English for Healthcare

Learn the language and vocabulary of healthcare professionals.

The language of healthcare can be complex. On this course, you will develop your English language skills and learn vocabulary for a career and study in healthcare.

You will learn healthcare terminology and how to communicate in different professional situations. You will practise your listening skills with recordings of healthcare professionals and test your knowledge by writing the answers to discussion questions.

Upon completion of this course, you will feel more confident using healthcare language and you will have explored what it’s like to use these language skills in a healthcare setting.

This course has been created for refugees, displaced people and the communities supporting them in the MENA (Middle East and Northern Africa) region who wish to study a healthcare related course at a university in English.

It has been created as part of the PADILEIA project, and designed to provide additional support to students taking the Introduction to Nursing course.

We recommend learners have a minimum of CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) A2 to get the most from this course.

It will also be of interest to anyone looking to develop their English language and communication skills in a healthcare setting.

Supported by UK aid - Strategic Partnerships for Higher Education, Innovation and Reform

• In the hospital or clinic
• Welcome to Week 1
• Visiting the hospital
• The vocabulary of the hospital
• Registering at the hospital
• Listening: a patient registers over the phone
• Reflection
• Learning in the hospital
• Introduction to Week 2
• Listening: a patient describes his symptoms
• Grammar: asking questions
• Listening: giving advice
• Grammar focus: imperatives
• Reading: medication information leaflet
• Reading: a reflective journal
• Caring in the home
• Introduction to Week 3
• Listening: new healthcare vocabulary
• Grammar focus: giving instructions
• Practise your reading skills
• Reflection
• Caring for patients in the community
• Introduction to Week 4
• Healthcare roles in the community
• What causes community healthcare problems and what can be done to solve them?
• Talking about causes and effects
• Your turn to educate the community
• Reflecting on your learning so far
• Review the grammar and vocabulary we use in this course