2008, vol. 47, iss. 1, pp. 32-36
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The cohesive role of foreign language in students adoption of medical knowledge-conjunction of classical learning and web-based learning
Kohezivna uloga stranog jezika u usvajanju medicinskog znanja-veza između tradicionalnog učenja i učenja putem interneta
aUniveristy of Niš, Faculty of Medicine, Serbia bUniveristy of Niš, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anatomy, Serbia
email: natasa@medfak.ni.ac.yu
Abstract
Medical students, non-native English speakers, who have not been well-served by foreign language education, cannot take advantage of the educational benefits of web- based learning and benefits of scientific work. Foreign language education affects not only the language and culture of students, but also their socio-economic status and interpersonal relationship. The aim of this study was to determine the cohesive role of foreign language in students' adoption of medical knowledge and its influence on the conjunction of classical learning and web- based learning. The investigation was carried out among students of Faculty of Medicine in Nis during June, 2006. The investigation included 312 students of all study years and departments and was conducted by means of a questionnaire. Students' performance in scientific work was evaluated according to the achievements at faculty. Language literacy was evaluated according to students' ability to use and understand scientific web contents in English. Generally, the average grade of the mother tongue knowledge (including writing, and speaking skills) was higher at high educational departments compared to the College of Nursing. Writing skill was differently evaluated among departments. The highest average grade was obtained at the Departments of Medicine and Pharmacy; it was significantly lower at the Department of Dentistry and the lowest at the Department of Nursing, which was confirmed by T test. Speaking skill was the highest among medical students, significantly lower among students of dentistry and pharmacy, whereas it was the lowest among students of the College of Nursing, which represents a statistically significant finding. A very high average grade for reading skill was obtained at the Departments of Medicine and Pharmacy; it was significantly lower at the Department of Dentistry and the lowest at the College of Nursing. Listening skill was the best among medical students; it was significantly lower at the Departments of Dentistry and Pharmacy and the lowest among students of the Department of Nursing, which represents a statistically significant finding. English language knowledge highly correlates with the students' use of web sources of scientific and medical information. The highest correlation was found between speaking and reading skills and the use of web-based learning (Pearson C=0.28 and C=0.35, p<0.01), while writing skill showed no significant correlation. The satisfaction with the achievements at the faculty is associated only with the quality of oral expression in the mother tongue (Pearson C=0.18, p<0.05). Students' satisfaction with their scientific work and practical knowledge was mostly associated with good speaking and reading skills in English. The knowledge of foreign language has great impact on Internet use. The students with good English language performance more often use Internet resources for their scientific work and education. Therefore, both teachers and students need to be trained in the appropriate use of the Internet tools so that they can achieve maximal results.
Sažetak
Studenti medicine kojima engleski jezik nije maternji, a pritom nemaju prethodno znanje engleskog jezika, nisu u mogućnosti da u potpunosti iskoriste pogodnosti učenja putem interneta za svoj naučni rad. Znanje stranog jezika utiče ne samo na jezik i kulturu studenata, već i na njihov socio-ekonomski status i međusobne odnose. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je određivanje kohezivne uloge stranog jezika u usvajanju znanja iz medicine kao i njegovog uticaja na povezanost tradicionalnog učenja i učenja putem interneta. Ispitivanje je sprovedeno među studentima Medicinskog fakulteta u Nišu tokom juna 2006. godine. Ispitivanjem je obuhvaćeno 312 studenata svih studijskih grupa (medicina, stomatologija, farmacija, zdravstvena nega), a sprovedeno je putem anonimne ankete. Uspeh studenata u njihovom naučnom radu je procenjivan u odnosu na njihove postignute rezultate na studijama. Jezička pismenost je procenjivana u odnosu na sposobnost studenata da koriste i razumeju naučne sadržaje na internetu na engleskom jeziku. Prosečna ocena znanja maternjeg jezika (koja je uključivala sve četiri jezičke veštine) je bila viša na studijskim grupama medicine, stomatologije i farmacije u odnosu na grupu studenata zdravstvene nege. Veština pisanja je bila različito procenjena na različitim grupama. Najviša prosečna ocena je dobijena na odseku medicine i farmacije, bila je znatno niža na odseku stomatologije, a najniža na odseku zdravstvene nege, što je i potvrđeno T testom. Veština govora je bila najbolja među studentima medicine, značajno niža među studentima stomatologije, a najniža među studentima zdravstvene nege, što predstavlja statistički značajan rezultat. Veoma visoka prosečna ocena za veštinu čitanja je dobijena na odseku medicine i farmacije; bila je značajno niža na odseku stomatologije, dok je na odseku zdravstvene nege bila najniža. Veština razumevanja je bila najbolja kod studenata medicine, značajno niža kod studenata stomatologije i farmacije a najniža među studentima zdravstvene nege, što predstavlja statistički značajan rezultat. Znanje engleskog jezika je u visokoj korelaciji sa korišćenjem naučnih medicinskih izvora putem interneta. Najviša korelacija je pronađena između veština govora i čitanja i korišćenjem interneta radi učenja (Pearson C=0,28 i C=0,35, p<0,01), za razliku od veštine pisanja koja nije pokazala značajnu korelaciju. Zadovoljstvo postignutim rezultatima na fakultetu je povezano samo sa sposobnošću usmenog izražavanja na maternjem jeziku (Pearson C=0,18, p,0.05). Zadovoljstvo studenata svojim naučnim i praktičnim znanjem je uglavnom bilo u vezi sa dobrim veštinama govora i čitanja na engleskom jeziku. Znanje stranog jezika ima veliki uticaj na korišćenje interneta. Studenti koji imaju dobro znanje engleskog jezika češće koriste internet izvore za svoj naučni rad i obrazovanje. Zbog toga je potrebno da se i nastavnici i studenti osposobe za adekvatno korišćenje interneta u cilju postizanja najboljih mogućih rezultata.
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