Advancing foreign language competence in neurologists: challenges, trends, and strategies for improvement

Background. Proficiency in English is a crucial element in the professional development of physicians. It enhances access to the latest scientific publications, facilitates participation in international scientific and educational events, and enables professional discourse and exchange of clinical information. Additionally, it supports the integration of contemporary diagnostic and treatment methodologies into clinical practice. Therefore, enhancing the approaches to developing foreign language competence among physicians is both important and pertinent. The purpose of the study is to analyze the importance of foreign language competence in neurologists’ professional activities and to identify key approaches and potential solutions for improving it. Materials and methods. A multifaceted approach to the research enabled us to elucidate the data concerning the impact of foreign language proficiency on neurologists’ professional activities and to delineate potential avenues for enhancing linguistic competence. The investigation employed a comprehensive analysis of scientific sources addressing the issue, survey methodology, case study technique, and expert evaluation method. Results. The article examines the multifaceted importance of English language proficiency for neurologists in their clinical, scientific, and educational activities, as well as its role in enhancing professional competence. It explores how the balance between professional and foreign language competence affects the quality of neurologists’ translations of specialized scientific texts. The findings indicate that, at similar levels of foreign language competence, doctors with greater professional expertise produce more accurate translations of specialized English texts into Ukrainian. The study concludes that to effectively and accurately translate a scientific text from English to Ukrainian, individuals must possess a solid overall understanding of foreign language, along with an extensive active vocabulary of relevant terms, including correct interpretation and contextual usage. Conclusions. Developing foreign language competence is important for increasing the opportunities to improve the professional level of neurologists. Along with the necessity of studying foreign language equivalents of terms to develop professional foreign language competence, it is equally important to expand knowledge of synonyms and employ contextual translation to accelerate their memorization. Integrating new technologies into education and practice, specifically adapting digital platforms for learning terminology and using virtual environments for clinical training, can greatly improve the quality of medical education and practice.