Ways of Minimizing Negative Impacts of Language Barrier on International Trainings

Following the signature on Oct.21, 2011 of "Practical Arrangements between CAEA and IAEA on Cooperation in the Field of Safe Nuclear Power Plant Construction", the International Construction Training Center on Nuclear Power Plants (usually referred to as the ICTC) has, under the assistance of the IAEA, organized 9 training programs, benefiting more than 200 participants from 36 countries. The author was once offered an opportunity to take a visitor's seat in the lecture room throughout the whole period of a two-week training program. While enjoying the process of different lecturers sharing their insights and experiences in various areas related to nuclear power plant construction, the author gradually came to realize that the language barrier could sometimes loom so large among participants speaking different native languages, and in certain cases might harm the effectiveness of international trainings to such an extent that a systematic research on the subject of this paper becomes meaningful. (author)