The academic and professional English language needs of the school of health students

This study aimed to investigate the academic and professional English needs of nursing and midwifery students attending the School of Health at Mersin University from the perspectives of the currently enrolled students and the academicians in order to improve the current curriculum, materials and language instruction.Data were collected through the questionnaires and interviews conducted with the students and the academicians. First, the questionnaires completed by five groups of students consisting of the second year midwifery and nursing, the third year midwifery and nursing and the fourth year midwifery students were analyzed and compared, and then the academicians? questionnaire results were revealed and compared with all the students in order to find out the students? and the academicians? perceptions about the students? English language needs.The main results of the study indicate that the students at the School of Health at Mersin University, a Turkish-medium university, want to improve their all four English language skills, particularly speaking and listening skills. Besides, most of the students think that the materials and language instruction should be improved. Moreover, the academicians mostly value reading and translation skills more than the other skills.