Language of Medical Instruction in Palestine: A Mixed Method Approach of Students’ Perceptions

Abstract

This mixed method study explores medical students’ perceptions and attitudes regarding the language(s) of medical instruction in two Palestinian universities. The researcher aimed to identify the way medical students look at the language of medical education as well as the merits and drawbacks of the language(s) used in medical instruction. A 25-item descriptive, online questionnaire was built to explore the way university students evaluate and perceive the medium of medical instruction at the Faculty of Medicine. To complement and inform the quantitative findings, fifty-five students from each university were randomly selected, and their responses to an open question about the merits and drawbacks of the language(s) were analyzed using MAXQDA. Of the too many medical students enrolled in the two universities, 604 completed and returned the survey, and 55 students were selected to interpret their open responses qualitatively. The study findings suggest that the students are divided into two camps concerning what the language of medical instruction should be; some prefer Arabic, their mother tongue, while the others showed no reservations about using the medical academic vocabulary in English. Some statistically significant differences were found when some demographic variables, i.e., gender, specific major, and year of study, interact. Finally, study respondents highlighted several issues which the researcher sorted into advantages and disadvantages for each language. There is a considerable discrepancy in the choice of the language of medical instruction at the Faculty of Medicine. Each language has its pros and cons; consequently, a mixture of a mother and a foreign language (e.g., English) could be a suitable compromise in a country like Palestine.

First-Year Palestinian English Majors’ Attitudes and Expectations towards EFL Learning: A Mixed-Methods Study

“…Fluency in English may enhance social status, self-confidence, and self-esteem (Kassem, 2004). Students and graduates who are proficient in English are more likely to participate in international competitions and join prestigious associations and organizations (Jabali, 2022). The command of English is often seen as a valuable asset for future career prospects, assisting in securing desirable employment, facilitating overseas studies, and importantly, enabling the articulation of the Palestinian issue to a global audience.…”

“…It was observed that female respondents (207) outnumbered male respondents (37). This gender imbalance in the university enrollment can be attributed to the perception that males are more inclined to enter the labor market rather than pursue a 4-6-year study program and wait for scarce job opportunities in an occupied country (Jabali, 2022). Despite this trend, the attitudes and expectations of the participants, both male and female, were found to be optimistic and ambitious.…”