ENGLISH FOR FUTURE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IN SAUDI ARABIA: A NEEDS ANALYSIS PROPOSAL
Literature suggests that a thorough language needs analysis is very essential for curriculum development whose goal is to help healthcare learners to be proficient and successful in English in both their academic study and professional workplace. Although English language course designers spend large amount of money in developing their curriculum, they often neglect the process of a needs analysis which is considered to be an important first step when planning any English language course. Unfortunately, English language courses taught at the Health Sciences Colleges in Saudi Arabia, too, have been developed without carrying out a needs analysis.  The purpose of this paper is to discuss the importance and necessity of identifying the academic and professional English language needs of students of Health Sciences Colleges in Saudi Arabia. It also proposes a needs analysis framework for the development of ESP course at these colleges .
Undergraduate students’ perceptions of the importance of English in the tourism and hospitality industry
ABSTRACT Educators commonly promote English as beneficial to future employability, but students’ perceptions of the importance of English in the tourism and hospitality industry are often not considered. It is important that students’ perceptions are examined as gaining better insights could allow more positive attitudes to both English and the industry being fostered. This study investigated the perceptions of students (n = 71) enrolled at a university in Japan and found no statistically significant differences based on gender, country of origin, year of study, work experience, or future work intentions. However, it was indicated that communicative competence, confidence, English listening, and English speaking were the factors perceived to be most important by the students. Consequently, it is suggested that tourism and hospitality courses should incorporate components that focus mainly on these skills, but not to the detriment of English reading and writing, which were also perceived as important.
New Low-Profile Applicators for Local Heating of Tissues
A new type of low-profile applicator is described giving efficient power transfer to tissue with low leakage. It consists of a resonant element spaced from a ground plane by low-loss material having high relative permittivity and some relative permeability. This combination is covered by similar material which can be placed in direct contact with the tissue to be heated, or separated from it by a water bolus as required. Laboratory measurements using phantom materials show that these applicators are well matched and produce well defined and relatively uniform heating profiles. Applicators having maximum dimensions of 3-15 cm covering the frequency range 1000-100 MHz, respectively, are described. Penetration depths of at least 4 cm at 100-200 MHz are achieved. Tests on anesthetised pigs and some clinical assessment have confirmed the usefulness of this compact low-frequency type of applicator and have shown that performance compares favorably with that of other recently reported types. The design can be optimized for treatment of specific sites, and suitable choice of dimensions and electrical characteristics of the layer material allow the low-profile concept to be extended over a wide range of operating frequencies.