English Language Help for Foreign Medical Students

Whenever students choose to complete degrees abroad, they face a particular set of linguistic challenges that domestic students rarely understand. Regardless of you fluency, completing a degree in a non-native language can be extremely challenging.
There are many study tools available online that are recommended for traditional students that will serve foreign students as well. Quizlet is always a superb flashcard resource (note that for some students, flashcards are immensely more effective when actually written out on paper; if sites like quizlet don't seem to help, this may be the case for you.). Remember that it's important to maintain good study skills and habits. From your own experience studying a foreign language for years, you already have a leg up on vocabulary acquisition.Use the study skills that have worked best for you in the past to your advantage.
Many students find that they communicate well verbally, but their writing tends to fall short of academic standards. It might be helpful for you to work on your own to translate your favorite short stories, past academic work or journal entries into English in order to gain practice with word choice in many different contexts. You should also have access to theses and dissertations in your field, depending on the type of program you're in. Looking at these sources for examples of highly advanced language could be particularly helpful. If you're not sure where to find these, start at the school's library. Finally, don't be afraid to utilize your institution's writing center. It's there to help students of all backgrounds; you might find that a native speaker is having just as many difficulties with scientific writing as you are.

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Compiled with the stress of living in another culture and the difficulty of medical programs, foreign medical students, and foreign students in the allied health and nursing fields, tackle acute difficulties in their education. Medicine and Allied Health is already language-intensive for native speakers; studying medical terminology or anatomy and physiology already feels like you're learning a foreign language.

Before You Go: Face the TOEFL-iBT

Depending on your country of origin and your secondary school, you may or may not have experience with long standardized tests. the TOEFL, administered by ETS, will be one of your first major challenges if you're not already a student in the US. The internet-based test can last more than 4 hours, and tests students on reading, listening, speaking and writing.

Generally, it is advised to take practice tests to prepare for the real test. Work on your listening skills by using online resources, which can range from news reports to children's cartoons. Also know that there's no limit to the number of times the test can be taken, and the student selects which scores will be sent to their destination schools. Utilize more resources from the ETS website.

Once You're There: Study Tools

Megan's advice: if your professor gives you their power point, print it out, cut out the slides and paste them to note cards. It's the perfect way to brush up on the information they deem important. Use a full size note card so that there's room to write notes on the side.

MeganLynette / flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0

Some ESL websites also have sections specifically designed to help students in the healthcare field. Here are quite a few exercises from 1StopESL on Quia. HospitalEnglish.com has more useful tools, including proper pronunciations for various healthcare terminology.

Tips for Improving Your Writing

Spend time editing your work. If this is particularly hard, get help from a writing center.

WorkinghamLibraries / Pixabay / CC0

Remember that getting comfortable in a new culture socially and academically takes time. Seek out help and advice from students and staff who have been in your place before, and try not to be too hard on yourself. Being an international student is an incredibly rewarding challenge, and you will be respected by a lot of people for doing it successfully. Don't give up!