ByadminThe correct organization of preparatory courses for doctors and pharmacists ensures the high performance of our participants in the exams
One of the important areas of work of the EUROMED Foundation is the preparation of healthcare professionals for the language and nostrification exams. In recent years, the Foundation’s employees have developed a special methodology that allows students to prepare students for exams in a high-quality manner in a fairly short period of time. In this post, we will talk about the language courses of the EUROMED Foundation, specially designed for healthcare professionals. Radoslaw Kaleta, head of the EUROMED Foundation’s training department, talks about their methodology.
– Mr Kaleta, please tell us about the specifics of the organization of the EUROMED Foundation’s preparatory language courses for doctors, dentists and pharmacists.
As head of the training department, I am responsible for quality control of training courses in the Polish medical language and preparation courses for diploma confirmation examinations (nostrification/verification) for doctors and dentists in Poland. As practice shows, the most successful method of preparing doctors, dentists and pharmacists for exams is a modular system.
The modular system implies the division of the general training program into modules. For example, our language learning program is divided into 3 modules: 1) online platform + consultations with teachers via Skype, 2) full-time course in Warsaw, 3) additional online materials and written individual recommendations from lecturers immediately before preparing for the exam.
First, we focus on general language training, and then on medical terminology and topics. For each module, participants receive materials prepared by the Foundation staff.
The aim of our language courses is to prepare healthcare professionals for the language examinations conducted by the Main Chamber of Physicians and the Main Chamber of Pharmacists The structure of our language courses and the accompanying materials strictly comply with the requirements of the exams.
– Could you please tell us in more detail about general language training, what elements does it include?
First, we invite our participants to work with our language platform on their own. It consists of several thematic elements (everyday vocabulary, common language) and grammatical topics (e.g. noun and verb conjugation). Thanks to audio recordings of various dialogues, our participants can listen to the Polish language. We also offer them exercises to learn Polish pronunciation.
An important point is that the main medical topics have been introduced into the general course, for example, the names of professions, and anatomy. Thus, the general language is immediately intertwined with elements of a specialized language, which will later become a central part of the Polish Medical Language course in Warsaw.
General language blocks are followed by medical blocks, for example, anatomy in Polish (structure of the heart, digestive system, other organs and systems), medical history (standard questions asked to the patient, names of diseases, etc.). Our patient dialogue training exercises are similar to those that will be on the state exam.
All three elements – everyday vocabulary, grammar and medical topics are supported by classes with our teachers via Skype. During such classes, the teacher helps the student to repeat and consolidate what they have already studied on the online platform, if necessary, gives additional explanations, and offers individual exercises to consolidate the most difficult material.
In addition, the teacher checks the pronunciation and communication skills of the participant, conducts short dictations and checks the spelling, and asks the participant to read aloud a short text, to which the teacher asks 1-2 questions so that, firstly, our trainee gets used to speaking Polish, and secondly, to check how they perceive the meaning of the text.
For each lesson with the teacher, the participant must write a short text on a given topic. To practice writing skills, we ask our trainees to keep a notebook. It helps to master Polish spelling. In addition, our students receive a dictionary of medical terms (with a recording of Polish pronunciation and sample texts).
Work on improving the platform continues to this day. We update it in accordance with modern linguistic and technical requirements and try to take into account the most diverse language expectations of our users. After completing this course and a short qualifying conversation, we invite the participant to a two-week intensive course in Warsaw.
– Is the Warsaw module preparation for the exam itself?
The Warsaw module is a specially designed intensive course that focuses on preparing for the language exam. In Warsaw, the participant attends classes for 2 weeks (the first week from Monday to Sunday and the second week from Monday to Friday).
In total, the course takes 74 hours. It culminates in a trial exam in accordance with the standards of the Main Chamber of Physicians and the Main Chamber of Pharmacists. If the trainee successfully passes the trial exam, then our Foundation pays the cost of the state exam at the Main Chamber.
During the classes, lecturers pay special attention to practising Polish medical terminology and its practical application in accordance with the structure of the state exam. At this stage of learning, students should already be proficient in general Polish, basic everyday vocabulary and grammar. The most difficult elements of Polish grammar, such as conjugation of numerals, are briefly reviewed throughout the course.
Under the guidance of qualified teachers of the Polish language, our trainees practice writing dictations from an electronic medium, train in listening – the perception of the essence of a text voiced from an electronic medium, practice reading aloud medical texts so as to understand the meaning the first time.
And, finally, the last, but no less important stage than, for example, writing a dictation, is practising practical interaction in a conversation with a patient. This involves the ability to imitate the history taking and patient consultation, in particular, our trainees learn to correctly formulate questions and advise the patient based on the information received in the process of communication.
After completing the Warsaw module, the student receives individual recommendations from the teacher for further work on improving the knowledge of the Polish language. We also send additional materials, such as the Code of Medical Ethics and materials for studying medical cases. In addition, we provide our members with a list of Polish medical series that show the reality of working in Poland and help consolidate Polish medical terminology.
– How do you control the quality of the courses?
I personally supervise the individual classes. After each course, I talk to participants and teachers and ask everyone to fill out an evaluation questionnaire, thanks to which we know which practices are still worth developing, and which have been successful and worth repeating. So far, we have had almost no negative feedback about our language courses, perhaps because our teachers are carefully selected, have extensive experience working with doctors from across the eastern borders of Poland, love their work and are passionate about it.
