Back to Menu ↩ In this quick guide, we will explore the essential elements of linking and time referencing in OET writing. Table of Contents Adding information: In addition, Additionally, In addition to Comparing and contrasting: However Expressing results or cause and effect: as a result of, due to Timing sequencing: Currently, Prior to/After the […]

Back to Menu ↩ In this quick  guide, we’ll explore present perfect and past simple and look at when to use each one. Knowing how to use them accurately will help you in your OET writing, and in communication more generally. Table of Contents Present perfect: unfinished actions Past simple: finished actions Find the mistakes […]

Back to Menu ↩ Are you an international student looking to study in English-speaking countries like the United States, Australia, or the United Kingdom? Or perhaps you’re a professional looking to boost your career prospects in a global marketplace? If so, the Pearson Test of English (PTE) could be your ticket to success. Table of […]

We have very exciting news this October: SLC Progress Promise for all of our Reach OET B students, we welcome our new OET Lead, Alexia Sporidis and more

We are thrilled to announce the addition of PTE Academic course, a preparation training designed to empower students and professionals to excel in the PTE.

Back to Menu ↩ Share This Post Teacher Notes Level: B2 C1 Sector: medicine, nursing, other Medical Area: symptoms, diseases and conditions, other Skill focus: reading, listening, vocabulary, pronunciation Student worksheet Part 1: Speaking Discuss questions 1–3 with your partner or group. How do medical professionals reach a diagnosis?2. How can misdiagnosis occur? 3. What […]

Back to Menu ↩ PTE Academic is now accepted by a growing number of nursing boards, enabling healthcare professionals to use it to show their English language proficiency. If you’re a nurse, you can use the PTE Academic test in Australia and the US. Table of Contents Australia USA SLC courses Related articles Subscribe to […]

Navigating through the OET exam day can be daunting, but in this article we’ll go through the crucial details for your OET test day, ensuring you’re well-prepared for success. Table of Contents Before the test day: preparation and arrangements What to take on test day What happens on test day What happens in the exam […]

In the world of healthcare, effective communication between healthcare professionals and patients is paramount. However, conducting interviews with patients can often be a challenging task, especially when you’re unsure of where to begin. In today’s article, we’ll explore different ways of gathering critical information efficiently while helping you establish rapport with your patients. Table of […]

Back to Menu ↩ Share This Post Teacher Notes Level: B2 C1 Sector: medicine, nursing, other Medical Area: symptoms, diseases and conditions, other Skill focus: listening, vocabulary, speaking Student worksheet Part 1: Vocabulary You’re going to watch a video about a piece of wearable technology. Before you watch, match the words and definitions. 1. sensor […]

August was a busy month here at SLC. We started working with six groups of newly arrived refugee nurses through our partnership with NHS England and NHS Professionals.

We’re delighted to announce that both courses we recently developed for internationally-qualified nurses coming to work in the NHS have now achieved CPD accreditation.

English is a global language for science, technology, business, and medicine. Its widespread use fosters cross-cultural communication and international cooperation, facilitating the exchange of ideas, research, and medical innovations. Being proficient in English is crucial for professionals across all disciplines, including medicine, to remain competitive and informed in a rapidly evolving global landscape. In medicine, […]

This month SLC Director Peter Rodway worked to support clients and partners in the UK in their efforts to increase knowledge and take-up of OET training as part of international recruitment pathways.  

We are excited to announce its official presence on Instagram and TikTok, promoting language learning and engaging with language enthusiasts.

In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an integral part of our lives. From communication to entertainment, these compact gadgets have revolutionised the way we interact with the world. However, their usefulness extends far beyond mere convenience. Mobile devices can also serve as powerful tools for learning, especially when it comes to acquiring specialised […]

Check out all that happened during June in Specialist Language Courses!

The National Health Service (NHS) of the United Kingdom has reached a significant milestone today, celebrating 75 years of dedicated service.

Back to Menu ↩ SLC works with NHS Trusts and NHS England to enable international nurses, doctors and AHPs to pass English tests, relocate successfully to the UK, and improve their clinical communication skills so they can both meet regulatory requirements and provide safe and effective care to patients in the UK. Explore course now […]

Back to Menu ↩ Share This Post Teacher Notes Level: B2 C1 Sector: medicine, nursing, other Medical Area: symptoms, diseases and conditions, treatment and medication, other Skill focus: reading, vocabulary, pronunciation Student worksheet Part 1: Vocabulary Match the terms with their correct meanings. algorithm ankylosing         arthritis                 data sensitivity         enthesitis      model                 prediction           […]

Back to Menu ↩ Share This Post Teacher Notes Level: B2 C1 Sector: medicine, nursing, other Medical Area: symptoms, diseases and conditions, treatment and medication, other Skill focus: listening, vocabulary, pronunciation Student worksheet Part 1: Vocabulary Match the terms with their correct meanings. 1.  strain a)            habitat in which an infectious agent lives 2.  bivalent b)            […]

We are delighted to be working in partnership with OET to deliver OET Prepare, the first suite of test preparationEnglish learning courses from OET.

Check out all that happened during May in Specialist Language Courses!

We are delighted to announce an extensive series of free webinars designed to develop the OET skills of EU trained doctors. Event sponsored by DEDICARE.

As technology continues to advance, language learning tools are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Among them, ChatGPT, an AI-powered language model, has gained popularity for its ability to generate human-like responses. However, it is essential to recognise the limitations and potential risks when it comes to relying on ChatGPT for English language acquisition, particularly for healthcare professionals. […]

Back to Menu ↩ Share This Post Teacher Notes Level: B2 C1 Sector: medicine, nursing, other Medical Area: symptoms, diseases and conditions, treatment and medication, other Skill focus: reading, vocabulary, pronunciation Student worksheet Part 1: Vocabulary Review the pronunciation terms. The stressed syllables are in bold. exposurehypothermiaimmersionsensationsensitive tingling Part 2: Match the terms with their […]

The Occupational English Test (OET) is a language proficiency test for healthcare professionals, designed to assess their ability to communicate effectively in English in a healthcare setting. One of the four components of the OET is the Listening subtest, which assesses the test-taker’s ability to comprehend and respond to spoken English in a healthcare context. […]

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new course, “Writing for Publication,” designed to equip you with the essential skills and knowledge to achieve your publication goals.

Learn Medical English on the new mobile app. Enjoy flexible and interactive language learning, with offline access and seamless user experience

English for Medical Academic Purposes is used by medical universities to support students and staff in developing the language skills they need to study and research in English.

Back to Menu ↩ This 30-hour course is for healthcare researchers, professionals and students who want to write research articles in English for submission to international journals. Writing for Publication teaches the structure and language needed to publish. It describes the conventions used, analyses multiple examples, and provides tasks to complete. By the end of […]

Back to Menu ↩ Share This Post Teacher Notes Level: B2 C1 Sector: medicine, nursing, other Medical Area: symptoms, diseases and conditions, treatment and medication, other Skill focus: reading, vocabulary, pronunciation Student worksheet Part 1: Vocabulary: Infections Stressed syllables are in bold. asymptomaticcarriercolonisation(to) contaminate infectious agentresistance(to) shed subclinical Complete the definitions using terms from the […]

Are you planning to take the OET exam but not sure where to start? With so much information available online, it can be overwhelming to begin. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll help you prepare for the exam, learn about the different skills and strategies needed to pass, and share some useful resources that can help […]

Check out all that happened during January in Specialist Language Courses!

Back to Menu ↩ SLC works with healthcare employers and recruitment companies to enable international nurses, doctors, AHPs, and healthcare support workers to pass English tests, relocate successfully to the UK, and improve their clinical communication skills so they can both meet regulatory requirements and provide safe and effective care to patients in the UK. […]

Back to Menu ↩ This self-study course is for internationally educated nurses preparing for the NMC OSCE for adult nursing. It provides them with the knowledge, language and communication skills they need to successfully pass their OSCE so they can register with the NMC.  The course is fully updated for the new scenarios and skills […]

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has introduced additional supporting information called SIFE, which applicants can provide as evidence that they meet the NMC’s English language requirements.

Back to Menu ↩ Share This Post In this lesson students learn the language used to describe pressure ulcers. It includes speaking, writing, reading & vocabulary activities. B1-B2 level Teacher Notes ●    Topic: describing pressure ulcers ●    Timing: 45–60 minutes ●    Lesson Type/Focus: speaking, reading, vocabulary and writing Aims ●      Speaking: discuss and describe pressure […]

We are excited to share with you the latest development from the NMC: the Test Combining Calculator, designed to make it easier for OET and IELTS candidates to meet the language requirements for registration.

Back to Menu ↩ SLC offers OET Foundation training courses for candidates who need to develop their English language knowledge and skills before starting an OET Preparation course. Courses are designed for lower-level learners who want to work towards achieving the scores required by OET. Those completing B1 are ready to join an OET Preparation […]

Back to Menu ↩ SLC’s OET Preparation courses have been developed over 6 years of intensive teaching, syllabus and materials design. Courses and study content are online, enabling students to work with expert OET teachers and access learning materials from wherever they are. Syllabi have been developed over 25,000+ hours of tuition given since 2017. […]

Back to Menu ↩ SLC offers tailored training courses for candidates who did not achieve their required OET scores first time. Courses and study content are tailored to the specific needs of learners, so they focus on what they need to do to achieve the required scores on second sitting. Teachers analyse performance in previous […]

Check out all that happened during February in Specialist Language Courses!

Check out all that happened during January in Specialist Language Courses!

SLC are proud to present our new, fully interactive online course for nurses about to relocate to the UK, aimed at both healthcare employers and overseas nurses.

Back to Menu ↩ This short course is for nurses relocating to the UK. It provides them with the essential knowledge they need to successfully settle into the UK as a nurse. The course is highly visual and engaging. It includes lots of videos and useful reading, information from the NHS and NMC, language and […]

Back to Menu ↩ Like it or not, English is the global language. Because of this, it’s also the language of global healthcare. If you’re a medical professional, it’s useful to know English for your job. Firstly, because many medical terms are English. Secondly, it’s important if you work in an area with lots of […]

Back to Menu ↩ Share This Post Teacher Notes Level: B2 C1 Sector: medicine, nursing, other Medical Area: symptoms, diseases and conditions, treatment and medication, otherSkill focus: reading, speaking, vocabulary Aims developing topic-specific vocabulary reading for detail Teaching notes and answer key Part 1: vocabulary Have students work in pairs to match the words and […]

Back to Menu ↩ The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is an exam taken by millions every year.  It is accepted by over 11,000 organisations (including universities, companies, professional bodies such as the GMC and NMC, immigration authorities and government institutions) in more than 140 countries around the world as a measure of English language proficiency. […]

Back to Menu ↩ OK, you’re a healthcare professional who wants to pass the Occupational English Test (OET). Your English is quite good, so you think that maybe all you need to do is take an OET practice test online. Right? Well, not always. Table of Contents When is an OET sample test enough to […]

The NMC are making changes to their English language requirements in 2023. We have the dates of the changes, and all the information you need.

Back to Menu ↩ So you’ve taken the OET – and you haven’t got the results you wanted. In fact, you thought you did well on the test, and you’re disappointed you received the low marks you did. Of course you’re frustrated. Especially if you need to get a B in the OET. Even more […]

Back to Menu ↩ Do you need to practise for the OET speaking exam? Get our 3 top OET speaking tips here. Table of Contents Tip 1 – Learn the structure of the test Tip 2 – Practise the role plays Tip 3 – Prepare wisely Preparation Courses Related articles Subscribe to our newsletter Tip […]

Medical English teachers – learn how to develop your students’ potential with our new course, an Introduction to Medical Humanities

Our OET Tips and Strategies Youtube series is back with more free tips to help you succeed in the OET.

Back to Menu ↩ Do you find the OET Listening sub-test difficult? Many candidates do. This test is designed to assess your listening skills through note-completion tasks and multiple-choice questions. You will need to reach a Grade B to pass this sub-test, so follow our guide to getting the result you need. Table of Contents […]

Back to Menu ↩ How are your reading skills? Do you want to get better so you can pass the OET Reading sub-test? We at SLC have a step-by-step guide to improving your abilities, and reaching a grade B in OET Reading. Table of Contents Free OET reading practice materials Tips to improve your score […]

Back to Menu ↩ Share This Post Teacher Notes Topic: occupational health Timing: 30–40 mins Lesson type/focus: reading and vocabulary Level: B2 C1 Sector: medicine, nursing, care, other Medical Area: history and assessment, symptoms, diseases and conditions, treatment and medication, other Skill focus: reading, vocabulary, pronunciation Aims developing topic-specific vocabulary reading for detail   Teaching […]

Back to Menu ↩ For the OET Writing sub-test, you are asked to write a letter. This letter will be specific for your healthcare profession – for example, a doctor’s referral letter. Most English-speaking countries need you to pass the OET writing task with a B Grade. So how can you do that? Follow our […]

Back to Menu ↩ Are you a medical professional who wants to work in an English-speaking country? Then OET is the standard exam to test your language skills. OET covers 12 healthcare professions, and it has 4 sections – Reading, Speaking, Listening and Writing. You need to pass each one, usually with a Grade B […]

Back to Menu ↩ Are you a foreign medical professional looking to work in Australia (or Oz, as it’s known)? Do you want to know the process for getting a job Down Under? Then follow SLC’s step-by-step guide designed for overseas doctors who plan to move to Australia. Table of Contents What is the pathway […]

Back to Menu ↩ Are you a healthcare professional? Would you like to work abroad, for example as a doctor in the UK, Canada, or Australia? Or as a nurse in Ireland or the USA? Is English not your first language? If your answer is ‘yes’, then to get a visa you need to prove […]

Back to Menu ↩ Share This Post Teacher Notes Topic: porphyria (vampire syndrome) Timing: 30–40 mins Lesson type/focus: reading and vocabulary Level: B2–C1 Sector: Medicine, Nursing Medical area: symptoms, diseases and conditions, treatment Skills Focus: Reading, vocabulary Aims developing topic-specific vocabulary reading for detail Teaching notes and answer key Part 1: speaking Part 1: Review […]

Back to Menu ↩ Are you a doctor who wants to make your home in Canada? Then follow SLC’s guide to getting a job in the land of Mounties and maple trees. Table of Contents Can foreign doctors work in Canada?  Obtaining a licence to practise in Canada What should you do to begin the […]

THE BIGGEST SALE EVENT OF THE YEAR IS ON AND YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS IT!

Back to Menu ↩ Are you a nurse who’d love to live and work in the United States of America? Whether you want California sunshine or the busy streets of New York, here’s your guide to getting a job in the USA. Table of Contents Requirements for nursing in the USA English language exams needed […]

Back to Menu ↩ Are you a registered nurse who wants to work in an English-speaking country? Over the next few weeks you’ll get a foreigner’s guide to working in Ireland, the USA, the UK, Australia, and Canada. This week, we’re looking at Ireland. So let’s dive in! Table of Contents Can UK nurses work […]

Medical English teachers and institutions: Learn how language skills are impacted by Long Covid at our free webinar on 24th November, hosted by Louise Cummings.

Back to Menu ↩ Are you a qualified doctor who’s thinking of applying to live and work in the UK?  If so, read on and discover SLC’s guide for foreign medical professionals. Table of Contents Does the UK need doctors? What’s a UK doctor’s salary? Can I work in the UK as a doctor without […]

Good news for international & overseas nurses taking IELTS or OET to work in the UK: next year it will be easier for you to combine the scores from 2 tests

GET YOUR FREE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE For Your Healthcare Students In this PDF you’ll get: Teachers Note Students Worksheet Download the Lesson Plan here ↓ Subscribe to our newsletter Subscribe to the newsletter to keep up to date with all our new resources.

As part of our ongoing partnership with Sechenov University, Russia’s leading medical university, SLC will be working on three projects with the Linguistics and Intercultural Communication department over the next week.

The UK government’s new plan for the NHS over the winter cannot work without substantial international recruitment of medical professionals to plug the staffing gap.

Back to Menu ↩ Share This Post Do you teach Medical English? Are you helping to prepare your learners for the OET? Did your working life change abruptly during the pandemic? We’re sure you remember when the world went into lockdown. At first, teachers and institutions abandoned all in-person teaching. If you were teaching then, […]

Back to Menu ↩ Share This Post You’ve done the quiz to discover what sort of learner you are. You understand how to study online without getting distracted. Maybe you’re sure that remote learning is the future. That you don’t need to go back to college again. But there are advantages to blended learning. Blended […]

Back to Menu ↩ Share This Post Did you do last week’s quiz? If so, you’ll know whether you prefer to learn Medical English in-person, or online. The worst of the pandemic is behind us. However, many colleges and universities continue to offer online courses. Others offer blended learning. This is where some classes are […]

Back to Menu ↩ Share This Post What sort of language learner are you? Do you prefer sitting in an actual classroom, chatting to people in a spontaneous way? Or do you prefer an online-led class, on Zoom or another platform? If you’re studying Medical English, or if you need to pass the OET, you […]

It was with a slight feeling of trepidation that I boarded a plane from Heathrow to Belgrade to attend this year’s English for Healthcare conference. The programme that followed was varied and interesting, including presentations on research projects, classroom practice and assessment.

Medical English teachers & institutions – get a FREE introduction to medical humanities at SLC and EALTHY’s October webinar, hosted by Professor Jonathan McFarland

Back to Menu ↩ Share This Post Please note: this post contains advice on Advanced English grammar. For Essential English grammar for Healthcare, check out SLC’s beginner’s course here. English questions can be very confusing – both for asking, and for understanding. As you saw last week, some questions don’t sound like questions. But if […]

Back to Menu ↩ Share This Post In some languages, it’s important to use the correct form of address when asking politely. Perhaps your language has two or more forms of the pronoun ‘you.’ In English, we have only one form. That’s why there are other ways to show your politeness when you speak. And […]

Back to Menu ↩ Share This Post How are you? I’m fine thanks. And you? I’m very well, thank you.   Did you learn the dialogue above when you were studying beginner’s English? Most people have learned a form of it. It’s great, and it works. As you saw last week, small talk is important to […]

Back to Menu ↩ Share This Post In English, you can use questions to make polite conversation. In Medical English, or if you’re studying for the OET speaking test, these types of questions are useful to show your fluency. Over the next four weeks you’ll learn some ways that you can use them. One way […]

Studying for the OET? Get a focused course on the subject you need: Reading, Speaking, Listening or Writing.

Back to Menu ↩ Share This Post Are you studying Medical English with the hope of working one day in an Anglophone country? If so, you’ll need to understand a variety of accents. There’s the accent that’s local to where you live, but cities across the world contain many people who were born in other […]

Back to Menu ↩ Share This Post Teacher Notes Topic: The Eye is our ‘window to the brain’ Timing: 30 mins Lesson Type/Focus: Reading Level: B2-C1 Aims Reading for detail Vocabulary development (the eye/ eye conditions) Part 1: Review the vocabulary terms: the stressed syllable is in bold. age-related macular degeneration foveal hypoplasiaglaucoma nystagmusophthalmoscope optic […]

Back to Menu ↩ Share This Post When it comes to British accents, there’s one difference that distinguishes the Brits from everyone else. It’s that people in the UK never use the phrase ‘British accent.’ The reason they don’t is because there’s no such thing as a British accent. There are instead hundreds of varieties […]

We’re delighted to be hosting another free webinar in conjunction with EALTHY for Medical English teachers and teaching institutions. This webinar is of particular relevance given the political upheavals of the last few years and the rapidly growing number of refugees around the world and the many healthcare professionals among them.

Back to Menu ↩ A quiz for you: how do you pronounce the R in the following words? Doctor. Nurse. Practitioner. Injure. Fracture. Emergency. The pronunciation rule for R trips up even fluent speakers of English. It’s difficult because it depends where in the world a native speaker comes from. To put it more simply: […]

If you’re a nurse who’s dreamed of a new life in the USA, your chances of getting a work visa have got much more likely.

Back to Menu ↩ Share This Post Do you believe that speaking in a particular English-language accent will help you pass the OET? Often, English language learners have a belief that one accent is ‘better’ than another. However, in Medical English, it’s far more important to speak clearly, and with the correct intonation. Whether you […]

Back to Menu ↩ An honorific is a word or title you apply to a person to denote respect. In English, the most used are Mr, Mrs, Miss and Ms. We also have professional honorifics such as Dr and Rev. Then there are titles bestowed by the state, such as Baroness and Sir. And there […]

Back to Menu ↩ Share This Post Teacher Notes Topic: Nanotechnology in Medicine Timing: 30 mins Lesson Type/Focus: Reading Level: B2-C1 Aims Reading for facts Reading for detail expanding vocabulary (nanotechnology) 1. nanofiber 2. tissue engineering Before you start, look at pictures 1 and 2 and answer the questions. What do you know about nanotechnology? […]

Back to Menu ↩ Share This Post Which is more formal – American or British English? Is spoken English the same in every Anglophone country? There are a lot of similarities, but the more fluent you become, the more differences you will notice. If you’re studying Medical English, you may wish to work in one […]

Back to Menu ↩ Share This Post People often assume that the UK is a formal culture. Likewise, they imagine that British people use formal English when they speak. These assumptions are both wrong. They’re based on a stereotype of the British as being stiff and upright. People think that the Brits say ‘how do […]

Expert OET teacher and author, Tom Fassnidge, is giving a FREE webinar on how to deal with a number of common issues facing OET teachers.

Back to Menu ↩ Share This Post Formal language is appropriate when you’re speaking in a professional situation. But what exactly is formal spoken English, and how should you use it? Over the next few weeks you’ll learn more about the specifics of using formal spoken Medical English. Below are a few general tips for […]

Back to Menu ↩ Share This Post Part 1: Vocabulary Before you read the article, check your understanding of the vocabulary terms. Complete the definitions using terms from the vocabulary list. to overwork to call time on something  a culture of…  poor time management service provision  be short-staffed  leave someone in the lurch a run […]

Back to Menu ↩ Share This Post As you now know, effective non-verbal communication is key to fluency. In Medical English, getting your meaning across using NVC is crucial. It’s also important to show that you’re listening properly. Gestures are movements using the body, especially the hand or the head. They’re an important aspect of […]