Guiyang’s No 4 People’s Hospital is trying something a little bit different to improve the quality of its medical service – teaching its staff members English.
Implemented in the hospital since last June, the English language program involves doctors and staff members attending weekly sessions where they discuss case studies and medical research in English. Many of the latest medical developments and research is undertaken in English so it useful for Chinese doctors to be aware of the terminology and the data coming in from the cutting edge.
“I never thought I would need to speak English every day, let alone apply the language to my work,” said Zhou Xiang works in the hospital’s orthopedics department.
The program is the brainchild of Zhao Bin, director of the department. He explained that fluent English can also help them communicate with foreign orthopedics specialists and better understand classic and the latest academic literature.
Zhao said that at the beginning some doctors doubted that their English could be improved. To carry out the project, Zhao invited Nie Hongling, a doctor who studied in Denmark, to hold a two-hour English training course every Tuesday afternoon. Five orthopedic journals were also used to help improve doctors’ English.
“With just half a years’ study, my English has improved enormously,” said Zhao “Now, I can speak with foreign experts and read English journals without difficulty.”
The department also plans to send selected doctors overseas for training.
