Professional education and training of physicians at the Lithuanian university of health sciences: the opinions of the luhs graduates
Professional education and training of physicians at the Lithuanian university of health sciences: the opinions of the luhs graduates

Summary/Abstract: The increasing significance of science and more intensive cooperation with foreign partners create favorable preconditions for the education and training of good specialists. In view of the renewal of specialty knowledge and the possibility to read the most recent scientific literature in a foreign language and to participate in international conferences with foreign partners, it has become relevant to educate specialists capable of cooperating in scientific and subject-oriented activity when freely communicating in several foreign languages. However, currently, many higher education institutions in Lithuania are reducing the number of hours in the professional foreign language modules. Still, despite the continuous reduction of the hours allocated for foreign language learning, the requirements for the quality of knowledge are actually increasing. For this reason, the teacher faces a problem of how to help a student internalize the required professional knowledge within a short period of time. The aim of the study was to reveal the peculiarities of the expression of integrated practical classes in professional language studies at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU). In search of new possibilities for professional language learning, integrated professional language classes were used for students learning medicine in Lithuanian and a foreign language. During these classes, medical issues were analyzed. The study on the learning process in the integrated professional language classes at the LSMU was carried out in 2014. Data for this quantitative study were collected by using a written survey. The studied population consisted of 2nd - and 3rd -year students of the LSMU Faculty of Medicine. The results of the study conducted at the LSMU when teaching the Professional Language module showed that integrated practical classes of professional language positively influenced the students’ learning and facilitated students’ empowerment for successful professional language studies. The students positively evaluated the contents of the integrated classes, the methods used, and the teachers’ competence. The students’ opinion about the application of the elements of PBL during integrated professional language classes was also favorable. The students were willing to try something new and to learn languages by drawing schemes and maps, discussing medical issues, analyzing problems, and searching for answers to the arising questions.

• Details
• Contents