Methodological strategy to improve English in university students of health sciences
Keywords:
methodological strategy, improvement, English, university students, healthAbstract
Introduction: This methodological strategy is a set of approaches, techniques, and resources designed to improve language skills effectively and contextually in a specific field of study. However, it must be adapted to the needs, possibilities, and characteristics of the students from both socio-economic and cultural perspectives.
Objective: To evaluate the impact of a linguistic competence development and enhancement program in English for health sciences students.
Methods: A representative sample of university health students (n=250) from the University of Guayaquil was studied. Students underwent a methodological strategy for six months, measuring their performance using the Common European Framework of Reference for language levels (A1-C1) with level-based assessment criteria.
Results: There is evidence of an increase in Common European Framework of Reference for language levels (2 to 3 points), a satisfactory performance in reading and understanding of scientific articles (5.5 to 8.2 points; +2.7 points), and an improvement in confidence and fluency in oral communication (4.8 to 7.6 average points; +2.8 points).
Conclusions: The implementation of a specialized English training program for health sciences students can have a positive impact on their linguistic skills, improving their ability to read scientific sources, communicate in clinical settings, and advance in Common European Framework of Reference for language levels. However, future research could refine the applied methods and explore complementary strategies to optimize English learning in academic and professional environments.
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