Cultivation of medical students' clinical English speaking ability under the framework of the first principles of instruction

Abstract

The progress of globalization and frequent international exchanges in the medical community demand doctors' improved English speaking competence, particularly in the clinical aspect. On the basis of the First Principles of Instruction, the research has proposed a module-based teaching model, which integrates 7 modules, including history taking, questions about frequency and pains, analysis of the possible causes, initial check-up, giving prescription, further investigation and conditional advice. The model is centered on linguistic functions and aimed at helping students become proficient in speaking medically through the phrases of demonstration, application, reflection and activation. The model, after two years successive teaching practice among the elite class undergraduates, received a favorable feedback in triggering interests, classroom arrangement, material selection, and its compliance with FLA (foreign language acquisition), and was proved to be an effective way to improve medical students' English speaking ability in handling clinical dialogues. Key words: First principles of instruction; Clinical medicine; English speaking