TRAINING OF MASTER STUDENTS AT MEDICAL UNIVERSITIES IN LINGUISTICS AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION PROGRAM
TRAINING OF MASTER STUDENTS AT MEDICAL UNIVERSITIES IN LINGUISTICS AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION PROGRAM
Abstract
The article is devoted to the analysis of master's programs in Russian universities for medical students. The novelty of the study lies in the fact that these programs have to focus on the philological component. The aim of the research is to prove the necessity of the language immersion taking into account specialization of the university and introduction of specialized medical texts such as cases reports, translation of prescriptions, past medical histories, health records and medical terminology in the program. Studies have shown that immersion can help language learners develop the brain patterns of a native speaker. Teaching the foreign languages for master students is considered to be the purpose of professional and personal development of the trainee.
1. Introduction
Higher education in Russia is presented by educational institutions such as universities, institutes or academies. Two-level educational system model "Bachelor's and Master’s degree program", which was introduced in 2008, resulted in upgrade of most universities to this model. Nevertheless, there are some universities with a single-level system of "Specialist's degree".
According to the authors, the masters’ training program should be focused on the ability to realize creative potential and additional knowledge in the specialty and development of scientific thinking based on professional skills. Students studying towards a master’s degree must be enrolled full-time, part-time or distance form on a commercial basis.
Teaching a foreign language has become a social order of society, an integral part of higher education and essential component for effective future specialist’s work. In this regard, there have been occurred several changes in the requirements for the foreign language education system, for its main components. The development system of language training for the postgraduate stage at a medical non-linguistic university leads to an improving in the competitiveness of students, trainees, postgraduates and their professional training while increasing the level of accessibility of the Russian upgrade two-level educational system model in the global postgraduate education system.
The authors believe that the Linguistics and Intercultural Communication curriculum in Medical University should be focused on the specialization of the university. Thus, during the training which usually takes 2 years a master student is to complete the curriculum, master a special vocabulary and terminology in the subject, and prepare to defend the diploma.
2. Research methods and principles
During the preparation of this study the authors used mainly theoretical research methods, such as: processing and analysis of the empirical material descriptive method, the method of observation, comparison and analysis of published materials on the topic of the study from Internet sources and literature; structural and typological analysis of the material. The choice of theoretical methods is connected with the statement of the research problems.
3. Main results
The aim of this paper is to prove the necessity of deepening in the language environment for master students, taking into account the specialization of the university, in order to improve the quality of their education.
The present research was conducted to find solutions to the following problems:
- to identify difficulties in the foreign language teaching for master students;
- to analyze the content of the available work programs for the above-mentioned specialization;
- to reveal the potential ways to improve the quality of education in order to prepare master students to implement the acquired knowledge in their further professional activity.
- to study the possibility of introducing specialized medical texts and terminology into the process of teaching foreign language.
4. Discussion
The relevance of the study is due to the fact that the problem of teaching Medical English in Linguistics and Communication Program for master students has not been fully studied. The authors reviewed the articles devoted to the problems of teaching master students in philology , , , and analyzed working programs offered by various universities of the Russian Federation available in Internet sources , , .
We believe that a detailed study of the problem and the proposed ways to the solution will help to take a closer look at the ways of introducing specialized texts such as medical case reports, prescriptions into the educational process of Magistrates.
In Russia, there are more than 60 state universities that train medical students. The largest ones are Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU), I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, RUDN, Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University (Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology), Samara State Medical University. The authors have analyzed masters’ degree programs in philological specialties at these universities.
MSU as well as RUDN offers an extensive number of masters’ programs such as Foreign Language of Professional Communication and Specialized Translation, Language Teaching Methods, Simultaneous Interpretation and others.
Specialized interpreting and translating is an essential aspect of international and Russian companies' work. In addition to knowledge of two foreign languages, the master’s program has supraprofessional competences, among which are responsibility, ability to analyze and correct errors, ability to work in a team, emotional intelligence, as well as leadership and management skills, which ensure the ability to effectively perform the tasks assigned. These professionals are able to solve interdisciplinary and research problems, present papers at scientific seminars and conferences, conduct research in linguistics, and work as university professors.
The profession of translator allows you to work in international companies, take part in global forums and major international conferences. It is a prestigious and interesting occupation for people who enjoy learning foreign languages and the culture of other countries .
It should be noted that the aspect of medicine in the field of philology is not represented in any way. These universities train translators-philologists without taking their professional sphere, since the specialization of the universities is not medical. Medical education is represented by a number of institutes, which do not offer foreign language programs themselves.
St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Samara State Medical University have a number of masters’ specializations. Foreign language is not represented in any way there.
At present Sechenov University is the only Medical university in Russia that offers program in the specialty 45.04.02 "Linguistics" with two profiles. The profile “Foreign Language and Intercultural Professional Communication” and “Language of Medicine: Media Communication”.
The first program prepares highly qualified specialists in intercultural professional communication and medical translation. Master students get the qualification of teachers of linguistics, translation and cultural disciplines and can be engaged in research activity.
The second program is designed for students who want to complement their medical specialty with knowledge in scientific communication. The students study in depth the theory of interacting with mass audiences in today's media environment and practice in this area.
The training lasts 2 years in full-time and part-time forms. The educational program is aimed at training highly qualified specialists in intercultural professional communication and medical translation. Masters' degrees in linguistics have the opportunity to teach linguistic, translation and cultural disciplines, work as translators in the field of professional communication, cooperate with international companies and organizations, engage in research activities, including continuing education in postgraduate studies .
5. Conclusion
As we can see, training of magistrates at medical universities and faculties in linguistics and intercultural communication program is still opened. Among the huge number of medical universities and faculties, only Sechenov University offers programs in linguistics, directly related to the future activities of the doctor. Only a number of universities have programs for training undergraduates in philological profile, in the rest ones this profile is not presented in any way. SamSMU is currently considering this issue. It should be noted that even with its positive decision, it is necessary to take into account the fact of the direct connection of the bachelor's training program in philological specialties with the main orientation activity of master's students. To do this, the name of the program must contain an aspect of medicine, and during training it is necessary to introduce specialized texts and terminology in a foreign language, such as cases reports, translation of prescriptions, past medical histories, health records.