Open Petition to National Council Architectural Registration Board NCARB - ARE 5.1 in Spanish.
We, the signatories of this petition, want to address you with great respect but at the same time with faith that we are heard and taken into account. We respectfully request that you grant us the opportunity to take ARE 5.1 tests in Spanish. We understand that we cannot and do not want to change the system in real life and we know that being efficient in the English language and in the technical terms referred to architecture and engineering are fundamental and basic elements that we must master that we know and we try to apply at all times during our performance in the workplace. However, it is very important to emphasize that the methodology used in each exam regarding the time limit places us at a disadvantage and below any person whose native language is English. This is because we must read the questions and answers 3 and 4 times more on average than a regular person, this is 300% and 400% longer. We know that in real life, most situations do not have these extreme time limits. We know this happens because the ARE 5.0 tests were designed for the English language and not Spanish.
It is also important to say that the questions are long, full of information, this even for someone whose native language is English is extremely difficult. This other aspect places us at a disadvantage, and is discriminating. This is why we request that NCARB offer us the possibility of taking the exams in Spanish. We have seen how NCARB speaks of social justice, and what we ask for is social justice and that you support us. In the USA the second language is Spanish, with more than 47 million people residing in the country and whose first or second language is Spanish. We have the example of CANADA a country in which they offer to present the tests in English or French for the license in the field of architecture. In short, what we request is equality, justice, and non-discrimination against us for not having English as a native language. Please can you assess our technical knowledge and not the proficiency of a second language under the pressure of time or a grammar designed to test the language.
An example of what this test might look like would be keeping the names of the concepts in English but everything else in Spanish.
The people who signed this petition are Candidates for the architect license in the USA / NCARB as well as licensed architects within the USA who simply support this just request. Many of us have years of experience outside the USA and we could nurture the workplace with sustainable solutions that would benefit this great nation at all times.
God and justice.
Updates
October 30, 2020
NCARB keeps ignoring the obvious fact that their testing process discriminates against non-native English speakers. We have built undeniable momentum that they can no longer look away from even if they refuse to acknowledge our frustration. This surge shows they are running out of excuses to deny us a fair assessment.
19 Comments
I agree. I have presented the test many times, and I think my challenge has to do with the time it takes me to decode the questions to make sure that I am understanding correctly. I feel it is discriminatory and unfair. NCARB should be coherent with the values they stand for, like fairness, social justice, and progress.
I also want to request to avoid tricky questions, for us is hard enough to deal with a second language
I myself am a child of immigrants and spanish was my first language. Have always had trouble with reading in English my whole life..
Testing accessibility contributes HSW of the public. Let's work to empower designers!
Spanish being the second most spoken language in the US and representing the most familiar language to many ARE candidates would enable many communities access to bilingual architects further enriching the built environment of Spanish speaking communities.
I strongly support all things described above in this petition.
This is an important issue for bringing equity to the architecture industry.
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Open Petition to National Council Architectural Registration Board NCARB - ARE 5.1 in Spanish.
We, the signatories of this petition, want to address you with great respect but at the same time with faith that we are heard and taken into account. We respectfully request that you grant us the opportunity to take ARE 5.1 tests in Spanish. We understand that we cannot and do not want to change the system in real life and we know that being efficient in the English language and in the technical terms referred to architecture and engineering are fundamental and basic elements that we must master that we know and we try to apply at all times during our performance in the workplace. However, it is very important to emphasize that the methodology used in each exam regarding the time limit places us at a disadvantage and below any person whose native language is English. This is because we must read the questions and answers 3 and 4 times more on average than a regular person, this is 300% and 400% longer. We know that in real life, most situations do not have these extreme time limits. We know this happens because the ARE 5.0 tests were designed for the English language and not Spanish.
It is also important to say that the questions are long, full of information, this even for someone whose native language is English is extremely difficult. This other aspect places us at a disadvantage, and is discriminating. This is why we request that NCARB offer us the possibility of taking the exams in Spanish. We have seen how NCARB speaks of social justice, and what we ask for is social justice and that you support us. In the USA the second language is Spanish, with more than 47 million people residing in the country and whose first or second language is Spanish. We have the example of CANADA a country in which they offer to present the tests in English or French for the license in the field of architecture. In short, what we request is equality, justice, and non-discrimination against us for not having English as a native language. Please can you assess our technical knowledge and not the proficiency of a second language under the pressure of time or a grammar designed to test the language.
An example of what this test might look like would be keeping the names of the concepts in English but everything else in Spanish.
The people who signed this petition are Candidates for the architect license in the USA / NCARB as well as licensed architects within the USA who simply support this just request. Many of us have years of experience outside the USA and we could nurture the workplace with sustainable solutions that would benefit this great nation at all times.
God and justice.
Updates
October 30, 2020
NCARB keeps ignoring the obvious fact that their testing process discriminates against non-native English speakers. We have built undeniable momentum that they can no longer look away from even if they refuse to acknowledge our frustration. This surge shows they are running out of excuses to deny us a fair assessment.
19 Comments
Will be great if the ARE is offering in Spanish, I got Architectural License in Colombia and I have been working in USA for the last 25 years, I don't feel comfortable taking this test in English, I completed all the requirements to take ARE but I feel with the type of questions will be fail
I agree. I have presented the test many times, and I think my challenge has to do with the time it takes me to decode the questions to make sure that I am understanding correctly. I feel it is discriminatory and unfair. NCARB should be coherent with the values they stand for, like fairness, social justice, and progress.
I also want to request to avoid tricky questions, for us is hard enough to deal with a second language
I myself am a child of immigrants and spanish was my first language. Have always had trouble with reading in English my whole life..
Testing accessibility contributes HSW of the public. Let's work to empower designers!
Spanish being the second most spoken language in the US and representing the most familiar language to many ARE candidates would enable many communities access to bilingual architects further enriching the built environment of Spanish speaking communities.
I strongly support all things described above in this petition.
This is an important issue for bringing equity to the architecture industry.
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Will be great if the ARE is offering in Spanish, I got Architectural License in Colombia and I have been working in USA for the last 25 years, I don't feel comfortable taking this test in English, I completed all the requirements to take ARE but I feel with the type of questions will be fail