Teaching of medical science using mother language with bi-lingual approach, an experimental cross over trial

Abstract

Abstract Background: Using the mother-tongue language in educational programs increases the students’ comprehension and facilitates the communication with their teachers and instructors. It also prevents linguistic dualism. However, teaching medical sciences in a language other than English remains controversial. The bi-lingual method is using important English terms in context beside the Arabic main text. This study examines the efficiency of using the bi-lingual approach as an alternative educational method that provides the advantages of using the native language and avoids the linguistic barriers when dealing with a foreign environment.Methods: Third-year medical students of the faculty of Medicine of Damascus University were included in a three-week comparative study. They were divided into three groups. Each group attended a 20 minutes' neuroanatomy lecture in three topics using three linguistic methods: Arabic, English or bi-nomenclature. Each lecture with one topic and one linguistic method. Two tests were performed in each lecture (pre- and post-lecture test) with six points as the total score of each test. The participating students had the same pre- and post-lecture test regardless of the used linguistic method. The same professor presented all lectures.Results: A total number of (277) students participated in the study. After excluding all participants who failed to attend the three lectures, the final participants were (147) students The bi-nomenclature method had the highest mean of points: [3.70/6], while the Arabic only method had a mean of [3.19/6] and the English-only method’s mean was [2.76/6]. These results were statistically significant (p-value less than 0.001). It was significant that Arabic questions were answered correctly regardless of the used linguistic method (p-value <0.001).Conclusion: The bi-lingual pedagogic method which combines mother language in the main text and providing of medical terms in both mother langue and English could present suitable medical education strategy in non-English speaking countries.