TY - JOUR

T1 - Are Danish doctors comfortable teaching in English?

AU - Nilas, Lisbeth

AU - Løkkegaard, Ellen Christine Leth

AU - Laursen, Jacob Brink

AU - Kling, Joyce

AU - Cortes, Dina

PY - 2016

Y1 - 2016

N2 - BackgroundFrom 2012–2015, the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and of Pediatrics at the University of Copenhagen conducted a project, “Internationalization at Home ”, offering clinical teaching in English. The project allowed international students to work with Danish speaking students in a clinical setting. Using semi-quantitative questionnaires to 89 clinicians about use of English and need for training, this paper considers if Danish clinical doctors are prepared to teach in English.ResultsThe majority self-assessed their English proficiency between seven and eight on a 10 unit visual analogue scale, with 10 equivalent to working in Danish, while 15 % rated five or less. However, one-fourth found teaching and writing in English to be twice as difficult than in Danish, and 12 % rated all teaching tasks in English at four or less compared to Danish. The self-assessed need for additional English skills was perceived low.ConclusionTeaching in English was rated as 30 % more difficult than in Danish, and a significant subgroup of doctors had difficulties in all forms of communication in English, resulting in challenges when introducing international students in non-native English speaking medical departments.KeywordsInternational students Clinical teaching Teaching in foreign language Doctors’ English skills Self-assessment

AB - BackgroundFrom 2012–2015, the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and of Pediatrics at the University of Copenhagen conducted a project, “Internationalization at Home ”, offering clinical teaching in English. The project allowed international students to work with Danish speaking students in a clinical setting. Using semi-quantitative questionnaires to 89 clinicians about use of English and need for training, this paper considers if Danish clinical doctors are prepared to teach in English.ResultsThe majority self-assessed their English proficiency between seven and eight on a 10 unit visual analogue scale, with 10 equivalent to working in Danish, while 15 % rated five or less. However, one-fourth found teaching and writing in English to be twice as difficult than in Danish, and 12 % rated all teaching tasks in English at four or less compared to Danish. The self-assessed need for additional English skills was perceived low.ConclusionTeaching in English was rated as 30 % more difficult than in Danish, and a significant subgroup of doctors had difficulties in all forms of communication in English, resulting in challenges when introducing international students in non-native English speaking medical departments.KeywordsInternational students Clinical teaching Teaching in foreign language Doctors’ English skills Self-assessment

U2 - 10.1186/s13104-016-2229-6

DO - 10.1186/s13104-016-2229-6

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 27568009

VL - 9

JO - BMC Research Notes

JF - BMC Research Notes

SN - 1756-0500

M1 - 420

ER -