Disclaimer
Due to the time constraints, the nature of the research,
and other considerations, the presenter was unable to
include all the universities, colleges, private institutions
and other organizations, who offer ESL courses and
programs for Medical Professionals.
MCGILL UNIVERSITY
HUMAN RESOURCES AND TRAINING
DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
Report
ESL for Health Professionals
Across Canada
Description of Mandate
•Prepare a survey of the ESL courses and programs available across
the country for medical and social work professionals
•Provide details of course and program descriptions
•Make a list of Web sites with appropriate content
•Make a list of pedagogical materials used
•Texts
•Glossaries
•Dictionaries
•Software
INTRODUCTION
Language assessments
•Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) in all provinces except
Québec
•Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses
(CELBAN) in all provinces except Québec
•Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
•Association of ESL Teachers
.
Language assessments (CLB)
Canadian Language Benchmarks
National standard for second language ( English and French)
proficiency assessment for immigrants working in Canada
12 levels of language proficiency.
-Stage I (CLB Levels 1-4) - basic level of proficiency
-Stage II (CLB Levels 5-8) - intermediate level of proficiency
-Stage III (CLB Levels 9-12) - advanced level of proficiency
Most medical ESL courses require a CLB of 4-6 and aim for 7-8
Publications
•
CLB 2000 ESL for Adults – targets the 4 skill areas in 12 Benchmark
levels (free)
•
Developing an Occupation-Specific Language Assessment Tool
Language assessments CELBAN
Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses
(CELBAN)
1. Assessment of internationally-trained nurses in all 4 skills
2. Recognized by nursing licensing bodies across Canada
3. Readiness Self- Assessment available on-line to assist in
determining readiness for official CELBAN (free except for
writing)
Language assessments TOEFL, ESL
Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) mostly in eastern
provinces
Association of ESL Teachers
COURSES AND PROGRAMS
British Columbia
Institution
Vancouver
Community College
Program & Target Learners
1.English for Health
Sciences. For nurses,
pharmacy technician,
dental assisting, denturist
2. Home Support/Resident
Care Attendant for palliative care, etc.
Medical English Institute
1.Core Medical ESL
Immersion
2.Practicing Medical
English
For all medical
professionals incl.
pharmacists and
medical technicians
COURSES AND PROGRAMS
British Columbia
Institution
International
English Language
Testing System
(IELTS)
Stanley Academy
Program & Target Learners
Preparation for Medical
Presentations
For all medical professions
Canadian Medical
Experience Program.
For foreign-trained
doctors, nurses,
medical students
COURSES AND PROGRAMS
ALBERTA
Institution
Norquest
Program & Target Learners
1.ESL Bridge to Practical
Nurse
2. Distance
program
Bredin Institute
1.International Bridging
for Pharmacists
Program
2. Integrated Englishlanguage program for
the Yee Hong Centre for
Geriatric Care
COURSES AND PROGRAMS
ALBERTA
Institution
Bow Valley College
Program & Target Learners
Home Care Attendant
Certicate
Mt Royal College
ESL for Foreign Trained
Nurses
COURSES AND PROGRAMS
Ontario
Institution
University of
Toronto
University of
Waterloo
Centennial College
Program & Target Learners
Enhanced Language Trainng
(ELT) Program for
International Pharmacists
Same program at both
universities
Health Foundations
Program.
For students on an
academic pathway to
post-secondary
education in health care.
COURSES AND PROGRAMS
Ontario
Institution
Algonquin College
Language Institute
Mohawk College
Ryerson
University
Continuing
Education
Program & Target Learners
1.ESL for Foreign Trained
Nurses
2. English for Allied Health
Professionals
For a variety of health
professionals
ESL for Foreign Trained
Nurses
1. Professional English for
Nurses and Midwives
(internationally trained)
2. Essential English for Health
Care Professionals
COURSES AND PROGRAMS
Manitoba
Institution
Red River College
Program & Target Learners
1.Canadian Communication
for Physicians Trained
Abroad.
2. English for Health Care
Aides
Nova Scotia
Halifax Immigrant
Learning Center
English for
Internationally Trained
Health Care
Professionals
COURSES AND PROGRAMS
Nova Scotia
Institution
International
Language Institute in partnership with
Dalhousie
University
International Language
Institute – in conjunction
with Community Health
Information and
Interpreting Service
Program & Target Learners
Summer Institute in Medical
English (SIME)
Custom-designed for all
health professionals
Program for Interpreters
for the medical field
COURSES AND PROGRAMS
Québec
Institution
Cégep Champlain/
St. Lawrence
Program & Target Learners
1. Medical English for all
health professionals and
social workers
2.Medical English for
administrators
International Language
School of Canada
The school will tailor
make a program. Say
they have teachers with
master’s degrees in
whatever the discipline
is.
COURSES AND PROGRAMS
Québec
Institution
Université de
Montréal
Vanier College
Learning Centre
Program & Target Learners
English for Health Care
Professionals
Levels 1 and 2
English for Health Care
Professionals
COURSES AND PROGRAMS
Québec
Institution
Montréal Language
School MLS
École de Langues La Cité
Program & Target Learners
Will provide training upon
request
Provided a written
proposal specific to ESL
medical English needs.
Included is a typical
lesson plan
ON LINE COURSES AND PROGRAMS
Web Site
Clayton
International
Consulting and
Educational
Services
George Brown
University
Program & Target Learners
Staff Development and
Training. For social
workers
Medical Terminology.
For all
ON LINE COURSES AND PROGRAMS
Web Site
English for
Overseas Nurses
Canadian Health Care
Association
Program & Target Learners
English for Nurses and
Medical Personnel
for nurses, doctors, and
paramedics
Medical Terminology
Short Course
Medical terminology
for unit secretaries,
community care
access centre team
assistants, home care
support staff.
Medical ESL Web Links
• And now for something
different
Medical ESL Web Links
Virtual Body Tour
• The Interactive Human Atlas
• Interactive Body Guide
English for Overseas
Nurses
Medical ESL Web Links
The InteractivePatient
Listen about Infectious disease
Medical ESL Web Links
• Vocabulary exercises
• Grammar practice
• Medical Terminology
• Listening Exercises
• Self-study
• Interactive Exercises and
Games
Program Trends
• Language and cultural support for internationally trained practitioners
-Cultural awareness and sensitivity training embedded in ESL
instruction
• Use of authentic materials adapted to language learning
-Nursing magazines, training videos, actual reports,documents
Program Trends
• Development of in-house programs.
-More and more are using ESL specialists with medical
backgrounds.
• Shadowing of medical professionals
• Co-teaching. Medical personnel give lecture, followed by ESL specialist
who builds on lecture content with relevant language elements
OVERVIEW OF INSTITUTIONS AND ESL MEDICAL PROGRAMS
Institution
Program
&
Target Learner
Features
Level
&
Skills targeted
1.English for Health
Sciences.
2. Home Support/Resident
Care Attendant
1.For nurses, pharmacy
technician, dental
assisting,denturist
2. home care, palliative
care, etc.
Audio practice in lab
On-line tutorial
2.Combined skills program – ESL with
job training In house- no further
information disclosed
3 levels. Focus is on
speaking, role plays. Further
details were not provided.
Medical English
Institute
1.Core Medical ESL
Immersion
2.Practicing Medical
English
For all medical
professionals incl.
pharmacists and medical
technicians
English in medical context.
Culturally appropriate communication
skills
Language lab
Shadowing of medical professionals
Medical terminology, emergency
vocabulary, English-speaking culture
techniques for interviews and
patient/nurse communication
Intermediate
(based on TOEFL)
all skills in medical contexts
International
English Language
Testing System
(IELTS)
Preparation for Medical
Presentations
For all medical
professions
Concentrates on own personal delivery
of medical paper at conferences.
Pronunciation, flow of presentation,
cross-cultural check and correction of
grammar,etc
Advanced and low
intermediate.
Presentation skills,
pronunciation. All 4 skills
Stanley Academy
Canadian Medical
Experience Program.
For foreign-trained
doctors, nurses, medical
students
Total immersion for all health care
professionals Terminology, language
for patient interaction, pronunciation.
Text: English in Medecine
No level requirement.
All 4 skills targeted for
communication with patients
and colleagues.
British
Columbia
Vancouver
Community College
ON-LINE COURSES AND PROGRAMS
Web site
Program &
Target Learners
Features
English
for
Overseas
Nurses
English for Nurses
and Medical
Personnel
for nurses, doctors,
and paramedics
Message board activities required. Online exam includes test items on culture
and concepts in health care. Canadian and
US focus. Course taught by qualified
health professional who is also an
experienced ESL teacher. See course
demo –worthwhile. Attractive interface
with clear diagrams and simple to follow
lessons. Interactive and well-done
Canadian
Health
Care
Associati
on
Medical Terminology
Short Course
Medical terminology for
unit secretaries,
community care access
centre team assistants,
home care support staff.
The site doesn’t provide much
information as to how the course is
prepared. Students receive a certificate in
Medical Terminology issued by the
Canadian Health Care Association
Clayton
Internati
onal
Consultin
g and
Educatio
nal
Services
Staff Development and
Training. For social
workers
Will design training sessions and offers lectures
and day courses for in-service personnel.
Melodie Hull gives the training.
George
Brown
Universi
ty
Medical Terminology.
For all
On line chats are available but not
required.
Level & Target Skills
Cost
Intermediate/advanced Learning activities
involve all the skills Aim is to assist in job
Interviews and ability to function in health
care settings Promote an understanding of
North American philosophy and culture
$200 US
per
module 16 modu
$375
Designed to help develop the ability to
read, spell, and comprehend medical terms
and medical diagnoses as they apply to
each of the body systems. Elements of
medical terms, medical abbreviations, and
medical terms
$302
Institution
Québec
Montréal Language
School MLS
International
Language School of
Canada
Université de
Montréal
Vanier College
Learning Centre
Program
&
Target Learmers
Program has been
proposed to McGill
coordinators
Features
Level
&
Target Skills
Have a curriculum
specialist for medical
ESL
Can tailor courses for all
levels
English for Health Care
Professionals
Levels 1 and 2
Approach is thematic and
includes topics such as,
diabetes, AIDS, palliative
care, cancer, alternative
medicines, geriatrics, etc.
Can 8
Includes medical terminology
and the discussion of pertinent
topics. Authentic material
ordered from the US, such as
Nursing Magazine.Students.
Simulations. Use English in
Medecine with CD ROM.
Teacher-developed.
English for Health Care
Professionals
Very general ESL course
with a bit of medical
terminology
Basic ESL. Outdated material.
The school will tailor
make a program. Say
they have teachers
with master’s degrees
in whatever the
discipline is.
Institution
Program
&
Target
Learmers
Features
Level
&
Target Skills
Québec
1. Medical
English for all
health
professionals
including
social
workers
6 levels.
Levels are based
on those that are in
place at the
Association of
ESL Teachers.
Currently working on
a manual that will be
available soon.
Audiovisual
materials and an
extensive repertoire
of texts
All levels.
Communicative
approach.
Audio/video activities
Role plays, note-taking,
case summaries,
tracking exercises.
Lexical research,
audio/video activities,
etc. Texts: Unique
English in
Medecine,Soigner en
deux langues/Nursing in
Two Languages,
Workplace Plus:
Healthcare- Job Pack
-
Cégep Champlain/ St. Lawrence
2.Medical
English for
administrato
rs
École de Langues La Cité
Provided a
written proposal
specific to ESL
medical English
needs. Included
is a typical
lesson plan
Institution
Nova Scotia
International Language
Institute - in
partnership with
Dalhousie University
International Language
Institute – in
conjunction with
Community Health
Information and
Interpreting Service
Halifax Immigrant
Learning Center
Program and
Target Learners
Features
Levels
& Tarjget Skills
Summer Institute
in Medical English
(SIME)
Custom-designed
for all health
professionals.
Students are matched
with host students from
the Faculty of Medicine.
Students are placed in
different departments –
emergency, psychiatry,
family medecine
Intermediate to Advanced.
Proprietary curriculum.
Medical texts: Problem
Patients, Doctors without
Borders, etc.
Program for
Interpreters for
the medical field
Medical vocabulary.
Cultural interpreting for
cultural awareness.
High intermediate.
Hands-on exploration of a
vocabulary website;
practice listening skills,
note-taking, feedback
seeking and clarification;
culture in health care
English for
Internationally
Trained Health
Care
Professionals
Interdisciplinary
language training ,focus
on language skills
needed to work in a
Canadian health
environment. Teacher –
developed Workbooks
contain on line component;
Intermediate.
All language skills
necessary to work in a
Canadian health care
environment
Institution
ALBERTA
Norquest
Bredin Institute
Program
&
Target Learner
Features
1.ESL Bridge to
Practical Nurse
2. Distance
program
Language/cultural
support for
internationally trained
nurses
Distance program
refresher or ESL
embedded practicums
2.WebCT, Hot Potatoes
1.International
Bridging for
Pharmacists Program
2. Integrated Englishlanguage program for
the Yee Hong Centre
for Geriatric Care
F2F integrated ESL
program. Case
management.
Level not stated.
Preparation for
qualifying exam.
Bow Valley College
1. Home Caare
Certicate Aattendant
Mt Royal College
Level
&
Skills Targeted
ESL for Foreign
Trained Nurses
Program has been
adopted from
Algonquin College
See below
Patient counseling, pharmacy
terminology, integrated pharmacy
practice, communication
enhancement, pronunciation ,
TOEFL and TSE preparation.
Institution
Ontario
University of Toronto
University of Waterloo
Centennial College
Program
&
Target Learner
Enhanced Language
Trainng (ELT) Program
for International
Pharmacists
Same program at both
universities
Features
Mentorship as well as
training in both skills
and cultural
competence.
5 courses are offered.
Health Foundations
1.Introduction to
Program.
Physiology and Anatomy
For students on an
1!&2
academic pathway to
2.Terminology for
post-secondary education Health Professionals
in health care.
1&2
3. Communication with
Professional
Relationships
4. Listening and
Speaking for North
American Health
Professional
5. Writing within a
Health Care Context
Level
&
Skills Targeted
Intermediate to
advanced. All skills.
Low intermediate.
All skills
Institution
Algonquin College
Language Institute
Program
&
Target Learner
1.ESL for Foreign
Trained Nurses
2. English for Allied
Health Professionals
For a variety of health
professionals
ESL for Foreign Trained
Nurses
Mohawk College
Features
ESL with nursing
content. Courses are cotaught with nurse and
ESL specialist.
Can 8, Web CT, First
Class
Same program as above.
Sold to Mohawk College
by Algonquin.
Level
&
Skills Targeted
Intermediate
Institution
Program
&
Target Learners
Ontario
1. Professional
English for Nurses
and Midwives
Ryerson University
(internationally
Continuing Education trained)
2. Essential
English for Health
Care Professionals
For all.
Manitoba
Red River College
1.Canadian
Communication for
Physicians Trained
Abroad.
2. English for
Health Care Aides
Levels
&
Target Skills
Features
1. All activities are closely tied to
the medical theme of each class.
Students will build on their
knowledge of medical and
midwifery terminology and
develop their proficiency in
writing
letters of referral, documenting
clients’ files, counseling, giving
presentations, taking oral client
histories, etc.
. Advanced.
All 4 skills,
pronunciation,
grammar and
vocabulary and
medical
terminology
building.
1
2. Same as above but includes all
health professionals.
Provide web links for independent
study
2. Intermediate
1.A curriculum is
being finalized and
will be available for
purchase. Program has been
developed in-house
Intermediate.
Focuses on all skill
areas plus an
exploration of
cross-cultural
information.