Methods for developing business games in foreign language classes at a medical university

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to analyze the principles of developing a business game technology as well as to propose a methodology of developing an educational business game design and implementation in English for specific purposes at foreign language classes for medical students. The theoretical concept of business game design and development treats it as an advanced active learning technology compared to “traditional” technologies for formation of communicative and vocational competence of medical students at foreign language classes. The study was conducted at the Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow. The pedagogic experiment involved 90 first-year students who entered the university in 2020. Students were proposed a business game "Medical checkup". The experimental research results elicited such positive aspects of application of business game technology as (a) creating an energizing atmosphere in the lesson; (b) consolidation of students’ knowledges after the role-played game activities; (c) preparation for vocational activity. However, the discussion of the study results recapitulation admits that business game cannot replace fully more traditional forms of teaching. The business game is an effective technology for applying the acquired knowledge in the situations occurring in vocational activity of a physician. It allows for the formation of foreign language vocational and communicative competence of students of medical specialties.

Keywords

• teaching technology
• business game
• foreign langua