The impact of digital technologies on the effectiveness of English language learning by medical students

Abstract

Globalization and increasing demands on specialists determined the need to learn a foreign language in the modern world. Consequently, higher education institutions (HEIs) need to improve the educational programme for the preparation of future specialists for professional activities. The aim of this research was to determine the effectiveness of the use of modern digital technologies during the study of a foreign language by medical students and to identify the students’ personal attitude during the experiment. The research employed the methods of expert evaluation, pre- and post-testing (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)), a survey with the inclusion of a technology perception model. Cronbach’s alpha was used to check the reliability of the used questionnaires. Cohen’s kappa coefficient and Pearson’s chi-squared test were used for statistical processing of the results. The study found that students of the experimental group (EG) who studied using different digital technologies showed significant success in improving foreign language skills after the final test than students of the control group (CG). It is also worth noting that EG students were more motivated to use digital technologies after the experiment. The novelty of this study is that the study of English by medical students was carried out using digital technologies that were chosen according to the age, profession and foreign language proficiency level of the experimental sample of students. Prospects for further research may be to determine the effectiveness of artificial intelligence during foreign language learning by medical students.