EMP in China 2004: a report

I have just returned from China's 2004 International Symposium on Teaching English for Medical Purposes. They are very, very committed to developing EMP in their Medical Schools, but the focus is on reading and writing at the highest academic level. Their own research showed the medical students were not content with this: no practical usage or value. As a result, the ESL instructors collectively (most of whom seem to be linguists) are considering how they might change their curriculum. Each university Medical School has its own curriculum developed in-house. There is a huge push for publishing in English-speaking medical journals.

I met one of my own clients there, an Australian Nurse teaching at a University Nursing School in Nantong. She had alot of interesting stories to tell! Nursing English does not have a priority in China unless the nurse wishes to emigrate out of the country. English for doctors is different. The med. students and doctors wish to become more visible and credible on the international medical scene. This means language skills to work temporarily in an English speaking country as well as to publish. This is the goal of their curriculum and EMP is mandatory at Med. School.

Melodie,