Innovation in Language Learning

Edition 17

Accepted Abstracts

English for Medical Education: From Needs Analysis to Course Design

Basim M. Abubakr Faraj, University of Benghazi (Libya)

Abstract

Due to the fact that English is used broadly in the field of medicine today, the use of English by medical students has been investigated in a number of non-English speaking contexts. It is claimed that medical students in these settings face problems in dealing with their medical subjects which are taught mainly in the English medium and that could be attributed in part to their inadequate level of language.The study examines the English language needs for medical students in one of medical faculties in Libya (Al Marj city). The study also analyzes perceptions about the adequacy of the current English language curriculum. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected by using questionnaires. Medical students (n=58), seven teachers including two English language teachers as well as five subject teachers and also the Dean of faculty all participated in this project. The findings of the study were as follows: Firstly, English language was perceived by all participants in the study as highly important for the medical education in Libya as all materials are written and delivered in English. Secondly, both speaking and listening were perceived by medical students as more essential than other skills in order to communicate effectively and to handle the academic subjects. However, teachers and the Dean were not in agreement with their students as they perceived written language skills particularly reading as more important for medical education. Thirdly, the current course curriculum was viewed by almost all participants as largely irrelevant and medical students’ English language needs were not adequately met by this course. Finally, participants offered a number of suggestions regarding the new ways of teaching English for medical students in terms of the content as well as the teaching approaches. Significantly, using technology, namely the Internet, was viewed by all participants as one of preferable trends of teaching English for medical students as it helps for learning autonomy and provides a wide range of materials which are not easily offered by other traditional techniques. Accordingly, the author has suggested and designed a web-based program of teaching English for medical students in order to match the students’ needs.

Keywords: English for Specific Purposes (ESP), Medical English, Need Analysis, and Computerised assisted language learning (CALL);

 

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