Language Barrier Impacts Academic Performance of Medical Students in India

Strategic Insights -

Research conducted by the Department of Physiology has shown that language proficiency plays a significant role in the success of medical students, particularly in multilingual countries like India. In a study involving 220 first-year MBBS students, researchers found that the transition from vernacular language-based schooling to English-medium medical education created significant challenges for students. The study aimed to assess the extent to which language barriers affected the academic performance of these students and suggested that the English Language Proficiency Program (ELPP) could be used to improve their interest and academic performance.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study involved 220 first-year MBBS students from the Shri M P Shah Government Medical College in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
  • The majority of participants (140 or 63.7%) stated that they frequently used dictionaries for their studies.
  • The results indicated that most participants (110 or 50%) were neither comfortable nor uncomfortable with the English language.
  • The study found that 74 (33.6%) of the participants were comfortable with the English language, while 36 (16.4%) were very uncomfortable.
  • The researchers suggested that the English Language Proficiency Program (ELPP) could be used to increase the interest and academic performance of the students.
  • The study concluded that language barriers can impede academic performance, communication skills, and confidence among medical students.

Statistics:

  • 220 students participated in the study, including 118 (53.6%) males and 102 (46.4%) females.
  • 160 (72.7%) of the total participants had studied in Gujarati medium, 16 (7.3%) had studied in Hindi medium, and 44 (20%) had studied in English medium.
  • 140 (63.7%) of the participants stated that they frequently used dictionaries for their studies.
  • 74 (33.6%) participants were comfortable with the English language, while 36 (16.4%) were very uncomfortable.

Sources:

  • "Effects of Language Barrier on Academic Performance of First Year Undergraduate Medical Students in Jamnagar." GAIMS Journal of Medical Sciences, 2025,6(1):41-44, doi: 10.5281/zenodo.17330312.
  • "Findings from Department of Physiology Advance Knowledge in Health and Medicine." Health & Medicine Week, October 31, 2025, p 942.
  • https://doi-org.sdpl.idm.oclc.org/https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17330312