A foundation for success

Instructor Laura Blumenthal says students like Alaleh Zahabioun are excited about getting a jump on the English they’ll need to continue their studies and work in the health care field.

By: Lori Kittelberg

A new set of courses at Douglas College called Academic Health Care Foundations (AHCF) will help English as a Second Language students improve their language skills in order to go on and succeed in post-secondary programs in the health care field.

The learning materials used in AHCF, are health-care related. The courses are open to students who have advanced-level ESL skills.

Without English-language learning specific to the health care field, applicants to programs in the Health Sciences Faculty at Douglas may have the required level of English - a B in English 12 - but lack exposure to vocabulary, reading or listening materials, writing or speaking in the health care field, says ESL instructor Laura Blumenthal, who is coordinating AHCF.

Though the first AHCF class doesn't start until May, the new program is already getting positive reviews from students at Douglas.

"ESL students I have spoken with are quite excited about the prospect of getting a jump on the English they will need in order to practice the professions they are aiming for," says Blumenthal.

Alaleh Zahabioun, who worked as a midwife in Iran before moving to Canada eight months ago, agrees. She studied ESL at Douglas last Fall and begins AHCF in May.

"I'm sure I want to study something related to health. It would be much better for me to start with my English, which will help me with my future job."

Since many post secondary programs in the health care field include a course in terminology, improving her understanding of English health care terminology beforehand will certainly help, says Zahabioun. Once she has finished AHCF at Douglas, she plans to study midwifery, radiology or sonography.

"Our initial goal here is to make entering post-secondary health sciences programs easier for these students. But our overarching goal is to ensure their success in these programs and reduce the frustration level of these students, their classmates and the faculty members," says Blumenthal.

Published January 28, 2010

Links:

Information Sessions
Academic Health Care Foundations
English as a Second Language
Faculty of Health Sciences
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