Evaluating the Adequacy of the Preparatory English Language Course for Medical Students

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which the Preparatory Year English language course offered in the PYP was adequate and relevant in preparing medical students for academic study in their field of specialisation. The PYEL course in the general studies component of Jazan University aims at equipping the learners with necessary academic English language in order to qualify them to perform in their respective departments. It plays a vibrant role to ensure the students are able to cope with the demand of academic study with adequate English language proficiency. The study adopted a mixed method research design whereby a quantitative survey method was complimented by qualitative interviews and document analysis in obtaining all the data from samples and relevant information. The data collected by the means of the questionnaire and the test were analysed using SPSS 17.0 to produce descriptive statistics whereas data from the interviews were analysed according to theme and categories. 327 students from different medical departments, 37 Language instructors from the English language centre (ELC), and 10 subject area specialists working in different medical departments at Jazan University were involved in this study. Overall findings revealed that the existing English language course is, to a certain extent adequate and relevant in preparing the students for their academic studies. Results also disclosed that the students’ and their professors have different viewpoints as to the adequacy and relevancy of the course that the students seemed to have positive attitudes pertaining to the course in contrast to the lecturers that seemed to have negative views. Finally, some recommendations and suggestions for further studies have been given.