Speaking English Proficiency (SEP)

SEP is a separate category evaluated in USMLE CS. This is about your English itself, and has nothing to do with the content of your speech or your manner. People failed in this part are due to different reasons:

1. Pronunciation. Everybody has accent. Even if you do not have north American accent, it is not a big deal, as long as you can easily be understood, which is the basic requirement for a clinician. However, no matter what your accent is, you have to be accurate. This is everything about proper English, which is the way that English should sound. If you have pronunciation problems, the best way to treat is to see a speech pathologist. A speech pathologist knows how sounds are made by different organs in face, mouth and throat, therefore figures out the wrong sound organs that you used to pronounce. Different native language speakers used different organs to make sounds, therefore there is no general rule to cure everybody. You need to see a speech pathologist on a case-by-case basis rather than a English teacher in a class.
2. Words and grammar. If you read a lot in English, this should not a big problem anymore. However, when you speak out, you also need to speak with proper grammar. Otherwise, even if you pronounce right, it will still cause confusion to native English speakers.

1 and 2 gave strategies to conquer SEP. Bear in mind, language is used for speaking out and needs lots of practice. Neither speech pathologist nor ESL teacher can be your mother's tongue accompanying you. Therefore, the key to success is to find every chance to speak out.