ENHANCING INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE THROUGH HUMANITIES-BASED RESOURCES IN ESP (MEDICINE)

• Published in: Актуальні проблеми сучасної медицини: Вісник Української медичної стоматологічної академії Vol. 25; no. 2; pp. 216 - 220
• Main Authors: Kostenko, V. H., Bieliaieva, O. M., Znamenska, I. V., Honcharova, Ye.Ye, Solohor, I. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 29.05.2025
• ISSN: 2077-1096; 2077-1126
• DOI: 10.31718/2077-1096.25.2.216

Statement of the Problem. In the context of globalized healthcare, medical education must go beyond technical training to foster intercultural competence, ethical sensitivity, and holistic communication skills. However, traditional English for Specific Purposes (ESP) programs often focus narrowly on technical vocabulary and clinical language, neglecting the broader humanistic and cultural dimensions crucial for effective international practice. This gap is especially critical in Ukraine, where English proficiency is essential for participating in global medical communities. Objective. To investigate how the integration of humanities-based resources, such as literature, poetry, art, and films, into English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses can enhance not only language proficiency but also intercultural competence and ethical sensitivity among medical students. The study also seeks to develop effective strategies for embedding humanistic content into ESP medical curricula, aiming to foster critical thinking, empathy, and cultural awareness alongside professional English skills. Materials and Methods. This study adopts a qualitative, analytical approach combining literature review, content analysis, and conceptual curriculum development. Humanities-based materials, including literature, poetry, visual arts, and film, were examined for their potential to develop linguistic proficiency alongside intercultural and ethical awareness in ESP contexts. Theoretical frameworks by M. Byram, D. K .Deardorff, and M. C. Nussbaum informed the pedagogical strategies proposed. Results and Discussion. Integrating humanities into ESP can enhance observation skills, empathy, and critical thinking. Literary and visual texts provide authentic contexts for ethical discussion, reflective writing, and language analysis. Films enrich vocabulary and foster cultural engagement. This issue, the intersection of language, ethics, and culture in medical education, is increasingly becoming the focus of research across disciplines, including linguistics, psychology, pedagogy, and intercultural studies worldwide. This approach aligns with Ukraine’s internationalization goals but faces challenges such as curriculum overload and student resistance. Proposed solutions include interdisciplinary collaboration, thematic lesson design, and digital resource use. Conclusion. The integration of humanities into ESP instruction offers a transformative path for preparing culturally competent, empathetic, and linguistically skilled healthcare professionals. The study lays the foundation for future empirical validation and suggests that thoughtful curriculum design can bridge linguistic education with humanistic medical practice.