THE LANGUAGE NEEDS OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS IN NSUKKA METROPOLIS (
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to analyse the language needs of the medical professionals in the Nsukka metropolis. Needs analysis is all about finding out the visions of a particular group and how to make such vision a reality through the English language as a second language in harnessing communication among them. In the course of the study, three research questions were formulated. The structured questionnaire was used to obtain data from a sample of 206 medical professionals. The probability random sampling of the sample population is bifurcated as follows: 120 females and 86 males. The population comprised 92 medical professionals from Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka, 80 medical professionals from Medical Center, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and 34 medical professionals from General Hospital, Nsukka. While analysing the data gathered, tables, pie charts, frequencies and percentages were used. The findings indicated that the English language is very useful in conducting medical tasks and also communicating in the medical field. It also showed that the unification of the four language skills while interacting in the hospitals boost the usefulness of medical English language skills. It stated that the medical students should know their prior aim of using medical English in hospitals. It was concluded that medical professionals should master medical English, knowing the use of the language skills appropriately and having a referent of their primary aims as it concerns communication by using medical English terminology while interacting in hospitals.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background to the Study
English is the only compulsory foreign language taught in Nigeria. Meanwhile, it is a second language (L2) and also serving as the official language. Students take the English language courses for global purposes from primary schools and continue in secondary school. In Nigeria, students consider English as a course to be passed rather than an instrument set apart for their future careers. Today, many Nigerian students hardly use English outside their various classrooms as an effective means of communication. The reasons are not far-fetched. Firstly, they see English as a phenomenon which can only be useful in classrooms. They also believe that speaking purely British English here in Nigeria cannot make them rich easily. Secondly, they believe that English belongs to alien cultures which they have little or no exposure to, despite the fact that English is a vital tool in different workplaces. Our students still pass their examination in English by memorizing vocabulary and mechanical grammar drills but they are not using it often in performing their duties. The issue is that they are not grounded in the rules of this language.
In order to deal with this inappropriate communication in English among Nigerians, including medical practitioners, Nigerian universities established a programme to teach English in their various schools. This area of study is called “the Use of English”. It is a section in the General Studies of the Nigerian universities. This language unit is responsible for teaching the English language courses to students of universities despite their disciplines. However, they still use only the idea of formalism which gives them the rules to pass their courses through memorization and drill. Formalism posits that a language is learnt through a system of symbols which every competent speaker must have learnt. They also believe that it is a code or a system of forms. Formalism cleared the way for functionalism. That is to say that learning of symbols paved way for the use of those symbols to communicate in any society.
