Development of a Web-based Medical Interpreter Training Program

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26893276
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Medical sociology
• Research Institution: Juntendo University (2015); Teikyo University (2014)
• Principal Investigator: Naoko Ono 順天堂大学, 国際教養学部, 講師 (90730367)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-08-29 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 医療通訳 / 医療コミュニケーション / 外国語教育 / 通訳教育 / e-learning / ブレンディッド学習 / ブレンド学習

Outline of Final Research Achievements

There is a growing need in medical settings in Japan to speak international languages for communication, with Tokyo selected as the host city of the 2020 Summer Olympics. Due to the limited number of practical activities on medical interpreting, it is difficult for learners to acquire the interpreting skills. In order to eliminate the shortcoming, a web-based English-Japanese medical interpreting training system was developed. The design of a virtual environment allows the execution of complementary experimental exercises for learners of medical interpreting and introduction to theoretical background of medical interpreting. Since this system adopts a self-learning style, it might improve the time and lack of teaching material restrictions of the classroom method. The developed web-based training program for medical interpreters could bridge the gap between medical professionals and patients with limited English proficiency while being amenable to integration into clinical flow.

Free Research Field

医療コミュニケーション