any skills and will never be successful at anything.

 

[Immortal]

This is a mock interview. Who cares. They often are not indicative of the real thing.

 

[uhohspaghettio]

This is a mock interview. Who cares. They often are not indicative of the real thing.

It was not the interview itself that I was upset at. It was more how the counselor thought I was a "FOB" when I am an American citizen 😡

 

[jochi1543]

This is a mock interview. Who cares. They often are not indicative of the real thing.

Yeah, but I'd imagine this question popping up on a stress interview. I bet what they'd look for here is first off, obviously, you immediately starting to doubt everything you say (much like the OP here), and second, some sort of negative "how dare you" type of reaction (whether conveyed in words or through body language) that would imply that you have an issue with immigrants/foreigners.

 

[jochi1543]

It was not the interview itself that I was upset at. It was more how the counselor thought I was a "FOB" when I am an American citizen 😡

SNAP!

Just what I brought up seconds ago.

 

[Immortal]

Yeah, but I'd imagine this question popping up on a stress interview. I bet what they'd look for here is first off, obviously, you immediately starting to doubt everything you say (much like the OP here), and second, some sort of negative "how dare you" type of reaction (whether conveyed in words or through body language) that would imply that you have an issue with immigrants/foreigners.

Good luck with dealing with the real pressures that come from being a physician.

 

[chanjurban]

This is unrelated to your interview experience, but might be relevant in the long-run.

I taught high school chemistry for 5 years. My first year teaching (at a Catholic school in a predominantly white neighborhood), apparently one of my students went home and talked about me to his parents... I'm Indian, but I was born and raised in Louisiana. And I taught a hard course. Next thing I know, the mom is on the phone with my principal complaining about him hiring foreigners and that her son couldn't understand a word I said in class. (Maybe not, but it probably had more to do with the fact that I was teaching "chemistry")

My principal stayed short of calling her ignorant (these people do pay the bills). Obviously the woman never met me. I mean, I married an American, so my last name doesn't even sound Indian! This still cracks me up when I think about it.

So how does this relate to your story? When you see patients in the hospital, their 1st impression is most likely going to be...Oh, a foreign doctor. Fortunately you will be interacting with them and they'll realize that you're not.

 

[Law2Doc]

Well, I don't. Maybe I do have some type of accent? Definitely not a typical "asian-fob" accent.

Based on the counseler's comment in the original post I suspect the issue has nothing to do with accent, but rather is likely grammar/diction. There are plenty of people in the US of all races and nationalities, who just speak poorly even with no accents. You would know if it were a speech impediment/stammering sort of thing, so I suspect it's just that your normal vernacular is somehow not acceptable interview speak. You want to find yourself someone who speaks well (likely not your current pack of friends who may speak as poorly as you, maybe this counseler), and practice with them, having them coach you and correct you when you falter.

 

[uhohspaghettio]

well, it did shake my confidence a bit. but I am fine now

 

[Critical Mass]

Some Americans who were born in the US DO have a hard time speaking English.

Yo, I'm the big booty type
I like them thick with their mind right (Awe)
Banging personality conversate when the time right (Naw)
I'm not hard I've got women to handle that
They be like he the man when I'm really a Thundercat
Come on you know the tics connect like Voltron
Collect so much grass popo thinking we mow lawns
My gohans don't match that
But it matches her head wrap and the seats that I got in the 'lac
I'm just a juvenile (Wha')
Because I be about G's
Keep your women wizzy man they say they have my babies
I'm young like Tucker like the cash and the money (I'm going to eat my money)
Man, I'm that damn hungry
See I'm starving like Marvin girl
I've got sixteen bars of fire is what I'm starting
Plus my rats come in packs like Sammy and Dean Martin
And I got so many keys you'd think I was valet parking

 

[djo12]

i think its racism. i am south asian. i think english is one of my better subjects and i love english. i have lived in the U.S my whole life. i get comments from people all the time, asking me if i can speak english.

the other day on the johns hopkins campus in east baltimore, this crazy lady on the street (who was probably high) was talking trash to me. i ignored her and she shouted, "oh.. i get it. you dont speak no english..."

i mean, when you look different, people say stupid things like that.

i hope that at your interview day you dont run into anyone ignorant like that. luckily, when i interviewed this year, no one commented on my english.

 

[Ari Gold]

i think its racism. i am south asian. i think english is one of my better subjects and i love english. i have lived in the U.S my whole life. i get comments from people all the time, asking me if i can speak english.

the other day on the johns hopkins campus in east baltimore, this crazy lady on the street (who was probably high) was talking trash to me. i ignored her and she shouted, "oh.. i get it. you dont speak no english..."

i mean, when you look different, people say stupid things like that.

i hope that at your interview day you dont run into anyone ignorant like that. luckily, when i interviewed this year, no one commented on my english.

for some reason i would put more weight into what a pre-med mock interviewer is saying than a crackhead walking down the street in baltimore.

when i first read this i just thought the OP just had bad grammar (like way too many US born kids do) and "didnt talk too good" and the advisor was giving him the benefit of the doubt by asking if english was his first language. i dont think it was racist, settle down.

 

[juiceman311]

What's the dillema? Isn't the point of a mock interview to get this kind of feedback before actual interviews?

 

[Dr2Bee]

had a mock interview at my school today. The counselor asked me, "are you a a native speaker? Do you have trouble speaking?" Damn. I was nervous but to hear this??? My friends teased me afterwards: "are you a fob?"
I am American and grew up here so...😡

What do you friends say about this? Do they seriously agree? Sometimes even growing up here in the US, many still have foreign accents b/c of the language they speak at home. Could it just be that you got nervous and was stammering a bit...making it difficult for your counselor to follow?

But if it's really true, its a good thing that you are hearing this now. You'll be judge on how effectively you can communicate during your interview, whether you like it or not. If the interviewer can't understand you that's not gonna look good.

 

[DreamyKid]

can you post your voice? I wana hear it...I'm usually very good at denoting accents and stuff

 

[jochi1543]

can you post your voice? I wana hear it...I'm usually very good at denoting accents and stuff

Yeah, and your last urinalysis, too.👍

 

[Law2Doc]

i think its racism. i am south asian. i think english is one of my better subjects and i love english. i have lived in the U.S my whole life. i get comments from people all the time, asking me if i can speak english.

Without hearing the OP speak, you are jumping to an unfair conclusion. He truly might have non-race, non-accent related communication issues he needs to work out - that is certainly the most likely interpretation of the intial post. If he speaks poorly, that is something he needs to fix for interviews, regardless of race. In which case the interviewer was helping him, not putting him down.

 

[Tiagao]

Stop using the racist card folks. Seriously, it gets used way too much. Just because you look different and may have an accent, doesn't mean others are racist for bringing it up. I'm not saying this is the OP's case, but most of those I know who pull the racist card only do so to veil their own insecurities.

America is a blend of everywhere and everyone. It doesn't have a specific shape or color.

 

[doinmybest5840]

Stop using the racist card folks. Seriously, it gets used way too much. Just because you look different and may have an accent, doesn't mean others are racist for bringing it up. I'm not saying this is the OP's case, but most of those I know who pull the racist card only do so to veil their own insecurities.

America is a blend of everywhere and everyone. It doesn't have a specific shape or color.

I completely agree! I am so sick of people acting like everyone is physically unable to consider anything besides race or ethnicity as a factor for a person's characteristics or problems.

 

[notdeadyet]

America is a blend of everywhere and everyone. It doesn't have a specific shape or color.

Exactly. Why, just look at the racial spectrum of Congress...

 

[gotmeds?]

Exactly. Why, just look at the racial spectrum of Congress...

Thanks, ndy! You made my day.

 

[Tiagao]

I'm not so naive as to think that racism doesn't exist in this country or that there is equal voice or representation for everyone. All I am saying is that we should give others who bring up our color, accent, or anything else the benefit of the doubt.

OP Best of luck with your apps. From reading some of your other posts, I would guess that you'll do just fine.

T

 

[45408]

Exactly. Why, just look at the racial spectrum of Congress...

He said AMERICA is a blend, not A BUNCH OF RICH UNETHICAL WHITE GUYS. 😀

 

[uhohspaghettio]

i don't think the counselor was racisit. My pride just took a hit, that is all. This was the first time anyone had ever commented something negative about my way of talking, so it just took me by surprise

 

[apnea]

i really REALLY think that's probably why s/he did it...some doctors are real dinguses, and i'm sure at least a few of them made their way onto a few adcoms somewhere out there. wouldn't you rather something twatty like that come up now so you can learn how to handle it?

 

[DRBHOOM]

i wouldn't be too worried about this kind of stuff. Just don't let it get to ya... i've been here since i was about 5(ya i know can't be the president)but i got a southern accent, which really sucks because at times when i tell people that i wasn't born here they have a "shocked wtf" kinda expression. 😕