The state of English-language training of future doctors in medical universities

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the current state of English-language training of future doctors in medical universities. During experimental work, students were questioned, educational programs and curricula of this training were analyzed. The characteristic of educational materials that are used for English-language professional training of students-future doctors is presented. The analysis of the English language training programs of future doctors has shown that the speaking skills that students are expected to develop generally cover the range of speech skills that have been highlighted in the earlier stages of the study. Instead, they are presented according to the traditional classification of speech activities without taking into account the differentiation in production and communication processes. It has been established how the skills offered in these educational programs correlate with the vocational skills we have identified. Thus, the programs envisage the development of speaking skills: to conduct a conversation on the given medical topic; participate in a discussion or conversation; clarify information regarding treatment; be able to discuss the topic being studied; participate in simulation of a professionally oriented situation; to make dialogues and messages based on the subject matter being studied; listen (understanding monologue and dialog speech) and read (working with medical literature). We conclude that the skills are formulated quite broadly, it is not expected to work on the development of specific skills, without which the formation declared in the analyzed programs of general skills is impossible. For example, to plan utterances, differentiate information, analyze, compare, systematize it, transmit brief professional information in writing. Thus, the students can use acquired integrated knowledge of professional English in senior courses while studying other disciplines, where on the basis of the learned models of communicative interaction future doctors will have the ability to perform professionally directed English-speaking interaction and to use professional vocabulary correctly.