A Student-produced ELPfor the Medical Field

Ioana UrsacheUniv. of Medicine and Pharmacy, EuroEd Foundation, Iasi

Some coordinates…

Univ. of Medicine and Pharmacy - Iasi, Faculty of Medicine•1st year students

– Compulsory English class

•2nd year students– Optional English class

Are these students interested in the ELP?

YES, because

They see themselves in international professional situations in the future

They want to know their level of English according to European standards

They want to develop their self-evaluation skills

So, 1st year students…

Learn about the European Language PolicyFind out about the ELP (CEFR) and Europass CVDevelop self-evaluation skillsSelf-assess their level of EnglishFill in and compile their personal ELPsSimulate applications for scholarships abroad

What do they think about the ELP?Good to have common standardsEasy to useUseful

BUT

Easy to be wrong or deceive• Classroom activities on self-

evaluation skills

Samples needed• Classroom activities with samples

from Cambridge exams

Not applicable to more specialized fields

• ??? =>

Then… (follow up in the 2nd year)

Analyze descriptors more closely

Review medical language acts and products (+types of contexts and audiences)

Develop definition and description skills

Rewrite the Self-assessment Grid for the medical field

In the end, they…

…not only…know their level of Englishare better at self-evaluation

…but also…have a deeper understanding of

• language competence• the medical profession

develop their thinking and writing skillsrecycle their medical vocabularyimprove other skills like teamwork, creativity etc.develop a feeling of ownership and empowerment

So, how is this Medical ELP of theirs?

“Global Scales” :Sets of 15 descriptions for each competence and group of levels (A1-2, B1-2, C1-2)

• or

“Self-Evaluation Grids” :

Sets of 30 descriptions for each competence and level (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2)

The MEDICAL Language Passport

The Self-assessment Grid (Listening)

I can understand familiar words, basic information on medical field (body parts, some important, general disease) when people speak clearly in short phrases. I can understand the main point when it’s spoken in medical words of highest frequency.

I can understand a congress, a video conference, a medical debate, all dealing with medical inovations. After that I can use the new informations in my own research. This is how I can obtain very good results in my own research, which is a higher standard and a better quality of the medical act.

The Self-assessment Grid (Reading)

I can understand medical terms and read short articles and medical prospectus. I can find information about different diseases. I can interpret a report, having few ideas about the patient’s disease. I can read short publications about familiar medical subjects.

I can understand: a text containing usual medical terms (common diseases, symptomology) necessary in giving a correct diagnostic, a specialised medical book with help from dictionary or someone else who can explain the unknown medical terms.

The Self-assessment Grid (Sp. Prod.)

I am able to describe or to use some simple sentences in order to talk to the patient and explain the symptoms. I can tell what medicine they should take. The quality is acceptable, with some mistakes.

I can present clear smoothly flowing description or argument of a disease in a style close to the pacient’s level of undestanding. I can use an effective logical structure wich helps the pacient (or his family) to notice and remember significant points about the particulary evolution of the disease.

The Self-assessment Grid (Sp. Int.)

I can answer your question, because you asked me using simple words, well-known phrases… Only if we use simple words in our conversation, I can put the proper diagnosis!!!

I can easily understand and explain to a patient the causes and medication for his/her disease without enlarging the subject. I am able to interact with the medical staff and I can sustain a conversation on a familiar medical subject in most of the situations.

The Self-assessment Grid (Writing)

I can write : prescriptions, referrals (for example for a patient that has to be consulted by a specialist). I can fill in: medical certificates, hospital forms (for example the name, adress, blood pressure, weight, height).

I can write detailed activity reparts for the National Ensurance Company. I can write scientifical articles for medical magazines. I can correctly describe the cases I met in my activity to other collegues asking for their advice.

Conclusions…

The general ELP is not enoughIt needs samples Vocational ELPs are necessary

Getting students engaged with tools like the ELP is rewarding

Adopt a bottom-up approach in designing vocational ELPs

Involve students and professionals

My contact info:

Ioana Ursacheioana.ursache@euroed.ro

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

This document reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.