Hello, how are you?
Mastering English as a Foreign-Trained Dentist in the U.S.
English is widely spoken in India, but does that mean Indians are considered proficient in it? According to U.S. regulations, not quite. Every dentist trained outside the U.S. must take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) to prove proficiency—regardless of how long they’ve been speaking the language. So, there I was, preparing for a test in a language I had been fluent in for 20 years! Little did I know, there was still much more to learn.
The Challenge of Everyday Conversations
After moving to the U.S., my first week in my new apartment building was a nightmare for my spoken English skills. One day, my dishwasher stopped working, so I walked down to the lobby to report it to the doorman. He greeted me with a friendly, “Hi, how are you?” and I responded, “I am fine.” He gave me a strange look before directing me to the management office. Later, I wondered—should I have said, “I am good” instead?
The next day, I went to the management office and saw a few people waiting. I approached the last person and asked, “Is this the queue for the service request?” The lady gave me the funniest look before correcting me: “Yes, this is the line for the service request.” This pattern repeated itself—my everyday English felt foreign to native speakers. It made me so nervous that I would overthink every sentence before speaking.
Practicing the American Accent
Determined to improve, I turned to some unlikely mentors—Anderson Cooper and Kiran Chetry. Every morning, over a cup of coffee, I practiced my accent with news anchors on TV. The doorman became my test subject, and his weird expressions slowly faded—a sign I was improving!
After what felt like auditioning for a news channel, I finally took my TOEFL test in Brooklyn. A week later, I was ecstatic to receive a top score!
Embracing Change
Now, after six years in the U.S., my accent has changed so much that I sometimes forget how I originally spoke! Many of my patients assume I am an American-born Indian. This experience taught me that practice and observation make a huge difference in language learning.
If you’re a foreign-trained dentist preparing for TOEFL, remember—confidence, practice, and immersion are key.
Happy speaking!
Dr. Meenakshi Umapathy, a dedicated General Dentist, began her journey in India before advancing her expertise in the United States. She earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from the prestigious New York University College of Dentistry and now practices pediatric dentistry in Indiana. Through her compelling narratives, she reflects on her experiences practicing in both India and the U.S., offering unique insights into the profession. Her blog, originally published on DentistryUnited.com in 2012, has been thoughtfully republished to continue inspiring and informing readers every Saturday.