Tackling Ageism and Promoting Professionalism in EMP Teaching

In medical and healthcare environments, effective, caring and professional communication is an essential aspect of the treatment and the healing process. In particular, with the elderly population expected to increase substantially in the next decades, professionals need to respond adequately to this cohort’s different medical concerns and needs by developing appropriate communication strategies and rethinking their notions of old age and ageing. In line with recent developments in medical and language education (Bleakley 2015; Canziani, Grego, Iamartino 2014; Lu and Corbett 2012), this paper discusses the importance of addressing these issues in the English for Medical Purposes (EMP) classroom. It also introduces the theme of age inequality in healthcare and supports the view that a change in focus is needed in EMP materials development and pedagogy. Finally, on a more practical level, the present article serves to enrich the available resources by addressing these timely topics with sample teaching materials which incorporate brainstorming, discussion, and small-group activities. With the hope of sharing with fellow EMP instructors relevant pedagogical ideas, this more teaching-oriented section is intended to help dispel some of the myths and stereotypes future physicians may have about older patients and gives concrete suggestions for good communication strategies in older-patient-doctor interactions.