THE EFFECTS OF TRANSLATION IN TEACHING ESP MEDICAL READING FOR IN-SERVICE STUDENTS AT CAN THO UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY, VIETNAM

Authors

  • Nguyen Thi Tuyet Minh Department of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam
  • Au Xuan Sam Department of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam
  • Dang Thanh Hong Department of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam
  • Lam Thi Thuy Tien Department of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam
  • Le Ha Lan Phuong Department of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam
  • Nguyen Thanh Hung Department of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam
  • Ly Thi Tra My Department of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam
  • Thai Cong Dan Dr., Senior Lecturer, School of Foreign Languages, Can Tho University, Vietnam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejmts.v3i1.475

Keywords:

translation, ESP medical classes, in-service students, English reading skills, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Abstract

English for special purposes (ESP) medical English has been offered as a course at Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy (CTUMP), Can Tho City, for several years. Until now, to most of the in-service students, reading in medical English poses a significant challenge due to their proficiency level in English and limited knowledge of vocabulary. They struggle to absorb the medical texts, especially medical terms properly, discouraging them from engaging with medical English documents. There has been a renewed interest in using translation (English-Vietnamese) in medical English classes to support learners. Therefore, the objectives of this paper are to examine the difficulties faced by weaker students in learning medical English and to explore their perceptions of teachers using translation in teaching ESP medical reading. The study also investigates the importance of translation as a pedagogical tool in motivating weak in-service students to learn reading and comprehend terminologies and texts. The research results were computed by employing the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. The findings revealed weak in-service students’ significant problems, their positive attitudes towards translation as well as their pedagogical role in ESP medical English classes.

Author Biographies

  • Nguyen Thi Tuyet Minh, Department of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam

    Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Minh is currently a lecturer of English for specific purposes at Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy. She holds a Master’s degree in Principles and Methods of teaching English as a foreign language. She has taught ESP courses for more than 10 years and is engaged in translating her colleagues’ Vietnamese studies into English for their international publications. She is interested in helping ESP students understand English medical jargon and then be able to translate it into Vietnamese to better their specialization thereafter. She can be reached at nttminh@ctump.edu.vn.

  • Au Xuan Sam, Department of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam

    Ms. Au Xuan Sam is currently a lecturer of English at Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy (CTUMP). She holds a Master’s degree in Principles and Methods of teaching English as a foreign language. She specializes in teaching English to non-English major students, especially English for Specific Purposes (ESP) to medical students. Also, she is engaged in Continuing professional development (CPD) courses to improve English for doctors in many southern provinces of Vietnam. She has more than 15 years of experience in teaching. Her research interests include methodology and language. She can be reached at axsam@ctump.edu.vn.

  • Dang Thanh Hong, Department of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam

    Mr. Dang Thanh Hong is a lecturer at Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, holding a Master's degree in educational management. His main expertise lies in curriculum development and evaluation, question items bank construction, learner assessment, and scientific research in the fields of education and health science. He can be reached at dthong@ctump.edu.vn.

  • Lam Thi Thuy Tien, Department of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam

    Ms. Lam Thi Thuy Tien is a lecturer of English at DoFLs, Faculty of Basic Sciences, CTUMP, Vietnam. Her main research interests are ELF/TESOL teaching and learning, ESP for Medicine, and Medicine-Pharmacy-Dentistry issues. She can be reached at ltttien@ctump.edu.vn.

  • Le Ha Lan Phuong, Department of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam

    Ms. Le Ha Lan Phuong is a lecturer of English at DoFLs, Faculty of Basic Sciences, CTUMP, Vietnam. Her main research interests are ELF/TESOL teaching and learning, ESP for Medicine, and Medicine-Pharmacy-Dentistry issues. She can be reached at lhlphuong@ctump.edu.vn.

  • Nguyen Thanh Hung, Department of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam

    Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hung is a lecturer of English at DoFLs, Faculty of Basic Sciences, CTUMP, Vietnam. Their main research interests are ELF/TESOL teaching and learning, ESP for Medicine, and Medicine-Pharmacy-Dentistry issues. They can be reached at nthung@ctump.edu.vn.

  • Ly Thi Tra My, Department of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam

    Mr. Dang Thanh Hong is a lecturer at Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, holding a Master's degree in educational management. His main expertise lies in curriculum development and evaluation, question items bank construction, learner assessment, and scientific research in the fields of education and health science. He can be reached at dthong@ctump.edu.vn.

  • Thai Cong Dan, Dr., Senior Lecturer, School of Foreign Languages, Can Tho University, Vietnam

    Mr. Thai Cong Dan is currently senior lecturer of English, School of Foreign Languages, Can Tho University (CTU), Vietnam. He has held his PhD at Naresuan University, Thailand since 2010 in Educational Administration (English program). He got his MA in Cultural aspects and Literature from University of Notre Dame du Lac, Indiana, USA in 1999. His main research interests are TEF/TESOL issues, ICC, high school and higher education levels in English learning and teaching, ESP for Tourism, Political Education, Medicine, English program management, curriculum design, testing and evaluation, professional development, and educational administration. He can be reached at tcdan@ctu.edu.vn.

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Published

2023-10-10

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2023)

Section

Articles