P15. Employing students' multilingualism and language diversity in teaching and learning

Hammond, Anna; Collins, Sarah; Adam, Jane; Pearce, Jane

Abstract

Before our innovative clinical skills session ‘Interpreting in Consultations’, we conducted an annual survey of languages spoken by students on admission, in 2006, 2007 and 2008. From
a response rate of 94% we noted that 28% of students are advanced/fluent speakers of language(s) other than English and a total of 48 languages are spoken.
The session, ‘Interpreting in Consultations’, involves first and second year students who speak the same language other than English, role-playing an ‘interpreted’ consultation.
Feedback from tutors and students following the session shows that using different languages serves multiple, valuable purposes, highlighting:
• issues encountered with interpreters
• challenges of ‘medical’ language
• difficulties in transmitting a patient centred approach
• how linguistic and cultural sensitivities are lost in translation.
Student linguistic diversity is considerable and not used to its full potential: the single clinical skills session we report suggests there is much more to be gained. The education we design and deliver
may fail to recognise what patient-centred-ness means in different languages and cultures.
Future research should: consider how to make best use of multiculturalism and linguistic diversity; explore how students’ awareness of, and competence in, different languages and cultures
can be developed and maintained.

Citation

Hammond, A., Collins, S., Adam, J., & Pearce, J. (2011, May). P15. Employing students' multilingualism and language diversity in teaching and learning. Poster presented at 4th International Clinical Skills Conference: Showcasing Innovation and Evidenced Based Clinical Skills Education and Practice, Prato, Italy

• Presentation Conference Type: Poster
• Conference Name: 4th International Clinical Skills Conference: Showcasing Innovation and Evidenced Based Clinical Skills Education and Practice
• Start Date: May 22, 2011
• End Date: May 25, 2011
• Deposit Date: Dec 18, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 31, 2024
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4491588
• Publisher URL: https://internationalclinicalskillsconference.com/past-conferences