Job Discussion Forums

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 10:02 am Post subject:

Don't envy you. But I wouldn't advise investing any time whatsoever. No course can be tailored and one-size-fits-all simultaneously. You have described a real mess, and it's clear that your line manager isn't too pushed about the quality of lessons. From what you've described, it sounds more like you need to entertain the troops rather than engage in proper teaching...

Mrs McClusky · Joined: 09 Jun 2010 Posts: 133

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 12:31 pm Post subject:

Are you paid for every one of those 60 hours?

Teatime of Soul · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 905

Sprial78 posted some good info on time required.

Medical course needs analysis is similar to police and certain military technical fields, there are "zero error" areas. That's why a proper needs analysis is required, to identify the high risk/high impact areas and have them vetted by Subject matter Experts.

As a course developer, you have some potential liability if something is omitted, unless you have SMEs and management sign off on the deliverables.

Unless of course, you are simply teaching medical English versus medical content area.

I agree with Spiral78's hours required. For CBT (Computer based Training) it can run 40 to 400 hours of development depending upon the level of interactivity and development and delivery methods. Those numbers may have dropped in recent years with better tools available.

In any event, a proper course will require a needs analysis. That, done properly, can a very detailed and time consuming affair depending upon the nature of the course.

sojourner · Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 1:17 pm Post subject:

Mrs McClusky,

One poster mentioned the term "needs analysis". For some info re that concept, as well as some hints in planning a curriculum, try to get hold of "English for Specific Purposes", by T.Hutchinson & A.Waters. You might also pick up some useful ideas from "Teach Business English", by Sylvie Donna ;and "Teaching Business English", by Mark Ellis & Christine Johnson; although I'm pretty sure that Sasha might regard those books as pretty boring !

Sasha also recommended that you try to get hold of some current articles from the FT, or whatever;rather than relying too much on (often) dated/boring textbooks. Fair enough ! You might want to get hold of some "authentic material" which your students use in their everyday work, as well as having role plays that simulate the sorts of admin issues they often have to deal with on a daily basis. Possibly, you might want to use some case studies. In Business English, I have sometimes used David Evans' "Decisionmaker" - many of the case studies in that work involve issues such as culture clash, corporate law breaking, criminal activities, etc - a far more interesting approach than what's contained in the usual boring stuff (eg ordering goods/services, etc). To make your lessons a bit more interesting, you might want to consider presenting case studies of your own which happen to have somewhat controversial themes . Make up your own, or adapt some of those included in the Evans' book for your own purposes.

Good luck !

Peter

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I don't need your sister Cool

Just a bit of time - I'll try to send links tomorrow. Out of the goodness of my heart Very Happy

powerrose · Joined: 14 Apr 2003 Posts: 119 Location: Shenzhen, China

Mrs McClusky · Joined: 09 Jun 2010 Posts: 133

Mrs McClusky · Joined: 09 Jun 2010 Posts: 133

Excellent replies, thanks and please add more if you think of them. I will put a few in practice.

Mrs McClusky

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

These sites include a list of goals for different courses - the smaller units of 'objectives' which lead to the goals can be visualised, I think.

http://www.vancouvermedicalenglish.com/Curriculum.htm

http://www.orbislingua.com/vmei.htm#PROGRAMS

This link notes some fairly well respected English for Medical Professions coursebooks - might be worthwhile your investment via Amazon?

http://www.melodiehull.com/books.php

This is a nice description of the basis of approaches and methods that research indicates work well in teaching Med. Eng. I have used this one in course development as a reference. At the end is a list of some other useful references.

http://www.usingenglish.com/teachers/articles/changing-paradigm-for-medical-english-language-teaching.html

Sorry I can't offer anything more concrete - copyright laws apply Surprised

But perhaps this will give you a few more tools that you can use in your project.

Good luck!

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I just read the bit about all levels and a range of professions.

In class, you could try putting them in teams by jobs and then asking them to work together to write one overall description of the functions they must perform in English for that job. I would give them an example description to get them started, and I would let them use L1 as needed to produce a written and oral description in English.You do not need or want a document from each student - only one report from the whole group.

This is a good team-building task to begin with anyway - they must negotiate and brainstorm together to come up with the report. They could choose one or two speakers to represent their group, and one writer to put down everyone's ideas in a usable format.

This could be termed 'needs analysis,' as you can take this data to write a syllabus and mats for each team. This would also allow you to easily identify overlapping areas where specialised curriculum isn't needed.

However, the team process described above can also be called 'the first class,' in case 'needs analysis' isn't in your line manager's lexicon.

It sounds like they've picked a great teacher for a VERY challenging job. I do hope you'll get a lot of satisfaction from this process and its outcomes!! You'll deserve some recognition, and hopefully in both figurative and literal forms.

Mrs McClusky · Joined: 09 Jun 2010 Posts: 133

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 8:43 pm Post subject:

johnslat · Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 8:58 pm Post subject:

Dear Sashadroogie,

Sigh - some never lose that darn internal motivation.

Regards,
John

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sun Jun 13, 2010 7:56 am Post subject:

Dear Johnslat,

I know. It's sweet, isn't it, to remember how naive we were once too. Thinking that pride in our work and the willingness to 'go that extra mile' would actually count for anything apart from making a crap course slightly less so and our bosses a lot richer. Nowadays I take extreme pride in my work and try to steer clear of obvious pigs in pokes. Gotta box clever. Sigh...

S