Diagnosing the EAP needs of Turkish medical students: A longitudinal critical needs analysis

Abstract

This study uses a longitudinal critical needs analysis to diagnose the English for academic purposes (EAP) needs of Turkish medical students seeking proficiency in medical English and contribute to needs analysis methodology. The data were collected from medical students and specialists. To obtain valid and reliable information about medical students' needs, five types of instruments were used: ethnographic methods, including sustained observation and participation in a research setting; reflective journals; and a questionnaire and in-depth interview The questionnaire design was based on essays collected from the students during their study, and the items were constructed from the students' own words. To the best of my knowledge, this study is the first attempt in the literature to triangulate both methods and data with a focus on critical pedagogy to diagnose RAP needs. The findings are the result of the triangulation of data and methodology to ensure the reliability and validity of the findings. A total of 525 subjects participated in the research (186 participants in the pilot study and 339 participants in the main study). The findings revealed medical students' expectations of their English for specific purposes (ESP) instructor, students' shortcomings, and the problems and strategies they use while learning medical English. The interview data analysis sought to determine whether higher education students can be a reliable source to consult for their own educational needs in higher education. The methodology followed here can be replicated in other mainstream classrooms.