PERCEPTIONS OF HOSPITAL STAFF TOWARDS LEARNING ENGLISH AND WORK CULTURE AT A PRIVATE HOSPITAL IN JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA

Authors

  • Intakhab Alam Khan Dr., King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  • Fariha Asif King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejel.v0i0.806

Keywords:

perception, learning English, hospital staff, work culture, training programs

Abstract

This paper sheds light on the perception of hospital staff towards learning English and work culture at a private hospital known as the International Medical Centre (IMC) of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. English is one of the advantages for working in a hospital like IMC which is quite advanced and equipped, and the work culture is suitable for continuous professional development. The paper also attempts to examine the ways which can be used to improve proficiency of English among the hospital professionals. After the selection of a convenient-purposive sample of 75 hospital professionals of IMC, a questionnaire was developed and responses were tabulated and analyzed. Hospital’s academy (training unit) was also approached to cross check the data elicited from the professionals. The data reveal that most hospital staff has a positive attitude towards learning English for professional reasons. They have a desire to undergo professional training for continuous and further development in addition to the current work culture suitable for practicing English. The study also reflects on the efforts done by the hospital administration to train the employees for specific English to be used in the hospital for health purposes.

Author Biographies

  • Intakhab Alam Khan, Dr., King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Dr Intakhab Alam Khan (M.A. in English, B. Ed, M. Ed, M. Phil, PhD and D. Lit (Hon) is currently associated with King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah-Saudi Arabia. He has almost 24 years of experience in teaching/training/research at various universities. An author of a dozen of academic and research books, and around 70 papers in different national/international online and print journals, Dr Khan has taught General/medical/health/business English in Saudi Arabia. His presentations at international conferences have already been published in ISI indexed proceedings. He is honorary chief editor/associate editor/asst. editor of many online educational journals published worldwide.

  • Fariha Asif, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Fariha Asif is a teacher trainer, certified mentor, researcher, presenter and an English Language lecturer at King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia. She is pursuing her doctoral work at the University of Terengganu, Malaysia. Fariha has presented many papers in different international conferences across the globe. She has been honored with many awards including one-year Leadership Mentoring Program by TESOL Arabia 2017. She is conference ambassador for TACON 2017. Fariha also has the honor to meet Mr. Noam Chomsky, father of modern linguistics in the Congress of Linguists held at Geneva, Switzerland.

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Published

2017-06-14

Issue

Vol 2, No 3 (2017)

Section

Articles

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