INTERNATIONALISATION OF ADVANCED TRAINING FOR TEACHERS OF MEDICAL ENGLISH

Abstract

In the present context of medical science and technology advances, growing cultural diversity and the internationalisation of higher medical education, the problem of refresher training for Medical English teachers is becoming ever more relevant. The aim of the paper is to provide a scientific basis for creation of a relevant advanced training programme for Russian university teachers of Medical English. The results of the content-analysis of both national and international higher educational docu­ments, a review of research, theory, and current foreign language teaching practice in Prof. V. F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University (KrasSMU) and I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University) allowed us to determine five principles that formed the basis for the design of a relevant advanced training programme for teachers of Medical English. Among the core principles of the programme development we suggested the principles of teacher’s autonomy, professionalisation, problem-based training, innovation, and internationalisation. Within the scope of these principles, characteristics of the proposed novel approach to the organisation of professional development courses for Medical English teachers make this approach effective and relevant to the modern educational context. The proposed approach to an advanced training course design is based on the use of some novel professionally focused forms of communication between students, teachers, experts and clinicians. Our findings indicate that this approach is beneficial for modern teachers of Medical English.