Association for Medical English is a non-profit organization for academic and educational purposes formally registered and recognized as an association. It combines English teachers connected to medical field, doctors and practicing nurses. The association was created to unite professionals from different sectors who primarily work on improvement of the quality of teaching English for Specific Purposes in higher education.
Association for Medical English brings together experts from two medical teaching institutions from northern Poland; the members of Association come from Medical University of Gdansk and Pomeranian Academy in Slupsk. As we are also connected to MUG affiliated teaching hospital (University Clinical Centre in Gdansk – UCK) we have direct contact with hospital environment and the working staff.
Scope of work:
- research and academic activity to promote and implement teaching English as ESP (English for Specific Purposes);
- improving the quality of education (with reference to English teaching at university level and in adult education);
- promoting European integration and educational cooperation between European nations;
- promoting teaching English for Specific Purposes among Polish citizens who aim at European labour markets (especially medical personnel).
Specific areas of expertise:
- developing innovative learning materials for university students that match university formal requirements;
- developing innovative methodological and pedagogical approaches in teaching English for Specific Purposes, especially English for Medical Purposes, to students, academic teachers and medical staff;
- improving learning opportunities for the graduates of medical colleges and working medical staff;
- working with students with specific needs and supporting their language learning;
- promoting language awareness, especially among medical workers;
- promoting European cooperation in terms of professional and vocational training by taking part in EU projects.
The Association unites language expertise with medical professionalism which guarantees high level of pedagogical and didactic output within the HELP project. Key members of Association assure exchange of knowledge and experience in teaching English for Specific Purposes and in close collaboration with practicing healthcare workers.
http://angielskiwmedycynie.org.pl
Justyna Kowalczys is the HELP2 coordinator within Stowarzyszenie Angielski w Medycynie (Association for Medical English). She holds an M.A. degree from English Philology at Faculty of Languages University of Gdańsk, Poland.
For 15 years Justyna has been working in higher education teaching subjects in the framework of Practical English, medical and technical language, with a special consideration on EMP research. She gained her experience at Medical University of Gdańsk teaching specialist medical English at Faculties of Medicine and Health Sciences to students of Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, Environmental Health, Technical Dentistry and Pharmacy. Currently, an English ESP language lecturer, certified NATO examiner STANAG 6001 (level 1-3) and TOEIC examination.
Her professional development is inseparably connected with preparing own teaching materials in the field of ESP (English for Medical Purposes, English for Military Purposes, English for IT specialists, Technical English, Maritime English), which gave rise to HELP1 project back in 2012.
Other activities involve work as a consecutive interpreter of English and Italian and a translator of medical English. Justyna is also a multiple beneficiary of EU programmes and initiatives; she regularly participates in international conferences and exchanges of academic teachers.
Within HELP2 project Justyna shares her methodological knowledge on module design and didactical input combined with experience of structuring learning materials for English Modules and cross-checking activities.
Dorota Borowska holds a Master’s degree in English philology and a Bachelor’s degree in German from Nicolas Copernicus University in Torun. She is a teacher of secondary students, interpreter and translator to and from English and German. Dorota completed postgraduate studies for interpreters and translators of English (NCU, Toruń) and studies of the euro as a common currency (WSB University, Torun).
Her main fields of interest include neurolinguistics, cognitive science, brain-friendly theory of education, coaching and personal development of both students and teachers. Hence she has recently become an enthusiastic supporter and promoter of the originating in Germany initiative ‘Schule im Aufbruch’/’Schools in Transformation’. Additionally, she has been involved in international students’ cooperation and exchange projects as part of the EU programmes eTwinning, Comenius and Erasmus+, as well as hosting volunteers’ visits of the youth-run non-governmental organisation AIESEC.
Within the HELP2 team she brings in linguistic knowledge in both English and German languages together with great involvement into piloting and dissemination activities.