Creating a Corpus-informed Online University Medical English Course

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K02923
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Foreign language education
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: Fraser Simon 広島大学, 外国語教育研究センター, 教授 (10403510)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 達川 奎三 広島大学, 外国語教育研究センター, 教授 (00290528) ; 榎田 一路 広島大学, 外国語教育研究センター, 准教授 (20268668) ; Davies Walter 広島大学, 外国語教育研究センター, 准教授 (30448261)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: Medical English / Materials development / Online learning / Flipped classroom / Corpus analysis / Word list / Glossary

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The primary aim of this research has been to develop a set of online materials for learners of medical English at the early stages of their studies. These materials have been used to build a highly efficient flipped learning course which integrates classroom learning and e-learning. The flexibility of a flipped learning approach has enabled us to significantly reduce teaching time and maximize the efficacy of face-to-face lessons, leading to the creation of a fully-integrated, corpus-informed medical English curriculum based on medical fields connected to different body systems. We have created units covering anatomical position, orthopedics, neurology, cardiology, endocrinology, pulmonology, immunology, dermatology, gastroenterology, hepatology, and nephrology. Work is being completed on gynecology, ophthalmology, and ENT units. Key medical terms have been identified, and a 2,000-word glossary has been compiled which forms a core medical word list embedded in the pedagogic materials.

Free Research Field

Applied linguistics

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

We have built a highly efficient flipped learning course, informed by a truly interdisciplinary approach involving the input of medical specialists. Importantly, we have succeeded in creating a glossary of medical terms which bridges the divide between stand-alone word lists and pedagogic materials.