I have just returned from a marvelous cocktail gathering held off the Conselho Universitario Room.
Before that, sure, there took place the solemnity itself with plenty of VIPs, pledges, cameras and... me, yes. I specially took note of this: One of the high hosts (I will not give his name to protect him this time), declared, 'A piece of law prevents us [at USP] from teaching in a language other than Portuguese'. Indeed, this is absolutely pathetic....
By regularly taking part in seminars and other academic activities, it has become clear to me that even the most senior professors are not fluent in English. Most often than not, one hears this declaration by the speaker, at the beginning of his/her lecture: "Vou falar em portuguës para ir mais rápido". (I am going to speak in Portuguese in order to go faster.) The speaker gives then the impression such justification is unquestionable. But it is, in fact, ridiculous. Moreover, what it is is a confession that one cannot deliver the speech in English, in an acceptable way.
The entire USP academic environment, instead of pushing fluency in English as essential, embraces a paternalistic attitude of protecting one another - so obiquitous in every aspect of the academic (supposedly so) at USP.
Things can go beyond such mere - subjective, some would argue - attitude. I myself, as a PhD candididate in the Social History, was formally prevented from presenting my thesis in English. The coordinator for postgrad in history, Ms. Sara Albieri, gave me the news personally in May 2008.
Indeed, nothing can be more detrimental of all the values praised in the solemnity just held: precisely the complacency of supporting greatness-to-be, or greatness-compared-to-laggards.
USP is powerful, no doubt. Though being powerful - it has also proved - is not always an easy task. USP has been losing talents all long her way. Great talents. Power can impose a rich, and rather silly, bear to a more experient world that truly looks for development. But power cannot bring about development itself.
USP, let's EMBRACE ENGLISH AT LAST!
This will be sent to the Head of the Academic Department, Valeria L., close to the Director of FEA-USP: FEA is USP most celebrated international unit (Economics, Business and Accountancy, plus an International Relations arm). The head of that department does not handle English either... Anyway!
Let us push this campaign, let us make USP as comfort with English as it is comfort with power.
Mariangela
nov 29, 2010
