Laying the Foundation: Strengthening the Roots of EMI
The programme began with a focus on theoretical grounding and diagnostic analysis, establishing a clear framework for EMI teaching.
Language Diagnostics & Analysis: Ms. Yuan Yuan guided faculty through a comprehensive self-assessment of their language proficiency, identifying potential barriers to ensure the subsequent training was targeted and effective.
Core Principles of Clinical Teaching: The sessions honed in on the "Core Principles of Clinical Instruction" and "Setting Achievable Goals." Teachers learned to link abstract medical concepts with clear, measurable learning outcomes, ensuring that knowledge transfer is both precise and effective.
Innovative Practice: Enhancing Intercultural Sensitivity
With an increasingly diverse international student body, intercultural competence has become a critical element of EMI teaching.
Strategies for Engagement: Mr. John O'Hara led the session on "Strategies for Intercultural Engagement in Clinical Training." Beyond providing practical communication techniques, he emphasised the critical role of cultural sensitivity in clinical settings, helping faculty better understand and integrate students from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Embedding Inclusivity: In the "Interactive Workshop: Embedding Inclusivity in Medical Course Design," Ms. Yuan encouraged teachers to address potential cultural or linguistic barriers at the curriculum design stage, fostering a truly "student-centred" and inclusive learning environment.
Interactive Learning: Mastering Effective Communication
Effective interaction and professional medical communication are the lifelines of clinical teaching. The training provided ample opportunities for practical application.
Refining Medical Communication: Through role-plays and simulated scenarios, participants practiced delivering clear, professional clinical instruction and feedback to international students. This significantly improved their ability to communicate quality information in high-stakes situations.
Integrating Content & Language: The workshop on "Integrating Content Knowledge with Language Development" deepened the application of CLIL/EMI methodologies. Teachers explored "scaffolding" techniques to balance the delivery of complex medical knowledge with the development of students' academic language skills.
Spotlight Session: Insights from the Frontline
In addition to the systematic training provided by the UNNC team, the programme featured a special sharing session from an experienced frontline clinician.
Dr. Sheng Danhong, Associate Chief Physician at the Nephrology Department of Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital (Fuyang Campus), shared her journey in a talk titled “Clinical Teaching for International Students: From Anxiety to Confidence.” Drawing on years of clinical experience, Dr. Sheng demonstrated how to adapt EMI theories into practical strategies for the local clinical context, offering valuable, real-world guidance to the participants.
Looking Ahead: Collaborating for the Future of Medical Education
This collaboration between Jiangsu University’s Overseas Education College and UNNC CELE was more than just a training course; it was a successful exercise in mutual empowerment.
By pooling the resources of both institutions, the programme ensured that participating faculty gained:
- A practical EMI teaching toolkit ready for immediate classroom use.
- Enhanced intercultural confidence and professional medical communication skills.
- A deep understanding of Outcomes-Based Education (OBE) and inclusive teaching philosophies.