Aug 27 – 29, 2026
University of Foreign Language Studies, The University of Danang, Vietnam
Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh timezone
Repositioning English: From Foreign to Second Language

Strengthening Language Skills and Patient Interactions with Non-Verbal Strategies in English Learning

Not scheduled
1h 30m
Pre-Convention Workshop Pre-Convention Workshop Pre-Convention Workshops

Speaker

Phouvy Sayyalath (University of Health Sciences)

Description

This workshop will detail a project executing non-verbal exercises to help medical English students improve communication skills and doctor-patient simulations. The research was done with first-year students at a medical university in Vientiane; the presentation will include the need for such a project, the methodology of our research, and the results we found. Students practiced culturally appropriate body language, gestures, eye contact, posture, and tone of voice to feel more confident in speaking English and comfortable in patient care. After the presenters’ demonstrations, conference participants will try the activities themselves and discuss ways to use them in their own classrooms. The exercises can be easily adapted to diverse settings, such as universities, workplaces, and professional training. This workshop shows how non-verbal skills can support language acquisition and professional development, specifically in medicine and people-facing roles, to lay the foundation for further non-verbal instruction in English classrooms with varied focuses at any level.

Biography

Phouvy is a Unit English instructor in the Faculty of Medicine (FOM) at the University of Health Sciences (UHS). She holds a Master’s degree in Public Health and has previously taught English and Academic English to first-, second-, and third-year medical students.

Affiliate type University

Author

Phouvy Sayyalath (University of Health Sciences)

Co-authors

Julie Dean (English Language Fellow) Ethan Phan (University of Health Sciences, Vientiane)

Presentation materials

There are no materials yet.