Testing English for Medical Purposes: the effects of traditional and distance education on learning outcomes

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about new cultural and social phenomena that changed social interaction and communication. In this new situation, teachers teaching English for Medical Purposes (EMP) at the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine of Comenius University in Martin (JFM) had to adapt the courses to the educational needs of the students. This study explores the effects of traditional and distance education on learning outcomes in advanced English learners during three academic years. The sample consisted of 346 students. Three groups (G1, G2, G3) of first-year students attended online as well as face-to-face English courses and took EMP exams at the end of each summer semester. The test results were compared and evaluated. The methods of EMP teaching and testing were different in each group. G1 attended asynchronous online classes, G2 participated in synchronous online classes conducted in real-time, and finally, G3 participated in traditional classes. G1, G2 took online tests, and G3 took a pen-and-paper test. The questionnaire revealed that students appreciated the self-organization of study during online classes, but most criticized the lack of face-to-face communication, the classroom atmosphere, and technical difficulties during online teaching. Students participating in traditional classes missed their own time management and appreciated discussion in the classroom as well as teachers’ feedback on EMP performance.