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

• Published in: Nurse education today Vol. 104; p. 104989
• Main Author: Choi, Lee Jin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Edinburgh Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2021; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Classrooms; Conventions; Discourse Communities; Educational Needs; English Curriculum; English for medical purposes; English for nursing students; English for Special Purposes; English for specific purposes; English language; Language proficiency; Language Teachers; Medical English; Needs assessment; Nursing; Nursing education; Nursing Students; Policy making; Popularity; Pragmatics; Semiotics; South Korea; Students; South Korea; South Korea; Medical English; English for medical purposes; English for specific purposes; English for nursing students
• ISSN: 0260-6917; 1532-2793
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nedt.2021.104989

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. •Highlight the importance of conducting an on-going needs analysis to understand nursing students’ learning needs•Highlight the importance of developing needs-responsive instruction in EMP contexts•Highlight the importance of examining the effects of bilingual instruction in EMP courses•Highlight the importance of developing authentic and more localized EMP materials