Edited by Juliana Luna Freire (Universidade Federal da Paraíba UFPB), Rong Huang (Peking University), Lucy Blaney-Liable (University of Stuttgart) 

Confirmed publisher Editora UFPB (Brazil)

Following Guan and Scott (2025), there is a need to rethink pedagogical practices in language teaching and their real impact on health students and their future work in the medical field. 

We propose, as discussed by Ferguson (2025), a deeper discussion on the contexts of English for Medical Purposes (EMP), as well as the prevalent use of English in this field. 

Therefore, we welcome chapters that examine language in its many dimensions—from theoretical perspectives to practical applications in teaching and learning of English for the Health Professions. Submissions may address topics in linguistics, second and foreign language acquisition, discourse analysis, translation studies, sociolinguistics, or other areas where language functions as both a medium of communication and a cultural force.

Possible Areas of Inquiry (not limited to):

1. Applied Linguistics and Language Education in English for Medical Purposes:

• Language pedagogy: communicative approaches, task-based learning, CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning)

• Technology-enhanced learning in Medical English: including digital tools, AI in language education, virtual classrooms, gamification). 

• Curriculum design and language assessment: proficiency testing, formative vs. summative assessment, CEFR-based approaches. 

• Teacher training and professional development: reflective practice, intercultural competence, and teacher identity. 

2. Translation and Interpreting Studies in the Medical Field:

• Pedagogical approaches to translator/interpreter training

• Community and dialogue interpreting in healthcare

• Translation technology: CAT tools, machine translation, post-editing, and AI. 

• Ethics and politics of translation in globalized societies. 

3. Discourse and Communication Studies in English: academic discourse, professional communication, and institutional talk in the medical area. 

4. Sociolinguistics and Language in Society: language varieties, power relations, and their teaching implications in the medical English context.

5. Corpus Linguistics and Digital Humanities and their implications on research for EMP. 

Submission Guidelines

• Abstract: Minimum 250 words (including a short bio of the author)

• Full Chapter: Manuscript submission to editors September 30. Peer-Review Due to Authors November 30. Expected publication date 2027. 

• Formatting: 5,000-10,000 words. APA 7th edition. 

References

Ribes, R., & Ros, Pablo. Medical English. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2006. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-30584-X_2

Guan, W., & Scott, T. (2025). An Examination of Students’ Perspectives of Medical English Course Quality in Guangdong Medical Universities. Teaching and Learning in Medicine, 37(4), 531–544.https://doi.org/10.1080/10401334.2024.2368074

Ferguson, G. (2025). English for Medical Purposes. In The Handbook of English for Specific Purposes (eds S. Starfield and C.A. Hafner). https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119985068.ch18