title: Are Danish doctors comfortable teaching in English?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  From 2012-2015, the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and of Pediatrics at the University of Copenhagen conducted a project, "Internationalization at Home ", offering clinical teaching in English. The project allowed international students to work with Danish speaking students in a clinical setting. Using semi-quantitative questionnaires to 89 clinicians about use of English and need for training, this paper considers if Danish clinical doctors are prepared to teach in English.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority self-assessed their English proficiency between seven and eight on a 10 unit visual analogue scale, with 10 equivalent to working in Danish, while 15 % rated five or less. However, one-fourth found teaching and writing in English to be twice as difficult than in Danish, and 12 % rated all teaching tasks in English at four or less compared to Danish. The self-assessed need for additional English skills was perceived low.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Teaching in English was rated as 30 % more difficult than in Danish, and a significant subgroup of doctors had difficulties in all forms of communication in English, resulting in challenges when introducing international students in non-native English speaking medical departments.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 537, Hvidovre University Hospital, 2650, Hvidovre, Denmark. Lisbeth.Nilas@regionh.dk.|Faculty of Health Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Lisbeth.Nilas@regionh.dk.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Nilas
authors: Faculty of Health Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nord Zeeland University Hospital, Hilleroed, Denmark.
authors: E C
authors: EC
authors: Løkkegaard
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 537, Hvidovre University Hospital, 2650, Hvidovre, Denmark.
authors: J B
authors: JB
authors: Laursen
authors: Centre for Internationalization and Parallel Language Use, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Kling
authors: Faculty of Health Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.|Department of Pediatrics, Hvidovre University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Cortes
mesh_terms: D003718:Denmark; D004501:Education, Medical; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008037:Linguistics; D010820:Physicians; D012647:Self-Assessment; D014956:Writing
keywords: Clinical teaching; Doctors’ English skills; International students; Self-assessment; Teaching in foreign language