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Medical training and English language proficiency
Author(s) -
HAYES S. C.,
FARNILL D.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
medical education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.776
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1365-2923
pISSN - 0308-0110
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2923.1993.tb00222.x
Subject(s) - certificate , medical education , test (biology) , english language , language proficiency , psychology , language assessment , medicine , mathematics education , computer science , paleontology , algorithm , biology
Summary. Concern is often expressed about the English language proficiency (ELP) of students engaged in professional training. This report assesses the ELP of the 1990 and 1991 intakes into medicine at the University of Sydney. A quick screening test and individual in‐depth tests were used in a two‐stage design. Admission to the course is highly competitive and most students are selected from the top 0.75% of Higher School Certificate results but 15% and 19% of the year cohorts were found to be below average in ELP. English proficiency was found to be consistently correlated with first‐ and second‐year university results. Initiatives taken to support students with language disadvantages and to ensure that graduates will be able to communicate effectively with patients are outlined.