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English for Healthcare

Develop your language and communication skills for a career in healthcare and learn new healthcare vocabulary in English.

95,979 enrolled on this course

Illustration of healthcare workers in a variety of environments

English for Healthcare

95,979 enrolled on this course

  • 4 weeks

  • 3 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Intermediate level

Find out more about how to join this course

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.

What topics will you cover?

  • Working and learning in the hospital
  • Experiences of patients
  • Symptoms and diagnoses
  • Taking notes and clear communication
  • Working in different healthcare contexts: Caring for patients in the home; Healthcare interventions in the community.
  • How to write reflectively

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Apply language skills to a range of healthcare contexts and situations. For example: using adjectives to describe symptoms, using vocabulary related to problems/solutions and causes/effects
  • Interpret different genres typical of healthcare, including instructions, notes, reflective journals, registration forms
  • Explore new vocabulary and terminology relating to healthcare
  • Identify suitable communication modes for different professional situations, for example when giving instructions to patients
  • Reflect on your learning, and practice writing a reflective journal. Apply language skills to evaluate your experiences
  • Collect and record medical information by reading and listening for specific information

Who is the course for?

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

Who will you learn with?

Sophie has worked as an English Language Teacher since 1992. She holds an MA in English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics. She is currently an EAP tutor at King's College London.

Alison has been teaching English since 1985 and holds a BA in English Literature and an MA in Applied Linguistics. For the past three years she has been teaching EAP at King's College, London.

Craig has taught English at HE institutions in the UK and abroad. He holds an MA in Applied Linguistics, PgCert in ELT and FHEA. He currently teaches at King's College London.

Flor has been teaching English since 2010 and holds an MA in Applied Linguistics/TESOL. She has taught English at King's College London, University of Northampton and Royal Hollloway.

Michael is a recent graduate from King's College London where he studied medicine. He is currently working as a doctor at Medway Hospital.

Who developed the course?

King's College London

King’s College London, established in 1829 and a founding college of the University of London, is one of the world’s leading research and teaching universities, based in the very heart of London.

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$27.99

For the first two months. Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$134/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 16 Apr 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

T&Cs apply.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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