Research article | Open Access
International Journal of Language and Education Research 2026, Vol. 8(2) 1-24
From Language Gap to Clinical Competence in International Humanitarian Contexts: Meeting the Needs of Algerian Medical Practitioners
pp. 1 - 24
Publish Date: August 30, 2026 | Single/Total View: 0/0 | Single/Total Download: 0/0
Abstract
Although English is the lingua franca of international humanitarian medicine, healthcare professionals trained in predominantly Francophone systems often face significant communicative barriers in high-pressure environments. This study investigates the linguistic preparedness of Algerian doctors during the 2024 Gaza humanitarian mission, a context in which English functioned as the primary operational language. Using an exploratory mixed-methods design, data were collected from ten participating doctors through a semi-structured questionnaire and discourse analysis of a narrative field account. Findings reveal a critical functional gap: while participants possessed receptive academic English, they lacked operational fluency for core clinical tasks. Notably, a ‘productive atrophy’ was identified in clinical writing, with 0% of participants engaging in English-based documentation in their daily practice. During the mission, although 90% of practitioners subjectively felt that language barriers did not noticeably degrade the final quality of care, a staggering 80% admitted to specific instances where they were unable to perform effectively due to linguistic limitations. Specifically, 60% of participants reported significant difficulties in high-stakes tasks, including discussing patient cases and writing medical notes, with qualitative data highlighting terminological misalignment during surgery and an inability to produce accurate post-operative documentation. The findings suggest a structural misalignment between Algeria’s French-medium medical education and the demands of global emergency medicine. The results advocate for a shift towards Medical English as a Lingua Franca (MELF) models that prioritise operational speed and patient safety. The findings provide empirical justification for the integration of task-based Medical English (EMP) training within the Algerian medical curriculum to ensure professional autonomy in international contexts. The study contributes to ESP research by conceptualising linguistic preparedness as a dimension of clinical competence in high-stakes international medical contexts.
Keywords: English for Medical Purposes (EMP), Linguistic Preparedness, Medical English as a Lingua Franca (MELF), Needs Analysis, Humanitarian Healthcare, Algerian Medical Education
APA 7th edition
Meslem, D., & Benabdallah, A. (2026). From Language Gap to Clinical Competence in International Humanitarian Contexts: Meeting the Needs of Algerian Medical Practitioners. International Journal of Language and Education Research, 8(2), 1-24.
Harvard
Meslem, D. and Benabdallah, A. (2026). From Language Gap to Clinical Competence in International Humanitarian Contexts: Meeting the Needs of Algerian Medical Practitioners. International Journal of Language and Education Research, 8(2), pp. 1-24.
Chicago 16th edition
Meslem, Dahaouia and Awicha Benabdallah (2026). "From Language Gap to Clinical Competence in International Humanitarian Contexts: Meeting the Needs of Algerian Medical Practitioners". International Journal of Language and Education Research 8 (2):1-24.
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