Language Centres at a Crossroads

In the past few decades, the student population has changed tremendously worldwide, as a result of globalization and the increasing number of student mobility options. Each year more and more students from all around the world decide to enrol in higher education far away from their home countries. The Medical School of the University of Pécs is a popular choice of many international students, members of Gen Z, who are integrated in tertiary education alongside with Hungarian students of the same generation. Teaching in these multicultural, and sometimes even in the nationally homogeneous Hungarian groups can be quite a challenge for the teacher. Both international and Hungarian medical students have some perceptions and defined preferences about teaching and learning, and, interestingly, these choices seem to, figuratively, arch over the multitude of nationalities.

The aim of this poster presentation is to demonstrate the initial findings of a longitudinal research study, conducted at the Medical School of the University of Pécs, throughout the academic year of 2018/19 and 2019/20. A mixed method survey was carried out, including two online questionnaires and structured interviews involving Gen Z international and Hungarian medical students.

The results suggest that Gen Z medical students, regardless of nationality, prefer to participate actively during classes, cooperate with each other instead of being competitive, and have their gadgets integrated in the learning process as much as possible, as these devices are an essential part of their everyday lives. The preferences of international students were slightly more unambiguous in certain cases, but no stark differences were observed. It is quite intriguing that, in many aspects, international and Hungarian medical students expressed shared thoughts and ideas, regardless of the differences lying in their national and cultural backgrounds. These findings might provide some aid for the teachers in selecting the most effective methods for Gen Z student groups in tertiary education.

Az utóbbi néhány évtizedben a globalizációs folyamatok eredményeképpen megnövekedett a hallgatói mobilitás, ami jelentős változásokat hozott az egyes egyetemeken. A Pécsi Tudományegyetem Orvostudományi Kara meglehetősen népszerű választás, ahol a szemesztereket a Gen Z külföldi hallgatók együtt kezdik meg az ugyanazon generációt képviselő, magyar hallgatótársaikkal. Az oktatók számára azonban nem kis kihívást jelenthet megtalálni az így létrejövő multikulturális csoportokban a leghatékonyabb módszereket. Ennek a poszter prezentációnak a célja a Pécsi Tudományegyetem Orvostudományi Karán, a 2018/19-es tanév során megkezdett longitudinális kutatás első eredményeinek bemutatása. A vegyes módszertanú kutatás két online kérdőívet és strukturált interjúkat foglalt magába, megszólaltatva Gen Z külföldi és magyar orvostanhallgatókat, valamint oktatóikat is. Az eredmények arra engednek következtetni, hogy nemzetiségtől és kulturális háttértől függetlenül a Gen Z orvostanhallgatóknak hasonló elképzeléseik vannak a tanulási folyamattal kapcsolatban. Bár a magyar hallgatók által adott válaszok kevésbé voltak határozottak sok esetben külföldi társaikéhoz képest, ez nem eredményezett jelentős különbségeket. Ezek az eredmények segítséget nyújthatnak az oktatóknak abban, hogy a lehető leghatékonyabb módszereket alkalmazhassák a Gen Z hallgatói csoportokban.

Anna Dávidovics is an assistant professor at the Department of Languages for Specific Purposes, Medical School, University of Pécs. She teaches English (EMP) and Hungarian (HMP) for medical purposes to international and Hungarian undergraduate medical students. Her research comprises intercultural competence, intercultural language teaching and learning and the use of ICT, portable devices, online websites and applications for educational purposes. She believes in the importance of inter- and intrapersonal skills, highly values creativity and innovation, and strives to think outside the box.

Timea Németh, PhD, is a senior lecturer at the Department of Languages for Specific Purposes, Medical School, University of Pécs, Hungary. She teaches English (EMP) and Hungarian (HMP) for medical purposes and intercultural competence for Hungarian and international undergraduate medical students. Her research interests include intercultural competence, intercultural language learning, internationalisation processes, study abroad programmes and the use of online educational tools in teaching. Life-long Learning and Continuing Professional Development are also in the core of her professional beliefs.