Improving Chinese nursing undergraduates' nurse-patient clinical communication competence in English: A study based on a target situation needs analysis.

Background: The internationalization of higher education has stimulated an ever-increasing demand for English for Medical Purposes (EMP) courses for nursing undergraduates in China. EMP courses are designed to provide learner-centered language instruction to satisfy students' English communication needs in the future workplace. To date, far too little attention has been paid to developing a well-rounded and theory-guided nurse-patient communication teaching model based on target needs analysis in nurse-patient communication. Objective: To develop an EMP teaching framework to improve Chinese nursing undergraduates' nurse-patient communicative competence in clinical settings based on target situation needs analysis. Methods: A survey of nurses' target situation needs analysis in clinical nurse-patient communication was conducted among nurses in five teaching hospitals in China. A teaching model was developed based on the survey analysis to improve nursing undergraduates' nurse-patient communicative competence. Results: A total of 411 nurses participated in this study. There were no significant differences in the overall satisfaction in target-situation communication and self-assessment in three-aspect communicative competence in clinical communication among nurses with different sociodemographic characteristics. Nurses with better self-assessment in the three-aspect communicative competence are more likely to satisfy their needs of nurse-patient clinical communication in target situation. Nurses self-reported the tasks and language skills commonly involved in nurse-patient clinical communication. A four-step teaching model was developed to respond to the findings of the target situation needs analysis. Conclusion: This study provides important insights into the essential role of employing and integrating a language communicative competence framework and a target-situation analysis framework in formulating a needs-driven and tailor-made EMP teaching model. Based on the previous framework, the teaching model is adapted and characterized by systematic and interconnected teaching steps, core target-situation topics, and a complete set of task forms, providing EMP instructors with operable scaffolds to help nursing students observe, analyze, practice, and assess nurse-patient communication. The study will be of significance for EMP researchers and instructors simulated to conduct further research and practice in English communication in the wider medical field.

Antecedentes históricos de la enseñanza-aprendizaje de la construcción textual escrita en inglés con fines médicos / Historical background of the teaching- learning of written textual construction in English for medical purposes

RESUMEN La enseñanza-aprendizaje del inglés en las universidades médicas ha experimentado cambios de planes de estudios para responder a las demandas de la sociedad relacionada con la formación integral de profesionales de la salud con un determinado nivel de competencia comunicativa en los subcódigos oral y escrito. El presente estudio tiene como objetivo analizar los antecedentes históricos de la construcción textual escrita en la enseñanza aprendizaje del inglés con fines médicos en Cuba. Los métodos del nivel teórico histórico-lógico y análisis-síntesis permitieron el conocimiento de los principales antecedentes y tendencias en el desarrollo de esta temática y la determinación de su historicidad. La revisión de documentos normativos de la carrera Medicina y la bibliografía consultada permitieron la recopilación de información y el establecimiento de las principales tendencias que han caracterizado la construcción textual escrita en inglés con fines médicos.

ABSTRACT The teaching-learning process of English in medical universities has undergone study plan changes to match the demands of the society related to the integral formation of health professionals with communicative competence in English, in the oral and in the written sub-code as well. The objective of the present paper is to analyze the historical background of the written text construction in the teaching-learning process of English for medical purposes in Cuba. The methods of theoretical historical-logical level and analysis-synthesis allowed the knowledge of the main tendencies in the development of this theme and the determination of its historicity. The review of normative documents of the Medicine career and the consulted bibliography on the topic, allowed the compilation of information presented and the establishment of the main trends that have characterized the textual construction written in English for medical purposes.

Implementing English for Medical Purposes (EMP) in South Korea: Nursing students' ongoing needs analysis.

Despite the growing popularity of English for Medical Purposes courses for nurses and nursing students in the East Asian region, relatively little research has been done to investigate whether these courses meet students' specific pragmatic or learning needs. Drawing on the analysis of questionnaires and interview data collected from 66 South Korean nursing students who enrolled in the Medial English course, the study aims to demonstrate the students' specific learning purposes and their pragmatic needs that are highly relevant to the values and conventions of the target discourse community. The findings of the study suggest that while most students agree with the need for English for Specific Purposes courses, they report that the current courses do not fully fit their needs and expectations because of (a) an English-only classroom policy, (b) limited academic literacy in English, and (c) non-localized materials. Findings help language educators, policy makers and researchers in the East Asian region to better understand the importance of looking at specificity of English for Medical Purposes courses and the students' unique needs, and provide them with suggestions for enhancing the effectiveness and specificity of English for Medical Purposes courses.

Análisis histórico tendencial del desarrollo de la enseñanza aprendizaje del inglés con fines médicos en Cuba / Historical-trend analysis of the development of English teaching learning process for medical purposes in Cuba

RESUMEN La enseñanza-aprendizaje del inglés con fines médicos ha experimentado cambios metodológicos ante la necesidad de formar profesionales de la salud altamente competitivos ante las exigencias de la colaboración médica internacional. El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo realizar un análisis histórico-tendencial del desarrollo de la enseñanza-aprendizaje del inglés con fines médicos en Cuba. En la investigación se asumió la dialéctica materialista como método general de la ciencia. Se utilizaron métodos teóricos, empíricos y matemático-estadísticos que posibilitaron el conocimiento de la evolución y desarrollo del objeto de investigación para revelar su historia, las etapas principales en su desarrollo y las conexiones históricas fundamentales, así como el análisis crítico de la información contentiva en documentos normativos y materiales sobre la temática. Se estableció la existencia de tres etapas fundamentales en el desarrollo de su enseñanza y aprendizaje determinadas por las exigencias didácticas y los sustentos teóricos asumidos.

ABSTRACT The teaching-learning process of English for medical purposes has undergone methodological changes in view of the need to train highly competitive health professionals in the face of the demands of international medical collaboration. The objective of this work is to perform a historical-trend analysis of the development of teaching-learning process of English for medical purposes in Cuba. In the investigation, the materialist dialectic was assumed as the general method of science. Theoretical, empirical and mathematical-statistical methods were used that allowed the knowledge of the evolution and development of the research object to reveal its history, the main stages in its development and the fundamental historical connections, as well as the critical analysis of the content information in normative documents and materials on the subject. It was established the existence of three fundamental stages in the development of their teaching and learning determined by the didactic demands and the assumed theoretical foundations.

Current trends in medical English education and the Japan College of Rheumatology International School.

In light of the present revolution happening in medical education in Japan as medical schools implement new curricula to conform to global standards, there is a growing demand for more internationalization and higher quality practical medical English education. In response, many institutions including governmental organizations, universities and academic associations are moving ahead with new initiatives to adapt to these changing demands. This paper reviews the current trends and innovations in medical English education in Japan. This paper also describes one initiative by the Japan College of Rheumatology (JCR) known as the JCR International School held yearly in Karuizawa. By examining recent trends and innovations in medical English education in Japan, the most relevant and applicable can be elucidated to illuminate a path forward for improved medical English education within the JCR.

List of English Teaching Materials for Medical Purposes / 医学教育

This list aims to supplement “A List of English Teaching Materials for Medical Purposes”(1996). It is based on responses to a questionnaire we sent to the medical departments of 60 universities in August 1997 asking for books to recommend. The list consists of two parts: general and technical. The first part is divided into four categories: reading, vocabulary, conversation, and videos. The “reading” category is subdivided into edited textbooks and original books. The title of each listed book is followed by respondents' comments.