Working with international trainees Issues identification interventions INTRODUCTION

Working with international trainees Issues, identification, interventions

INTRODUCTION • Workshop, not a lecture • Explore the issues regarding international trainees • An outsider perspective Issues Identification Intervention

FIRST STEPS: WHAT ARE THE MAIN ISSUES Discussion: What are the main issues that international trainees face?

MAIN ISSUES • Language • Critical Thinking • Cultural Competence • Assessment Literacy?

Case-Study

LANGUAGE How do you diagnose language issues? What interventions do you put into place?

IELTS Does Test Academic Reading Test Listening Test Essay and Process Writing Test Conversational English on complex topics IELTS Does Not Test Medical English Test Letter Writing Test Everyday English IELTS 7. 5 is not perfect! There will be grammatical error

INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE UK? Outside the UK Podcasts TV Inside the UK Experience life Talk to people (in English) Identity and language learning – Dornyei, Z. 2009 + many others

OCCUPATIONAL ENGLISH TEST A Test for Medical Professionals Tests language skills in workplace situations A Useful diagnostic tool? Accepted in Australia & for Nursing in the UK

CRITICAL THINKING How do you diagnose critical thinking issues? What interventions do you put into place?

Ways of thinking are built up through education systems Cultural Colonialism Vs. Cultural Relativism (Egege & Kutieleh, 2004) We need to move trainees towards a certain way of thinking, but without utilising a deficit approach Key is awareness, both from the trainer and the trainee

CULTURAL COMPETENCE How do you diagnose issues with cultural competence? What interventions do you put into place?

Like with language, the best way forward is to experience, and for the trainer to explain the why, not just the how. UK GP’s Office China GP’s Office

ASSESSMENT LITERACY Assessment Literacy is based on Educational background Coursework, essay based exams, problem-based learning, computerbased assessment Greater time discussing the assessments and the way that they will be graded. Analysing success or failure Very common for international students to fail as they have not understood the expectation

Case-Study 4 attempts all failed, the last by 0. 5% Analysis – 1) meet and talk 2) trainer views and take notes while trainee completes questions 3) identified an issue – time on particular questions 4) discussion – candidate doesn’t skip questions and come back later, runs out of time, meaning does not attempt easy questions later in the test. High accuracy on those attempted. 5) Practice techniques such as answering by instinct, not the options. Time limit before moving on.

Questions? Email MThurston@uclan. acuk