Identifying English Language Needs of Yemeni Medical Students: An ESP Study at Dhamar University

Abstract

The present study aims to find out the English language needs of the medical, undergraduate students at Dhamar University from an ESP perspective. More specifically, it seeks to address the following questions: what are the English language needs of the medicines students at Faculty of Medicines, Dhamar University in Yemen?; to what extend do the current ESP courses meet the students' actual needs in the Faculty of Medicine, Dhamar University?; what are the most important recommendations to address the medical students needs in the Faculty of Medicine, Dhamar University?; and what do the medicines students think about the actual needs of medical students in the Faculty of Medicine, Dhamar University? The total number of 48 medicine students participated in the study to answer the prepared questionnaire. The population of the questionnaire is the selected students from the fourth and fifth academic years. The questionnaire data were analyzed quantitively and designed to comprehend the ESP context. The research work investigates the English-related problems the students face while they are studying medicines and, thus, presents solutions and recommendations to overcome such obstacles, bridging the gap between the students' low level of English and the required level at the university where English is used as the language of instruction. The main findings show that the special needs of the medical students such as their limited narrow knowledge of English at Dhamar University are taken into account. The research work shows that the medical students in Dhamar university have low level of English proficiency. Their low, limited knowledge of the English language constitutes an obstacle most students face either in their study or in their occupational careers. The need analysis was figured out to show that all skills and sub-skills are important for the students’ academic studies and target career with special attention to scientific terms and reading aspects. This research study, based on its findings, ends with some recommendations and suggestions to the people concerned of teaching and learning English to the medical students at Dhamar University. It is generally recommended that there is a need to increase the class hours, provide technological equipment, and appoint ESP trained instructors for the efficient teaching of medical English.