The Role of Language Capability in Migration Choice of International Medical Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-35
Author(s):  
Wen Li ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Foreign Country ◽  
International Medical ◽  
Migration Decision ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Middle Income

Background:An alarming proportion of healthcare workers from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) migrate to foreign countries, especially to high-income countries (HICs), to seek employment. The aim of this study was to explore the role of language capability in migration choice of China-educated international medical students (IMSs), mainly from LMICs in Asia and Africa. Methods:A questionnaire was delivered electronically to final-year IMSs at 4 universities in China from June, 2019 to July, 2019. The questionnaire comprised questions on language capability and migration choices of IMSs. Chi-square test was used to determine whether participants’ English language proficiency, Chinese language proficiency, and capability of speaking multi-languages were associated with their migration choices. Results:A total of 202 valid responses were obtained and 91 (45%) participants showed intention of choosing a foreign country. The intention of staying outside the home country was associated with the capability of speaking multi-languages (speaking at least another non-English foreign language apart from Chinese) by IMSs. Higher-level Chinese proficiency certificate holders were more likely to choose China as the destination country. The capability of speaking a non-English/non-Chinese foreign language did not correspond to the intention of migrating to the country where this language is spoken. Furthermore, the intention of migrating to a non-English/non-Chinese speaking foreign country did not correspond to the capability in the language spoken in this foreign country. Conclusion:The effect of language capability on migration choice of China-educated IMSs was explored in this study. The findings indicate that language capability has played some role in IMSs’ migration choice. However, migration decision-making process is complex and is affected by various factors. Therefore, further studies should be conducted to explore correlations among factors affecting migration choice of IMSs.

scholarly journals Mind Your Language: Factors Enhancing Students’ English Language Skills in an International Medical Programme (IMP) 

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Min Hui Chan ◽  
Norul Hidayah Mamat ◽  
Vishna Devi Nadarajah
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Medical Training ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
International Medical ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
English Language Skills

Abstract Background Language proficiency is crucial for doctors as they communicate with patients, peers and other healthcare professionals. Although proficiency in English is part of admission requirements, there is a gap of knowledge on medical students’ perception of factors enhancing English language (EL) skills during training in international medical programmes (IMP). The gap prevents educators and policy makers from helping students who struggle with communication skills during medical training. This study therefore explores factors that enable enhancement of English language skills from medical students’ perspectives Methods Six focus group interviews with 24 medical students of an IMP were conducted. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s framework of thematic analysis. Results Results established three main factors enhancing EL skills namely use of EL in medical training and practice, influence of university culture in EL mastery and individual EL proficiency with eight themes demonstrating the factors as perceived by medical students Conclusions Findings of this study informs how students perceived enhancement of EL skills as a professional and social requirement during medical training and for future practice. It also informs that setting English language admission pre requisites needs to be complemented with opportunities to practice context specific communication skills. Thus, international medical programmes should embed diverse and inclusive strategies to support and develop medical students’ English language skills.

Tauchnitz for Translators. The Circulation of English-language Literature in Finland

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 161-179
Author(s):  
Outi Paloposki
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
English Language ◽  
Book History ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Book Production ◽  
German Publisher ◽  
Language Literature ◽  
Selection Of

The article looks at book production and circulation from the point of view of translators, who, as purchasers and readers of foreign-language books, are an important mediating force in the selection of literature for translation. Taking the German publisher Tauchnitz's series ‘Collection of British Authors’ and its circulation in Finland in the nineteenth and early twentieth century as a case in point, the article argues that the increased availability of English-language books facilitated the acquiring and honing of translators' language skills and gradually diminished the need for indirect translating. Book history and translation studies meet here in an examination of the role of the Collection in Finnish translators' work.

Can-Do descriptors – Realigning English Language Curriculum at Higher Education Institution to CEFR

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 84
Author(s):  
Erda Wati Bakar
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
Language Curriculum ◽  
English Curriculum ◽  
The Common ◽  
The University

The Common European Framework of Reference for Language (CEFR) has become the standard used to describe and evaluate students’ command of a second or foreign language. It is an internationally acknowledged standard language proficiency framework which many countries have adopted such as China, Thailand, Japan and Taiwan. Malaysia Ministry of Education is aware and realise the need for the current English language curriculum to be validated as to reach the international standard as prescribed by the CEFR. The implementation of CEFR has begun at primary and secondary level since 2017 and now higher education institutions are urged to align their English Language Curriculum to CEFR as part of preparation in receiving students who have been taught using CEFR-aligned curriculum at schools by year 2022. This critical reflection article elucidates the meticulous processes that we have embarked on in re-aligning our English Language Curriculum to the standard and requirements of CEFR. The paper concludes with a remark that the alignment of the English curriculum at the university needs full support from the management in ensuring that all the stakeholders are fully prepared, informed and familiar with the framework.

Machine Translation for EFL

Relay Journal ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 228-235
Author(s):  
Paul J. Moore ◽  
Phil Murphy ◽  
Luann Pascucci ◽  
Scott Sustenance
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Machine Translation ◽  
English Language ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Technical Developments ◽  
English Language Institute ◽  
Changing Role

This paper reports on an ongoing study into the affordances of free online machine translation for students learning English as a foreign language (EFL) at the tertiary level in Japan. The researchers are currently collecting data from a questionnaire, task performance, and interviews with 10-15 EFL learners in an English Language Institute in a university in Japan. The paper provides some background on the changing role of translation in language learning theory and pedagogy, before focusing literature related to technical developments in machine translation technology, and its application to foreign language learning. An overview of the research methodology is provided, along with some insights into potential findings. Findings will be presented in subsequent publications.

A study of Importance of English Language Proficiency in Hospitality Industry and the Role of Hospitality Educators in Enhancing the Same Amongst The Students

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arati Prabhu ◽  
Prachi Wani
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Hospitality Industry ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Language Proficiency ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Hotel Management ◽  
Innovative Teaching ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Teaching Learning

The study is undertaken to understand the importance of English language skills in the Indian hospitality industry, and the gaps therein. It studies the challenge as it exists in Pune city, and how AISSMS College of Hotel Management & Catering Technology has attempted to address the issue(s). The study aims at gathering primary information by means of questionnaires. It sheds light on the gap between existing and desired standards of English proficiency. It also highlights the attempts by the three important stakeholders in order to address the issue. Though, attempts are made from the industry, teachers and students, it is recognized that joint efforts need to be made to tackle the problem collectively and from all sides. It is an urgent calling for innovative teaching learning practices and encouraging sound develop initiatives and commitment. The primary data is across the cross section of Pune hoteliers, teachers and students of the college. The findings reflect the importance of English as the universal medium of communication, and its importance in rendering quality service and importantly.

Experience of clinical supervisors of international medical graduates in an Australian district hospital

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 365 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Henderson ◽  
Pam D. McGrath ◽  
Mary Anne Patton
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare System ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
District Hospital ◽  
English Language Proficiency ◽  
International Medical ◽  
International Medical Graduates ◽  
Clinical Supervisors ◽  
Medical Graduates ◽  
Junior Staff

Objective Herein we record the experience of clinical supervisors of international medical graduates (IMGs) working as junior staff in a district hospital by examining supervisor perspectives on IMG performance, the factors affecting their performance and the requirements of supervision under these circumstances. Methods The present study had an open-ended exploratory qualitative design. Thirteen 13 open-ended, in-depth interviews were undertaken with supervisors of IMGs employed in a public district hospital in Queensland, Australia. Results The supervisors reported that, although performance was an individual and variable characteristic, IMGs tended to perform less well than Australian graduates and required more intensive supervision. Factors that affected performance were motivation and experience, and specifically lack of familiarity with the Australian healthcare system, lack of recent of practice, education, language, communication and cultural factors. English language proficiency was regarded as crucial to performance. Conclusions The additional work required to supervise IMGs in order to enable them to perform at a satisfactory level and successfully integrate into the Australian healthcare system needs to be recognised and resourced. Assistance with attaining proficiency in English and with communication skills over and above the standard required to pass the International English Language Testing System examination should be seriously considered as a means of improving performance. What is known about the topic? To date, there is little research available about the experience of supervisors of IMGs in Australia. What does this paper add? The findings of the present study make an important contribution to the literature by examining the critical role clinical supervisors of IMGs have in helping IMGs adapt to the Australian healthcare system and ensuring that they are able to provide quality health care. It identifies current challenges and highlights areas in need of attention to ensure a strong healthcare system for Australia. What are the implications for practitioners? Supervisors of IMGs need recognition of the extra time and expertise required in their role if they are to be effectively supported in their endeavours to integrate IMGs into the Australian health workforce. More attention needs to be given to the development of English language proficiency of IMGs, including colloquial usage, and communication in medical practice.

Earnings of Hispanic Men: The Role of English Language Proficiency

1983 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter McManus ◽  
William Gould ◽  
Finis Welch
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Language Proficiency ◽  
Hispanic Men

scholarly journals Listening Skill Requires a Further Look into Second/Foreign Language Learning

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hossein Bozorgian
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
High Stakes ◽  
Reading And Writing ◽  
Listening Skill ◽  
Reading History

Current English-as-a-second and foreign-language (ESL/EFL) research has encouraged to treat each communicative macroskill separately due to space constraint, but the interrelationship among these skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) is not paid due attention. This study attempts to examine first the existing relationship among the four dominant skills, second the potential impact of reading background on the overall language proficiency, and finally the relationship between listening and overall language proficiency as listening is considered an overlooked/passive skill in the pedagogy of the second/foreign language classroom. However, the literature in language learning has revealed that listening skill has salient importance in both first and second language learning. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of each of four skills in EFL learning and their existing interrelationships in an EFL setting. The outcome of 701 Iranian applicants undertaking International English Language Testing System (IELTS) in Tehran demonstrates that all communicative macroskills have varied correlations from moderate (reading and writing) to high (listening and reading). The findings also show that the applicants’ reading history assisted them in better performing at high stakes tests, and what is more, listening skill was strongly correlated with the overall language proficiency.

scholarly journals CZY JESTEŚMY GOTOWI NA EKOGLOTTODYDAKTYKĘ W POLSKIM KONTEKŚCIE EDUKACYJNYM?

Neofilolog ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 11-26
Author(s):  
Jolanta Sujecka-Zając
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
English Language ◽  
Sense Making ◽  
Main Function ◽  
Important Place ◽  
Nature And Culture ◽  
Language Environment ◽  
Language Context ◽  
The Relationship

The trend for eco-linguistics, which has been dynamically developing in the English-language literature since the 1970s, proposes a change in the perception of the relationship between language, nature, and culture, in a sense making language a link which brings together nature and culture, rather than separating them as is traditional. This approach poses important questions: How do languages ​​work in the ecosystem created by the language environment of all users of a given language context? What relationships can they enter into? How should one perceive the development of multilingualism in such an ecological approach, in which not only does "strong" affect the "weak" but “weak” reciprocates? "Weak" has an important place in the language ecosystem, which risks serious changes due to excessive weakening of one of its components. This paper aims to examine the possible inspirations that eco-linguistics offers Foreign Language Teaching (FLT), highlighting the role of each language and sensitizing the reader to the relationships that arise between languages ​​and their users in a given environment. From this perspective Claire Kramsch (2008) postulates a change in the perception of the main function of the teacher from the "teacher of a code" to the "teacher of meaning", which has specific didactic consequences in how language activities are approached. Is the school classroom a place for activities which have their origin in the trend for eco-FLT?

scholarly journals “The Course Was Not Only for the Semester but Also for Life”: Scaffolding Summary Writing for EFL Students Across Academic Disciplines

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 203-212
Author(s):  
Carina Sjöberg-Hawke
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Academic Disciplines ◽  
Teacher Response ◽  
Summary Writing ◽  
Learning Path ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Specific Learning

It can be a challenge for a university teacher to arrange the teaching of written tasks so that weak foreign language students with differing disciplinary backgrounds can develop their written communication skills. The difficulty is to avoid the focus from becoming just language proficiency. In one course at a technical university in Sweden, three written summaries are scaffolded to address such a challenge. The purpose of this teaching practice paper is to show how employing a specific strategy of repetition facilitates the writing skill development in low-level English language multidisciplinary students. The repeated features are the genre of the task, the writing process used and the occurrences of teacher response. They are organised along a specific learning path so as to encourage the students to build on the knowledge gained in each iteration, between tasks and potentially beyond the course. The paper describes the journey the students take writing the three summaries, working on fulfilling criteria concerned with aspects such as content organisation, coherence and cohesion, and limited grammar errors. A brief analysis of excerpts from one case student’s first and third summaries is included. It is suggested that while the scaffolding can remain the same, the material could be replaced to suit other skills and language level needs.

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