You Can Understand the Science and Still Get Lost in the English
Why learning chemistry in another language is not the same as learning chemistry again Knowing the science and being able to communicate the science are two different abilities. — Tymur Levitin A student looks at a chemical equation. They recognize it immediately. They understand the reaction. They know what happens and why. Then they look at the English question underneath it. And suddenly the chemistry becomes difficult. Not because the reaction changed. Not because the student forgot chemistry. Not because their scientific reasoning disappeared. The language changed. This distinction seems simple. But it has enormous consequences for students who study chemistry, biochemistry, medicine, pharmacy and other sciences in a language that is not their strongest one. Sometimes the problem is chemistry. Sometimes the problem is English. And sometimes the real difficulty is the bridge between them. The Formula May Be Familiar. The Question May Not Be. Scientific no...