Bridging Language Needs in Nursing Education: An Assessment of EMI Course Materials at Algeria’s National Institute of Higher Paramedical Training, Tebessa

Abstract

There has been a greater attention in more recent years given to the teaching of ESP (English for Specific Purposes), notably in the healthcare field, due to the use of English as an international language for science and medicine. This study investigates the effectiveness of current ESP course materials in addressing the linguistic and communicative needs of Algerian nursing students in different specialties, including general nursing, midwifery, and radiology. It aims to evaluate whether the current EMP materials used in nursing programs are effectively addressing the specific language needs of Algerian nursing students. There is a necessity for relevant ESP education; In Algeria, this shift is particularly evident, as English is increasingly replacing French in key sectors such as higher education and medical services. This research was designed to investigate two main questions: How effective are the current ESP course materials in equipping Algerian nursing students with the English language skills required for their academic studies within their specialty? Also, are there specific gaps in the ESP materials that need to be addressed to better support nursing students? This study was conducted using a mixed-methods approach combining both quantitative content-analysis and qualitative discussion; the data was gathered through discussion with paramedical sector involving students across different specialties (general nursing, midwifery, and radiology). Findings show that current ESP materials are moderately aligned with nursing specialty vocabulary and knowledge, but there is an insufficient integration of all four language skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking) and authentic communication in real situation. The study recommends developing skill-integrated, context–oriented learning materials and, competency–focused tasks into course design.