April 2010 Volume 6 Issue 1
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Title
A Study of Medical Students’ Linguistic Needs in Taiwan

Authors
Yanling Hwang & Siouzih Lin

Biodata
Yanling Hwang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Foreign Languages at Chung Shan Medical University in Taiwan. Her research interests include CALL, second language acquisition and language teaching and learning. She is the member of the curriculum development at CSMU. yanling_h@yahoo.com

Siouzih Lin is currently a graduate student in National Taiwan University in Taiwan. Her research interests include language teaching and learning, applied linguistics and LSP/ESP (Language/English for Specific Purposes). r97546039@ntu.edu.tw , iris20512@gmail.com

Abstract
English plays an essential role in medical students’ studies because almost all medical knowledge is in English. In addition, medical students have to learn to write patient charts, medication prescriptions and orders in English in their future medical career. Due to these reasons, English for Medical Purposes (EMP) seems to be paramount. Therefore, the English language that medical professionals need in their medical career is not only English for General Purposes (EGP), but also English for Medical Purposes. This study aims to provide a description of the linguistic needs and perceptions of medical students and faculty members in Taiwan. The following issues are discussed: (1) frequency of the use of English by medical students, (2) importance of using English in the medical field, (3) evaluations of medical students’ proficiency in English, (4) needs analysis of the English course for the School of Medicine, (5) suggestions for improving the English curriculum for the School of Medicine, and (6) other assistance or requirements for medical students’ linguistic needs. Participants were 378 medical students selected from the Department of Medicine at Chung Shan Medical University, including 117 freshmen, 79 sophomores, 59 juniors, 79 seniors, 44 fifth graders and 24 faculty members. The quantitative analysis of the questionnaires was conducted through descriptive statistics. Chi-square and one-way ANOVA analysis were also conducted in order to determine the perceptions of linguistic needs of medical students and to compare the perceptions held by the three groups: faculty (F), lowerclass group (LC) and upperclass group (UC).

Key Words: EMP, ESP, Needs Analysis, Curriculum Design, College English