Challenges and Strategies in Teaching English for Medical Purposes:  A Literature Review

Abstract

English for Medical Purposes (EMP) has emerged as a critical subject in medical education in non-English speaking countries, enabling professionals to access research, communicate internationally, and update evolving healthcare practices. This literature review aims to provide an overview of the challenges and strategies in the teaching of EMP. The review reveals that the key challenges include complex medical terminology, limited contextual practice, and inadequate teacher training. Proposed strategies involve structured morphological analysis, needs-based curriculum design, and multimodal teaching methods, such as role-plays and simulations, to enhance students’ engagement and retention. Interdisciplinary collaboration between English lecturers and medical professionals is also emphasized to align instruction with real-world applications. These findings contribute to ongoing efforts to refine EMP instruction in Vietnam, including future studies to explore discipline-specific EMP approaches and assess the impact of pedagogical innovations on students’ medical English proficiency.