My tricks for teaching medical English

By Virginia Allum

A communicative approach

• Use of role plays very important• Role plays follow after development of

dialogues• Learners hear dialogues via audios or

videos (YouTube)• Learners write their own dialogues using

mine as a model

An audio example

• Using Audacity to record the audio of a short dialogue. Here is an example.

Use YouTube videos

• Initially I used Xtranormal to make cartoon-like videos until Xtranormal ceased to operate• I now use GoAnimate – cartoon

characters and a variety of accents

Example of a YouTube video

My Lego hospitalI have set up scenarios using Lego

characters which I have converted into hospital and care home characters.

Worksheets using the Lego characters

Animoto videos

• Animoto videos are made using slides with a musical background• Lego scenarios can be uploaded

as slides with a text underneath.

Use of Facebook

• I have set up a dedicated facebook page www.e4nursingandhealthcare.com• Opportunity for learners to exchange

ideas and comments. Facebook

www.facebook.com/EnglishforNursingandHealthcare

Youtube capture

• During a recent online teaching course (English for Nurses Pre-Intermediate) I used videocapture to communicate with learners.

• The learners also used videocapture to record their homework (completed dialogues)

• Videocapture videos were loaded onto YouTube.

Individualised websitesI use Wix websites to make individual websites for

learners. I can upload resources relevant to their needs.