Professional development needs in English for specific purposes of educators in health fields

Abstract

Introduction: English for Specific Purposes (ESP) is key in health teacher education, but its integration faces limitations. This study identifies the professional development needs of health teachers at the Universidad Bolivariana del Ecuador. Methodology: A mixed approach was used, including a literature review, surveys of 17 teachers and interviews with 13 ESP experts to analyse teacher training needs in the areas of nursing, physiotherapy and dentistry. Results: The need for ESP training was identified to teach disciplinary content, develop pedagogical skills to integrate English into health education and foster transversal competencies, such as communication in bilingual environments. Conclusions: Incorporating ESP in teacher training improves the quality of education and enhances the international competences of teachers and students in the health field.