NCKU First to Initiate Medical English Education

To promote the use of medical English and the medical service of students overseas, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Tainan, Taiwan, has successfully recruited English expert Andrew Noonan through English Language Fellow Program, U.S., to engage in a ten-month language project at NCKU College of Medicine.

Accompanied by Director Scott Robinson of American Cultural Center at American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and Associate Prof. Mei-Ling Tsai of Department of Physiology at NCKU College of Medicine, the newly appointed Fellow Andrew Noonan visited NCKU President Michael Ming-Chiao Lai in the Office of the President.

NCKU President Michael Ming-Chiao Lai has inquired Mr. Andrew Noonan about the related issues of the development and promotion of English courses at NCKU and hoped his stay at NCKU will benefit the students and motivate them to actively participate in international affairs.

To promote international affairs and strengthen teachers’ and students’ knowledge of international medicine, Associate Prof. Mei-Ling Tsai has proposed a cooperation plan to American Institute in Taiwan, hoping to elevate the quality of English for Specific Purposes in Medicine (ESP Medicine) in Southwest Region of Taiwan and promote the use of professional English in workplace.

NCKU President Michael Ming-Chiao Lai expressed, “From 1950 to 1960, teachers from Purdue University, U.S., have come to NCKU, brought new thinking and rich resources to help the development and rise of NCKU. Tainan is a city of rich cultural resources. I believe the experience of Mr. Andrew Noonan will be helpful to the development of international medical English teaching materials.”

Director Scott Robinson of American Cultural Center, AIT, pointed out, “Out of the proposals we received from the schools and institutions, the concept raised by NCKU was most interesting and unique. It has highlighted the positive attitude of NCKU in promoting English education.”

Director Scott Robinson also revealed, “The industry of medical tourism in Taiwan is worth anticipating. I believe with the advanced medical care of Taiwan and the outstanding proposal of NCKU, the participation of students in medical tourism and international rescue will increase. This will be the greatest achievement of the program.”

NCKU Associate Prof. Mei-Ling Tsai of Department of Physiology emphasized, “In order to increase the participation of Taiwanese medical students in international medicine, it’s necessary to broaden the students’ international perspective and strengthen their knowledge as citizens of the world. Thus we encourage students to participate in events of transnational medical care.”

Associate Prof. Mei-Ling Tsai further explained, “As the globalization of hospital medical care gradually increases, we need to develop medical care with local characteristics. Thus, we encourage students to examine the characteristics of Taiwan to develop medical tourism unlike that of other countries. To reach this goal, the participation in overseas training and international rescue is an important start. The improvement of the use of professional English is the only way to motivate this first step.”

Associate Prof. Mei-Ling Tsai also mentioned, “In the past five years, National Cheng Kung University has signed Memorandum of Understanding with more than 10 medical colleges, worked closely with Yale University and Duke University in overseas study exchange programs, and engaged in mutual visits.”

Andrew Noonan, one of the English Fellows of the 2010 English Language Fellow Program, obtained his Bachelor degree of Arts in English and Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language from Western Washington University in 1996, Certificate in English Language Teaching and Diploma in English Language Teaching from University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate in 2002 and 2006, and Master degree of Arts in Teaching Candidate from School of International Teaching (SIT) Graduate Institute in 2010.

With proven organizational and leadership skills, Andrew Noonan is skilled in interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds and personalities, able to maintain sense of humor and calm in the face of stressful situations, and committed to providing meaningful and specialized instruction to both students and teachers.

He has taught English at public junior high schools, private language center, Berkeley House Language Center and American Studies Center in Japan, teaching conversational English, designing curriculums and programs, facilitating technical presentation classes, as well as implementing and leading professional development seminars.

Additional Information:

The English Language Fellow Program carries out ten-month English language projects at universities and other language institutions in all regions of the world. There are 140 fellows around the world distributing in about 75 countries. There are two types of fellows, junior recent graduates and senior ministries who are more experienced.

The Senior English Language Fellow projects require a higher level of English as a foreign/second language (EFL/ESL), teaching experience and management skills. The job requirements include observe the main problems in students, offer tutor training sessions or workshops, write handbooks and fewer articles related to teaching English, organize workshop series for English teaching, and help to promote several events on international affairs in NCKU.

One of the unique characteristics of National Cheng Kung University Medical College (NCKUMC) is that being part of a comprehensive university, students have the chance to be exposed to multidisciplinary fields, consult renown faculty members and receive the best educational resources in the university. Furthermore, students have the opportunity to participate many extracurricular activities inside the university and many others to outreach into our society to broaden their horizons and cultivate their humanity. The optimal goal of NCKUMC is to educate holistic medical professionals with integrity and train them to become scientists.

In addition, the College of Medicine at NCKU owns the most perfect English teaching Program in Taiwan. From freshman year, the college provides “English Medicine Life” for medical students in their first year and “English Medical Terminology” for medical students in their second year. For the core courses of the third year and fourth year students, “Physiology” and “Problem-Based Learning (PBL) Pathophysiology are given in English. To provide the most comprehensive English environment to students, “Watson Club” (English speaking community) was established. To further expand international exchange for students, annual subvention is offered when students take their short-term internships with SCOPE (Standing Committee of Professional Exchange) and Memorandum of Understanding is signed between NCKU College of Medicine and internationally renowned universities, such as Yale University and Duke University, U.S.