Thread: english for medical professionals

Originally Posted by 3leggedkitty

so my question is, is there a recipe for developing language courses for people with a purported, alleged ielts level of 5.0 focussing on specialized disciplines like medicine and healthcare?

i'm all over the damn internet and all i find are the hokiest course and suggestion and idea sites that even most of us hacks would find wanting.

No, but good luck finding it.

Quite a challenge.

You're up for it man! Just do it,eh!

---Update---

I'll check around.

ankylosing spondyliis, pernicous anemia............

peripheral neuropathy........

Have more fun.

There have to be guidelines somewhere.

maybe try channels than direct...There has to be curriculum that western universities use for ESL medical students.

You'll be working with advanced pronunciation, lots of Greek (bonus!)

Good luck.

Better you than me.

Physician, heal thyself.

...I have an idea.

Start with the Oath of Hippocrates.

---Update---

The Declaration of Geneva, as currently amended, reads:^[3]
AT THE TIME OF BEING ADMITTED AS A MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION:

• I SOLEMNLY PLEDGE to consecrate my life to the service of humanity;
• I WILL GIVE to my teachers the respect and gratitude that is their due;
• I WILL PRACTISE my profession with conscience and dignity;
• THE HEALTH OF MY PATIENT will be my first consideration;
• I WILL RESPECT the secrets that are confided in me, even after the patient has died;
• I WILL MAINTAIN by all the means in my power, the honour and the noble traditions of the medical profession;
• MY COLLEAGUES will be my sisters and brothers;
• I WILL NOT PERMIT considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing or any other factor to intervene between my duty and my patient;
• I WILL MAINTAIN the utmost respect for human life;
• I WILL NOT USE my medical knowledge to violate human rights and civil liberties, even under threat;
• I MAKE THESE PROMISES solemnly, freely and upon my honour.

This'll help...

Save that one for fun time 3LK.

I wish you had made this post 3 or 4 months ago. One of the university courses I taught in Thailand three years running was English for the Medical Profession. I could have passed the course materials on to you. D'oh. Here's a very general overview of what was covered in 16 weeks...

The first half of the course was all about communication between doctors and patients. How to take down personal details (first name, last name, occupation, date of birth, blood type, presenting complaint) was covered along with how to conduct a short doctor-patient interview. Think along the lines of

"Hello Mr Watson, what's brought you along today?"
"Hello doctor. I cut my arm on a prickly bush when I was walking in the woods with my family. It was just a scratch, so I didn't bother putting any cream on it. I think it's infected now though."
"I see. When did this happen?"
"Three days ago."

After a few (hopefully) relevant questions, the doctor does a quick examination and then decides on a course of action. If it's something simple, the doctor prescribes some cream or medicine. If it's something a bit more complicated, the doctor refers the patient to a relevant specialist.

The midterm speaking exam was a paired roleplay. One student was the patient, one was the doctor. The patient drew a card at random with their symptoms and was then interviewed and examined by the doctor (who doesn't get to take a look at the card). Once the interview is over, the students swap roles and another card is drawn at random.

To prepare for this, students need to be taught a ton of new vocabulary - parts of the body, the correct questions to ask, how to describe pain, how to give instructions and reassure patients in the examination. There were lots of listening exercises, so students could easily get a good idea of what goes down.

There was a midterm listening exam too that mostly consisted of various dialogues and roleplays.

The second half of the course was all about how to take part in a formal discussion as a medical profession. Groups of 4 or 5 students get to practice having discussions on topics like ethics, right to die, abortion, euthanasia etc. Again there were plenty of listening exercises based on group discussions, so students can get a reasonable idea of what it could be like.

For the final speaking exam, groups of students take part in a 10-15 minute discussion. They were given their topic a week in advance, so they had plenty of time (for the majority of students ) to memorise exactly every word they say.

There was also a final listening exam, which again consisted of various dialogues.

I was teaching at a decent university (well, by Thai standards ), so these were all very good (and very shy) students. I spent the first couple of weeks getting them used to speaking out loud in English before plunging into the heavy stuff.

If you're going to take this on, and the students aren't so strong in English, I personally would forget about discussions and spend the whole course building towards the doctor patient interview. There are a few exercises you can adapt from the internet, but you're going to have to write a whole load of material yourself if you can't get hold of a proper coursebook.

Hopefully some of this is helpful. The best of luck.

Good advice pants.

I would suppose that medical students are going to be very bright and have determined to be enthusiastic.

I'm guessing most medical students are going to be the sons and daughters of physicians?

Those are huge pluses.

I would have enjoyed teaching these folks over classes of fourty country bumkins....

There were very few heading for a a medical doctors degree.

(Lots of nurses though)

---Update---

Originally Posted by Mr Pants

How to take down personal details (first name, last name, occupation, date of birth, blood type, presenting complaint

it sounds like

presenting complaint = the patients concerns.

Anyway, the role playing is excellent.

Doctor: How can I help you today?
Patient: I have pain in my foot.

Doctor:........?


anyway....

weight
blood pressure
listen to the breathing.

Lots of material 3LK................

---Update---

Bedside manner.............

You could have fun with that 3LK

Originally Posted by russellsimpson

Doctor: How can I help you today?
Patient: I have pain in my foot.
Doctor:........?

Doctor - Can you describe the pain?
- What brings it on?
- When did the pain start?

No problems

Originally Posted by Mr Pants

Doctor - Can you describe the pain?

Yes. My feet get very hot, especially so in the evening, while lying down.

It seems to have been happening for the last two years.



ummm....I was thinking that perhaps I require a mild pain killer such as Demerol?

---Update---

You have a very fine office.

Is that a picture of your family?

As a Thai doctor, I'll immediately prescribe a five day course of antibiotics. When they don't work and you come back, I won't be here

Originally Posted by Mr Pants

When they don't work and you come back, I won't be here

I had that happen.

One day my doctor, a week later a bicycle shop

---Update---

Originally Posted by Mr Pants

As a Thai doctor, I'll immediately prescribe a five day course of antibiotics

Might I ask if that's your certificate on the wall?

...of course, a needs assessment survey should be undertaken initially: under what circumstances would a medical professional need English and to what level? Is it always about doctor-patient relationships or is comprehending medical journals/interacting with foreign professionals, etc. part of the requirement?...

...teaching a selection of hokey frozen questions (see above) and a list of body parts is probably a waste of time: which may, of course, be what you're after...