Abstract
This study, based on explanatory sequential, mixed methods, descriptive research design, was conducted at eleven hospitals and medical centers in the city of Makkah in the Western Province in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The study aimed at exploring the efficacy of the current ESP courses at Saudi tertiary institutes and whether those courses meet the needs of the medical professionals with regards to medical English language proficiency. In addition, the study explored the needs of English medical language proficiency during an international crisis such as the recent corona virus (covid-19) pandemic. The quantitative and qualitative primary data collection was gathered from the medical professionals' responses to a custom designed, twenty-nine items on a psychometric five-point Likert items and open-ended questions, questionnaire. The overall sample population of the medical professional participants in this study was 315 participates (130 male and 185 female participants). The gathered quantitative data from the questionnaire was statistically analysed and the qualitative data gathered from the three open ended questions was analysed for emergent codes using open coding and eventually forming overarching themes. The findings of the study indicated that medical professionals in KSA regard English medical language proficiency as a vital necessity for the profession, especially during an international crisis requiring global communication and cooperation. Furthermore, the majority of the participants indicated that they are not satisfied with the current English language courses provided on the undergraduate level since they felt that rigid and comprehensive English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses with designated focus on medical English to meet their English language needs are required. Suggestions and emphasis with regards to the provision of medical ESP at tertiary level institutions in KSA are given and possible recommendations for further research investigations in future are also given.
Highlights
1.1 BackgroundGlobal and international medical cooperation have peaked in the last century, especially with regards to bacterial and viral infections, where medical professionals worldwide have been collaborating and cooperating for the sake of curing diseases and saving lives (Benison, 1982; Gostin, Sircar, & Friedman, 2019)
The study aimed at exploring the efficacy of the current English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses at Saudi tertiary institutes and whether those courses meet the needs of the medical professionals with regards to medical English language proficiency
Several researchers who have conducted studies in the Saudi context argue for the need to establish English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses at the university that is aimed at addressing the medical English language low proficiency acquired by medical students (Alfehaid, 2016; Alharby, 2005; Alqurashi, 2016)
Summary
Global and international medical cooperation have peaked in the last century, especially with regards to bacterial and viral infections, where medical professionals worldwide have been collaborating and cooperating for the sake of curing diseases and saving lives (Benison, 1982; Gostin, Sircar, & Friedman, 2019). There has been a seemingly wide gap between tailored and globalised English language courses and the needs of undergraduate students in their professional careers and job requirements with regards to English language proficiency This is a cause for concern since English languages courses that do not address or foresee the demands and needs of the students following their graduation and joining the job market will subsequently leads to shortfalls and various challenges and difficulties which the newly graduating students will face. Several researchers who have conducted studies in the Saudi context argue for the need to establish English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses at the university that is aimed at addressing the medical English language low proficiency acquired by medical students (Alfehaid, 2016; Alharby, 2005; Alqurashi, 2016) This is in part due to the fact that the majority of EFL courses, even at an advanced level at colleges or universities do not envisage futuristic purposes, especially for medical students and their future medical career needs (Brunton, 2009). Despite the fact that several studies have been conducted on needs analysis on ESP with the Saudi medical professionals, there has been a lack of concentrated and focused research on the perceptions and opinions of qualified medical professionals in Saudi Arabia on how an ESP can meet their needs during work conditions and in particular, during an pandemic on a global scale
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