Students’ English Requirements

There was a long pause between initial lectures and practical sessions in the second year. 

What I did was to give the students photocopies of various items including news items to read for half an hour and ask questions based on what they read. The idea was for them to take a book on subject matter and make them to understand that academic English is completely different from "English English".

Then, they should relate the subject matter in their own English.

Their Paraphrasing lets me understand the difficulties they encounter in the subject matter. 

No point getting the English right if they do not understand the core concepts.

The subject I taught defined all the core material necessary for clinical work.

I felt the basic sciences took a toll on 95% of the students. 

They teach "Heavy Stuff" often not necessary for clinical work. 

Besides, they did not know how to use a microscope after one year of intensive lecturing. 

 

My findings – Students’ English Requirements

1. According to the recent survey carried out with the students of the Faculty of Dental Sciences, majority of the students prefer to have English at least two hours per week in the first year.

2.  Contrary to the belief that the student needs only General English input, there is a sufficient demand for "Academic English".

3. None of the students feels comfortable with all the components of General and Academic English 

4. It appears that they are comfortable with note taking. 

   However, they tend to copy ‘word for word’ without comprehending the contents. 

   It is worth checking a sample of student notes to see how they tally with  a standard lecture notes.

5. Summarizing, analysing and paraphrasing with heathy discussion of important concepts at  academic level may be necessary to improve performance.

To put them into context I have paraphrased two of the subjective comments randomly selected below (at the end of the first year).

I hope I have provided “food for thought' for improving the level of English of our students in the first year.

Comment 1

English course is not geared to help the academic course.

I cannot understand most of the lecture since the flow of the lecture is too fast.

Since I cannot understand I try to take notes as fast as possible without listening or comprehending.

The end result is both writing and listening fail.

 

A lecture note may be helpful. 

Then I can listen and try to comprehend!

 

Comment 2

I think grammar is necessary to express clearly. 

The English course did not provide sufficient input.

There was no support for English in the first year.

I hope the second year won't be like that.