Needs and difficulty analyses in English for academic purposes vocabulary teaching

doi:10.3760/cma.j.issn.1673-677X.2017.04.017

Abstract

Abstract: Objective English for Academic Purposes (EAP) has become an essential tool for medical students. The key to successful EAP teaching is to identify students' needs and difficulties in learning EAP vocabulary. The current study aimed to determine these needs and difficulties using an experimental approach.Methods The needs and difficulties were analyzed by the basic principles and methods of English for Specific Purposes (ESP), including surveys, interviews and tests. A total of 50 students who specialize in clinical medicine and have passed CET-6 were selected as the subjects.Results Questionnaires, interviews and tests revealed that sub-technical words and semi-terms comprise the needs and difficulties of students.Conclusions Teachers should spend more time in training these two types of words and modulate their approaches accordingly. These findings may help improve the effect of EAP teaching, thus benefiting medical students in international academic exchanges.

Key words: English for academic purposes, English for specific purposes, Medical English, Vocabulary teaching, Needs analysis

Chen Xiewan, Sun Jianguo, Chen Min, Liao Rongxia. Needs and difficulty analyses in English for academic purposes vocabulary teaching[J]. Chinese Journal of Medical Education, 2017, 37(4): 552-556.

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