English for healthcare professionals

Develop the English skills you need to communicate clearly, empathetically and professionally in healthcare settings with patients and clients who do not speak Dutch

Speak English with non-Dutch speaking patients

Learn to communicate effectively and with empathy

Develop the confidence needed for difficult conversations

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English training for healthcare professionals

Are you a healthcare professional who frequently interacts with patients or clients who do not speak Dutch? Do you want to boost your confidence in having difficult conversations, intakes or therapy sessions in English? Are you looking for guidance to help you communicate carefully and clearly, even if you’re unsure about your vocabulary? Taalcentrum-VU has developed this specialised language training course for healthcare professionals who want to improve their patient communication skills when speaking English.

This course is tailored to meet your needs, using content and exercises that mirror your everyday work environment. Whether you’re in maternity care, dentistry or mental health, and whether you’re a nurse, doctor or psychologist, we offer customised case studies and exercise relevant to your field.

Conversing in English with non-Dutch speaking patients

During this course, you’ll work on expressing yourself clearly in writing and conversation, using professional English. We will pay special attention to using the right tone of voice in patient communication and the correct use of medical terminology, teaching you how to hold meaningful conversations in English.

Communicate effectively in healthcare settings

This course uses familiar real-life scenarios to help you boost your English proficiency,with practical skills you can use right away.

The programme is tailored to your organisation’s specific needs. We establish specific learning objectives through intake interviews and participant input. The number of sessions also depends on the established learning needs and the size of the group. This training usually consists of two to four half-day sessions.

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Program

Patient-focused vocabulary and language use

Improve your socio-medical vocabulary: learn to use medical terminology and patient-focused language
Sample phrases and vocabulary for conversations with patients: learn to summarise, evaluate, look ahead, confirm appointments and politely decline or correct patients
Practical dialogues: develop proficiency in explaining medical instructions or answer patients’ questions clearly
Learn to describe terms and use synonyms if you don't know a specific word, or a patient doesn’t understand you.

Having professional conversations in healthcare settings

Learn to propose ideas or respond to them, clarify terms and policies and how to check information
Develop the skills to conduct therapeutic conversations and gain confidence in discussing emotions with patients, using the English wheel of emotions as a guiding tool
Learn how to explain a medical condition or addiction in understandable English
Ensure your message is understood, learn to ask questions and make nuances
Explain a treatment plan clearly and with empathy

Speaking skills and fluency

Improve your fluency: learn the right pronunciation and rhythm and how to speak clearly and expressively
Learn how to speak English confidently and clearly
Strengthen your ability to detect misunderstandings, express concerns tactfully and step into conversations

Cultural sensitivity and communicating with empathy

Navigate cultural nuances, by recognising differences in etiquette and styles of indirect communication
Learn how to explain the Dutch healthcare system in English
Learn how to deliver bad news to a patient who does not speak Dutch
Master the skill of clear and compassionate expression

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